MTD 145-660A User manual

Owner's Operating
Service Instruction
Manual
• ASSEMBLY
• OPERATION
• REPAIR PARTS
10 *
Model Nos.
145-660A
145-672A
145-760A
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WARRANTY
For one year from date of purchase, MTD Products Inc will replace for the original purchaser, free
of charge, F.O.B. factory or authorized service firm, any part or parts found to be defective in material
or workmanship. All transportation charges on parts submitted for replacement under this warranty
must be paid by the purchaser. This warranty does not irfMude replacement of* parts which become
inoperative through misuse, excessive use, accident, neglect, improper maintenance or alterations by
unauthorized persons. This warranty does not include the engine, motor, battery, battery charger or any
component parts thereof. For service on these units, refer to the applicable manufacturer's warranty.
The above warranty will apply only to the original owner and will be effective only if the warranty
card has been properly processed. It will not apply where the unit has been used commercially.
Warranty service is available through your local authorized service dealer or distributor. UNDER
NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE RETURN OF A COMPLETE UNIT BE ACCEPTED BY THE
FACTORY UNLESS PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
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MTD PRODUCTS INC
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
5389 WEST 130th STREET • P. 0. BOX 2741 CLEVELAND OHIO 44111
FORM NO. 770-5651

I IMPORTANT
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR RIDING VEHICLES
1. Know the controls and how to stop quickly—
READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
2. Do not allow children to operate vehicle. Do not
allow adults to operate it without proper instruc¬
tion.
3. Do not carry passengers. Keep children and pets a
safe distance away.
4. Clear work area of objects which might be picked
up and thrown.
5. Disengage all attachment clutches and shift into
neutral before attempting to start engine .
6. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop engine
before leaving operator position.
7. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop en¬
gine before making any repairs or adjustments.
8. Disengage power to attachment(s) when transport¬
ing or not in use.
9. Take all possible precautions when leaving ve¬
hicle unattended such as disengaging power-
take-off, lowering attachments, shifting into neu¬
tral, setting parking brake, stopping engine and
removing key.
10. Do not stop or start suddenly when going uphill or
downhill. Mow up and down face of steep
slopes; never across the face.
11. Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to pre¬
vent tipping or loss of control. Exercise extreme
caution when changing direction on slopes.
12. Stay alert for holes in terrain and other hidden
hazards.
13. Use care when pulling loads or using heavy
equipment.
A. Use only approved drawbar hitch points.
B. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
C. Do not turn sharply. Use care when backing.
D. Use counterweight(s) or wheel weights when
suggested in owner's manual.
14. Watch out for traffic when crossing or near road¬
ways.
15. When using any attachments never direct dis¬
charge of material toward bystanders nor allow
anyone near vehicle while in operation.
16. Handle gasoline with care-it is highly flammable.
A. Use approved gasoline container.
B. Never remove cap or add gasoline to a run¬
ning or hot engine or fill fuel tank indoors.
Wipe up spilled gasoline.
C. Open doors if engine is run in garage — ex¬
haust fumes are dangerous. Do not run engine
indoors.
17. Keep the vehicle and attachments in good operat¬
ing condition, and keep safety devices in place.
Use guards as instructed in owner's manual.
18. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure
the equipment is in safe working condition.
19. Never store the equipment with gasoline in the
tank inside a building where fumes may reach an
open flame or spark. Allow engine to cool before
storing in any enclosure.
20. To reduce fire hazard keep engine free of grass,
leaves or excessive grease.
21. The vehicle and attachments should be stopped
and inspected for damage after striking a foreign
object, and the damage should be repaired before
restarting and operating the equipment.
22. Do not change the engine governor settings or
overspeed the engine.
23. When using the vehicle with mower, proceed as
follows:
(1) Mow only in daylight or in good artificial light.
(2) Never make a cutting height adjustment while
engine is running if operator must dismount to
do so.
(3) Shut engine off when removing grass catcher
and/or unclogging chute.
(4) Check blade mounting bolts for proper tight¬
ness at frequent intervals.
24. Check grass catcher bags frequently for wear or
deterioration. Replace with new bags for safety
protection.
25. Look behind to make sure the area is clear before
placing the transmission in reverse and backing
up.
2

