mtd lawnmower help

Posted by Bill on April 23, 2006, 9:03 am

I bought a used MTD rider but the only number left visible under the
seat is 1183A AC which I don't think is the model #. The mower's deck
was taken apart and I've rebuilt it but I'm having trouble getting the
drive deck-to-engine belt engagement correct. The deck-to-engine belt
doesn't have an engagement pulley to take up slack in the belt.
Instead it looks like the deck is supposed to swing backwards to take
up slack when the deck engagement handle is moved down by the operator.
There isn't a separate deck engagement handle. The deck height and
engagement handle are the same.

I do know that the engine is a Briggs 42A707, 9601245A which I think
means it was made in 1996 which would date the MTD rider. Also the
rider is an 18hp, 46" cut hydro.

Does anyone know what the MTD model number might be and where I could
find a schematic of the deck to mower linkages? Or does someone have
some tips.

There are a pair of hangers on either side to link the deck to the
tractor and there doesn't appear to be a wrong way to hang those 4
points. Then there is an threaded adjustable hook on one side. And
finally at the back end is a swing arm that goes around the main deck
drive pulley. It looks like this arm might be there to stop the deck
belt when disengaged. The swing arm connects to the tractor via 2
hanging bars and there are several holes to choose from. Also on the
one side is a rod that is connected to the engagement handle. This is
the setup that I think I need to know how to connect.

The belt that seems to fit best is a 5L 58" long.

I went to MTD's website but couldn't find a way to get to the model
number since the one on my machine is faded away-unless the 1183A AC is
the model #.

Thanks
Bill

Path:
finder4.readnews.com!fe10-msgid.iad02.newshosting.com!textbe01-ams!hwmnpeer02.ams!hw-filter.ams!hwmnpeer01.ams!hwmedia!news-out.ntli.net!newsrout1-gui.ntli.net!ntli.net!news.highwinds-media.com!cycny01.gnilink.net!cyclone1.gnilink.net!gnilink.net!nx02.iad01.newshosting.com!newshosting.com!216.196.98.140.MISMATCH!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!postnews.google.com!i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com!not-for-mail
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair
Subject: mtd lawnmower help
Date: 23 Apr 2006 06:03:59 -0700
Organization: http://groups.google.com
Lines: 37
NNTP-Posting-Host: 69.215.136.106
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
X-Trace: posting.google.com 1145797446 19578 127.0.0.1 (23 Apr 2006 13:04:06 GMT)
X-Complaints-To: groups-abuse@google.com
NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 13:04:06 +0000 (UTC)
User-Agent: G2/0.2
X-HTTP-UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; YPC 3.2.0;
.NET CLR 1.0.3705; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; yplus 5.1.02b),gzip(gfe),gzip(gfe)
Complaints-To: groups-abuse@google.com
Injection-Info: i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com; posting-host=69.215.136.106;
posting-account=9mdlag0AAAANygKg7QCWNJZ_Pc75pE_8
Xref: finder4.readnews.com alt.home.repair:250134
X-Received-Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 06:04:07 MST (textbe01-ams)

I bought a used MTD rider but the only number left visible under the
seat is 1183A AC which I don't think is the model #. The mower's deck
was taken apart and I've rebuilt it but I'm having trouble getting the
drive deck-to-engine belt engagement correct. The deck-to-engine belt
doesn't have an engagement pulley to take up slack in the belt.
Instead it looks like the deck is supposed to swing backwards to take
up slack when the deck engagement handle is moved down by the operator.
There isn't a separate deck engagement handle. The deck height and
engagement handle are the same.

I do know that the engine is a Briggs 42A707, 9601245A which I think
means it was made in 1996 which would date the MTD rider. Also the
rider is an 18hp, 46" cut hydro.

Does anyone know what the MTD model number might be and where I could
find a schematic of the deck to mower linkages? Or does someone have
some tips.

There are a pair of hangers on either side to link the deck to the
tractor and there doesn't appear to be a wrong way to hang those 4
points. Then there is an threaded adjustable hook on one side. And
finally at the back end is a swing arm that goes around the main deck
drive pulley. It looks like this arm might be there to stop the deck
belt when disengaged. The swing arm connects to the tractor via 2
hanging bars and there are several holes to choose from. Also on the
one side is a rod that is connected to the engagement handle. This is
the setup that I think I need to know how to connect.

The belt that seems to fit best is a 5L 58" long.

I went to MTD's website but couldn't find a way to get to the model
number since the one on my machine is faded away-unless the 1183A AC is
the model #.