INDEX
Safe Operation Practices . 2
Index and Assembly Instructions .3
Activating the Battery .4
Attaching the Cutting Deck. 6
Controls and Preliminary Checks .8
Operating Instructions . 10
Maintenance .11
Illustrated Parts for Tractor. 1 8, 20 & 22
Parts List for Tractor.. 19, 21 & 23
Gear Box for Deck .25
Parts List for Gear Box.25
Illustrated Parts for 34" Deck . 26
Parts List for 34" Deck .27
Illustrated Parts for Transaxle.28
Parts List for Transaxle .29
Wiring Diagram and F'arts List for 8 H. P. Tractor .... 30
Wiring Diagram and Parts List for
10 H. P. Tractor . 3 1
Troubleshooting Chart . 3 2
Battery Warranty .33
Parts Information.34
ASSEMBLY
GRASS CATCHER Model No. 194-015A is available as
optional equipment for the mowers shown in this man¬
ual.
f WARNING f
The mower shall not be operated with¬
out the entire grass catcher or chute de¬
flector in place.
NOTE
Under normal usage bag material is subject to wear,
and should be checked periodically. Be sure any re¬
placement bag complies with the mower manufactur¬
er's recommendations.
Use factory replacement bag Number
764-0121.
ASSEMBLY
The steering wheel, seat and deck wheels, with the
necessary hardware, are easily assembled to the ma¬
chine. The battery must be activated and installed
as outlined in this section and the cutting deck must
be attached.
TIRE PRESSURE
For shipping purposes, the tires on your unit may be
over-inflated. Tire pressure should be reduced before
unit is put into operation. Pressure should be approx¬
imately 15 p.s.i. Equal tire pressure should be main¬
tained on all tires. Maximum tire pressure is 30 p.s.i.
ITT 1 rm
Vi" Nut
Vi" Lockwasher
W Lockwasher
‘ V* x % Bolt
Cotter Pin
K
Vi" I.D. Washer
Cotter Pin
Wing Nut
FIGURE 1. HARDWARE SUPPLIED
3

Step 6. Place rubber pad "N" over one of the mount¬
ing holes in the seat spring. See figure 4.
Step 7. Place the bolt on the seat through the rubber
pad and the seat spring.
Step 8. Assemble the rubber washer "M" and flat
washer "D" over the seat bolt and secure with
nut "C".
Step 9. Activate the battery.
FIGURE 4. SEAT ASSEMBLY
FIGURE 5. BATTERY
CAUTION
Always add electrolyte to battery be¬
fore battery is installed in vehicle.
A. Remove fill plugs.
B. Place package upright; pull tab back to edge of
carton, pull out hose; snip off end of hose. Fill each
cell until electrolyte level rises to split ring at bot¬
tom of vent well.
ASSEMBLY
The steering wheel, seat, battery and cutting deck
(8HP), with the necessary hardware are easily assem¬
bled to the machine.
NOTE
Reference to right hand side of machine
is from the normal operating position
facing forward.
Step 1. Remove the tractor and all parts from the car¬
ton. Make certain that ali loose parts and
literature have been removed before the car¬
ton is discarded.
Step 2. Place the steering wheel over the tapered end
of the steering column. Press it down until
the threaded end sticks through the steering
wheel. See figure 2.
NOTE
Line up the two flat sides of the steer¬
ing wheel hole and the two flat sides of
the steering column.
Step 3. Place the washer "B" over the steering col¬
umn, then the nut "A".
Step 4. Tighten the nut with a Vi" wrench.
Step 5. Press the cap on the steering wheel by hand
TOOLS NEEDED
Vi" Open End or Box Wrench
%" Open End or Box Wrench
(2) 7/16" Open End Wrench
Pliers
FIGURE 2.
4

DO NOT OVERFILL
C. After filling cells, wait five to ten minutes and add
additional electrolyte if necessary to ring electro¬
lyte to proper level.
D. Replace fill caps.
E. Charge battery for 10 to 15 minutes at 25-30 amps,
or for 30 minutes at 4-6 amps.
^ WARNING ^
Electrolyte is a mixture of sulphuric acid
and water. Avoid contact with skin,
eyes, and clothing. If electrolyte is
spilled flush area with clear water and
neutralize with solution of water and
baking soda or water and ammonia.
INSTALLING THE BATTERY
Step 1. Place the battery in the battery case with the
terminals to the rear. (See figure 6.)
NOTE
The positive battery terminal is marked
Pos. ( + ). The negative battery terminal
is marked Neg. (—).
Step 2. Hook the hold down rods under the battery
case and place the hold down over both rods.
Step 3. Secure the hold down with the wing nuts "L".
Tighten hand tight. (See figure 6.)
FIGURE 6.
Step 4. Attach the positive cable (from the starter
solenoid) and the small wire (from the am¬
meter) to the positive battery terminal with
the bolt "E", lockwasher "G" and nut "F" in
the assembly pack. (See figure 7.)
Step 5. Attach the negative cable, grounded, to the
negative battery terminal with the bolt "E",
lockwasher "G" and nut "F" in the assembly
pack.
FIGURE 8.
FIGURE 7.
Step 6. Cut the black rubber tubing approximately 6
inches long.
Step 7. Push the rubber tubing into the manifold of
the battery and place the other end into the
drain tube. (See figures 8 and 9.)
5

I
NOTE
The vented battery allows any gases or
liquid from the battery to be carried to
the rear of the mower through the drain
tube.
CAUTION
If the tractor is tipped up on end for any
reason the battery must be removed.
There may be a small amount of acid
in the drain tube that can come out
when the tractor is tipped.
FIGURE 9
TIRE PRESSURE
Reduce the tire pressure to 15 psi for operation. The
tires have been over-inflated for shipping. Equal tire
pressure should be maintained on all tires. Maximum
tire pressure is 30 psi.
FIGURE 10. DECK WHEEL ASSEMBLY
FIGURE 11. FRONT LINK ASSEMBLY
DECK ASSEMBLY
Step 1. Place the deck wheel over the deck axle and
secure it with washer "I" and cotter pin "K".
See figure 10.
Step 2. Attaching the cutting deck.
a. Place either blocks of wood or bricks un¬
der the rear wheels so the cutting deck
can slide under the tractor.
b. There are six link arms (4 long, 2 short)
on the cutting deck. Swing ail six arms
into the forward position.
c. From the front of the rider, grasp both
front links and hook them in the pins in
frame and secure with cotter pins "H".
See figure 11.
d. Place the two center links through the hole
in the foot rest and attach the short slotted
link to the pin in the lift arm and attach
the long link to the pin in the frame. See
figure 12. $
Short Slotted Link
long Link
T
Cotter Pin H
fmjSm
FIGURE 12. CENTER LINK ASSEMBLY

e. Place washer "J" over the short slotted link
and secure both links with cotter pins "H".
See figure 12.
f. Pull the belt through the slot in the frame
of the tractor.
9- Remove the top bolt on the belt guard.
See figure 13.
NOTE
Different heat shields are used depend¬
ing on the style of muffler used on your
tractor. If the heat shield on your tractor
is attached to the belt guard it is neces¬
sary to remove the bolt and nut shown
in figure 13.
FIGURE 13. BELT GUARD
h. Unplug the safety switch. See figure 14.
i. Remove the two bottom bolts on the belt
guard. Lift off the belt guard. See figure
14 .
j. Attach the deck belt to the engine pulley.
See figure 15.
NOTE
Be sure the bottom part of the belt goes
through the two brackets.
k. Remove the idler belt guard. See figure 16.
l. Reassemble the belt guard to the tractor.
m. Move the PTO lever to the ON position
and reassemble the idler belt guard. See
figure 17.
FIGURE 14. BELT GUARD REMOVAL
FIGURE 15. ATTACHING THE DECK BELT
7

CONTROLS AND PRELIMINARY CHECKS
CONTROLS
The controls on your tractor may be considered as
the following:
a. Throttle Control. The throttle control is used to reg¬
ulate the engine speed and choke the engine. The en¬
gine should be operated from % to full throttle when
operating the cutting deck or snow thrower. (Optional)
b. Gear Shift Lever. Use the following guide for gear
selection.
1st Gear:
Heavy grass cutting
Snow Blade
Snow Thrower
Pulling heavy loads
2nd Gear:
Normal grass cutting
Light snow throwing
Pulling light loads
3rd Gear:
Light grass cutting
Road Gear
Reverse:
Used to back up
FIGURE 18. CONTROLS
c. Parking Brake. To set the parking brake, pull the
parking brake lever back and hold it in the locked po
sition while moving the locking arm to the left. See
figure 16.
d. Clutch-Brake Pedals. Depress both of them all the
way down to stop or shift gears. Release pedals slowly
to engage. See figures 15. and 17.
8