Thanks
Bill

Posted by Don Young on April 23, 2006, 10:34 pm

I have a later MTD mower similar to yours. The drive belt length and
friction characteristics are pretty critical if the engagement and
dis-engagement are to work properly. I have not found generic belts to be
satisfactory. I will check the location of my model number tomorrow. You can
generally get the MTD manuals downloaded from their website. They will give
you the parts layout and belt information you need. You are correct in that
the drive is disengaged by the deck moving forward. There are likely two
long studs that keep the loose belt close to the motor pulley on each side.
If these are missing or bent the belt will not stay centered around the
pulley and will not disengage fully. Hope this helps some.
Don Young

>I bought a used MTD rider but the only number left visible under the
> seat is 1183A AC which I don't think is the model #. The mower's deck
> was taken apart and I've rebuilt it but I'm having trouble getting the
> drive deck-to-engine belt engagement correct. The deck-to-engine belt
> doesn't have an engagement pulley to take up slack in the belt.
> Instead it looks like the deck is supposed to swing backwards to take
> up slack when the deck engagement handle is moved down by the operator.
> There isn't a separate deck engagement handle. The deck height and
> engagement handle are the same.
> I do know that the engine is a Briggs 42A707, 9601245A which I think
> means it was made in 1996 which would date the MTD rider. Also the
> rider is an 18hp, 46" cut hydro.
> Does anyone know what the MTD model number might be and where I could
> find a schematic of the deck to mower linkages? Or does someone have
> some tips.
> There are a pair of hangers on either side to link the deck to the
> tractor and there doesn't appear to be a wrong way to hang those 4
> points. Then there is an threaded adjustable hook on one side. And
> finally at the back end is a swing arm that goes around the main deck
> drive pulley. It looks like this arm might be there to stop the deck
> belt when disengaged. The swing arm connects to the tractor via 2
> hanging bars and there are several holes to choose from. Also on the
> one side is a rod that is connected to the engagement handle. This is
> the setup that I think I need to know how to connect.
> The belt that seems to fit best is a 5L 58" long.
> I went to MTD's website but couldn't find a way to get to the model
> number since the one on my machine is faded away-unless the 1183A AC is
> the model #.
> Thanks
> Bill
>

Posted by Don Young on April 24, 2006, 10:40 pm

My model number is on a label attached to the bottom of the seat.
Don Young

>I have a later MTD mower similar to yours. The drive belt length and

430 No such article
My model number is on a label attached to the bottom of the seat.
Don Young

>I have a later MTD mower similar to yours. The drive belt length and
>friction characteristics are pretty critical if the engagement and
>dis-engagement are to work properly. I have not found generic belts to be
>satisfactory. I will check the location of my model number tomorrow. You
>can generally get the MTD manuals downloaded from their website. They will
>give you the parts layout and belt information you need. You are correct in
>that the drive is disengaged by the deck moving forward. There are likely
>two long studs that keep the loose belt close to the motor pulley on each
>side. If these are missing or bent the belt will not stay centered around
>the pulley and will not disengage fully. Hope this helps some.
> Don Young

>>I bought a used MTD rider but the only number left visible under the
>> seat is 1183A AC which I don't think is the model #. The mower's deck
>> was taken apart and I've rebuilt it but I'm having trouble getting the
>> drive deck-to-engine belt engagement correct. The deck-to-engine belt
>> doesn't have an engagement pulley to take up slack in the belt.
>> Instead it looks like the deck is supposed to swing backwards to take
>> up slack when the deck engagement handle is moved down by the operator.
>> There isn't a separate deck engagement handle. The deck height and
>> engagement handle are the same.
>> I do know that the engine is a Briggs 42A707, 9601245A which I think
>> means it was made in 1996 which would date the MTD rider. Also the
>> rider is an 18hp, 46" cut hydro.
>> Does anyone know what the MTD model number might be and where I could
>> find a schematic of the deck to mower linkages? Or does someone have
>> some tips.
>> There are a pair of hangers on either side to link the deck to the
>> tractor and there doesn't appear to be a wrong way to hang those 4
>> points. Then there is an threaded adjustable hook on one side. And
>> finally at the back end is a swing arm that goes around the main deck
>> drive pulley. It looks like this arm might be there to stop the deck
>> belt when disengaged. The swing arm connects to the tractor via 2
>> hanging bars and there are several holes to choose from. Also on the
>> one side is a rod that is connected to the engagement handle. This is
>> the setup that I think I need to know how to connect.
>> The belt that seems to fit best is a 5L 58" long.
>> I went to MTD's website but couldn't find a way to get to the model
>> number since the one on my machine is faded away-unless the 1183A AC is
>> the model #.
>> Thanks
>> Bill

Similar Threads	Posted
B&D lawnmower. How to remove blade from electric lawnmower?	June 27, 2009, 11:21 am
747 Lawnmower ?..............Yes, this is real, a flying Lawnmower	July 12, 2006, 7:01 pm
need help with lawnmower	September 5, 2005, 3:07 pm
Re: lawnmower help	April 29, 2006, 10:21 pm
which lawnmower?	September 29, 2006, 3:38 pm
Lawnmower gets hot and quits	July 15, 2005, 12:16 pm
Lawnmower recommendations, please	July 23, 2005, 8:23 pm
Dirty Gas for Lawnmower	June 16, 2005, 1:51 pm
Lawnmower modification?	June 30, 2005, 8:43 pm
My lawnmower burned up	July 4, 2005, 2:45 am