FIGURE 19. PARKING BRAKE
NOTE
The pedals must be depressed in order
to start the engine.
CAUTION
Do not shift while in motion.
e. PTO Lever. The PTO lever engages the deck bell
when it is moved forward. Moving it to the rear dis¬
engages the deck belt. The engine will not start un¬
less the PTO is in the OFF position as shown in figure
20 .
f. Lift Lever. Depress the thumb button and pull back
on the lift lever to raise the attachments. See figure 20.
g. Ignition Switch. Turn the switch all the way to the
right to engage the starter. As soon as the engine
starts, release the ignition key so that the starter is
switched off. Turn the key to the left to shut off the
engine. See figure 18.
NOTE
The dutch-brake pedal must be de¬
pressed and the PTO lever must be in
the OFF position before the starter will
operate.
h. Light Switch.Pull the light switch out to turn on the
lights. See figure 18.
i. Ammeter. The ammeter registers the rate of battery
charge or discharge. The ammeter should register on
the plus ( + ) side when the engine is running in the
fast position until the battery is completely charged.
With a fully charged battery or with the engine idling
the ammeter will not show a charge. See figure 18.
FIGURE 20. CONTROLS
j. C utting Height 34" Cut Deck. Set the cutting height
by setting both wheel height adjusters in the desired
position and moving the lift lever all the way forward.
See figure 21.
FIGURE 21. WHEEL HEIGHT ADJUSTER 34" DECK
NOTE
When cutting over rough terrain, set
the cutting height with the lift lever
and set the wheel height adjusters so
they just clear the ground.
42" Cut Deck. The cutting height is adjustable by mov¬
ing the height adjustment lever by the right deck
wheel. Both deck wheels raise and lower together.
See figure 22.
9

I
FIGURE 22. WHEEL HEIGHT ADJUSTER-42" DECK
CHECKING OIL AND GASOLINE
NOTE
When packaged for shipment, the ma¬
chine contains no oil or gasoline. Be¬
fore starting the engine, oil must be
added to the engine crankcase and gas¬
oline to the tank. DO NOT mix oil with
gasoline.
flriggs & Stratton. Use a high quality detergent oil clas¬
sified "For Service SC or SD or MS". Nothing should
be added to the recommended oil.
Summer. (Above 4-0° F.) Use SAE 30. If not available
use SAE 10W-30 or SAE 10W-40.
Winter. (Under 40° F.) Use SAE 5W-20 or SAE 5W-30.
If not available, use SAE 10W or SAE 10W-30. Below
0° F., use SAE 10W or SAE 10W-30 diluted 10% with
kerosene.
Place the engine level. Fill the oil sump to the FULL
mark on the dipstick. Pour slowly. See figure 23.
Crankcase Capacity
10 H.P. 2% pints
8 H.P. 3 pints
FIGURE 23. BRIGGS & STRATTON DIPSTICK
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
iwARNING J
The mower shall not be operated with¬
out the entire grass catcher (optional) or
chute deflector in place.
NOTE
Under normal usage the grass catcher
bag material is subject to wear and
should be checked periodically. Be sure
any replacement grass catcher bag com¬
plies with the mower manufacturer's
recommendations.
Use factory replacement bag number
764-0121.
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine (motor),
remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly in¬
spect the mower for any damage and repair the dam¬
age before restarting and operating the mower.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Refer to page for information regarding oil and
gasoline requirements, check that spark plug wire is
connected, then proceed as follows:
Step 1. Be sure the fuel shut-off valve is open. See
figure
Step 2. With the machine set on level ground place
the gear shift lever in NEUTRAL (N) position.
See figure 18.
Step 3. Place the PTO lever in the OFF position as
shown in figure 20.
Step 4. Depress the clutch brake pedals all the way
down. See figures 20.
Step 5. Set the throttle control in the CHOKE position.
Step 6. Turn the ignition key to the right to START
position to start the engine. Allow the key to
return to the ON position. See figure 18.
10