Troy-Bilt 600 Series User manual

Service Manual
600 Series AutoDrive Lawn Tractor
MTD Products Inc - Product Training and Education Department
FORM NUMBER - 769-01799
4/2005
NOTE: These materials are for use by trained technicians who are experienced in the service and repair of outdoor power
equipment of the kind described in this publication, and are not intended for use by untrained or inexperienced individuals.
These materials are intended to provide supplemental information to assist the trained technician. Untrained or inexperi-
enced individuals should seek the assistance of an experienced and trained professional. Read, understand, and follow
all instructions and use common sense when working on power equipment. This includes the contents of the product’s
Operators Manual, supplied with the equipment. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omission in this pub-
lication, although care has been taken to make it as complete and accurate as possible at the time of publication. How-
ever, due to the variety of outdoor power equipment and continuing product changes that occur over time, updates will be
made to these instructions from time to time. Therefore, it may be necessary to obtain the latest materials before servicing
or repairing a product. The company reserves the right to make changes at any time to this publication without prior notice
and without incurring an obligation to make such changes to previously published versions. Instructions, photographs and
illustrations used in this publication are for reference use only and may not depict actual model and component parts.
© Copyright 2005 MTD Products Inc. All Rights Reserved

Steering Adjustments
IMPORTANT: The front tires will have a "TOE-
IN" between 1/16" and 5/16" to allow the unit to
track properly.
1). Check the tire pressure in the front tires and
make certain that they are at approximately 14
PSI.
2). Place the unit on level ground.
3). Place the steering wheel in the straight forward
position.
4). Lower the deck lift lever to the lowest position.
5). Line up the centering hole in the steering gear
with the centering hole in the support plate, and
insert a 1/4" Phillips screw driver up through
both. See figure 1.
6). In front of the axle, measure the distance hori-
zontally from the inside of the left rim to the
inside of the right rim. See figure 2.
FIGURE 1.
7). From behind the axle, measure the distance hori-
zontally from the inside of the left rim to the
inside of the right rim.
8). The measurement taken in front of the axle
should be between 1/16" and 5/16" less than the
measurement taken behind the axle. If not, per-
form the following steps:
9). Loosen the jam nut at the rear of the right ball
joint that secures the ball joint to the drag link
using a 1/2" wrench and an 11/16" wrench. See
figure 3.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 3.
10). Remove the hex nut and lock washer that
secures the right ball joint to the right axle
assembly using a 1/2" wrench and a 9/16
wrench.
11). Remove the right hand ball joint from the right
hand drag link.
12). Remove the left hand ball joint performing steps
9, 10, and 11 above.
13). Place the left and right tire assemblies in the
straight forward position.
14). Set the toe-in for the rim assemblies to the prop-
er measurements as described in steps 6, 7, and
8 above.
15). Thread the right hand ball joint onto the right
hand drag link until the mounting hole in the right
hand axle assembly lines up with the ball joint.
NOTE: Count the number of turns the ball joint
was rotated onto the drag link. This number
should be equal for the left side as well.
Centering
Hole
Jam Nut
1
Step Through Rider
Adjustments

Variable Speed Drive
16). Secure the right hand ball joint to the right hand
axle assembly with the lock washer and nut
removed earlier, using a 1/2" wrench and a 9/16
socket.
17). Secure the right hand ball joint jam nut to the
right hand drag link using a 1/2" wrench and an
11/16 wrench.
FIGURE 1.
IMPORTANT: The AutoDrive pedal is properly
adjusted when the hole found in the double-idler
bracket has approximately 1-3/8" of travel with
ten pounds of pressure applied to the AutoDrive
pedal. See figures 1 and 2.
Autodrive Pedal Adjustment
1). Locate the speed control assembly on the
underside of the steering support bracket.
2). Remove both hairpin clips from the main pin on
the speed control assembly. See figure 3.
10 Lbs.
Double Idler
Bracket
1-3/8"
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 3.
NOTE: Be careful not to lose the small flat
washers found on the main pin.
NOTE: Make certain both hairpins are put back
in from the top of the main pin during reassem-
bly.
3). Remove the AutoDrive pedal return spring.
4). Using two 9/16" wrenches, remove the main pin
from the speed control assembly.
5). Thread the idler adjustment rod inward or out-
ward until the proper adjustment has been
achieved.
REASSEMBLE THE AUTODRIVE PEDAL IN THE
REVERSE ORDER ABOVE.
Main Pin
Hairpin
Clips
2
18). Install the left hand ball joint using steps 15, 16,
and 17.
NOTE: Make certain the same amount of rota-
tions are used on the left ball joint as the right
ball joint.

Variable Speed Drive
Brake Adjustments
IMPORTANT: Make certain the tractor comes to
a complete stop when the brake pedal is
depressed. Also, make certain the rear wheels
do not roll when the parking brake has been
applied. If motion continues, perform the follow-
ing steps:
1). Locate the hex nut that secures the brake
assembly.
2). Loosen (DO NOT REMOVE) the hex nut using a
1/2" wrench.
3). Slide an .011" feeler gauge between the brake
disc and the brake puck. See figure 1.
FIGURE 1.
4). Tighten the hex nut that secures the brake
assembly.
5). Remove the .011" feeler gauge from the brake
assembly.
6). Test for proper adjustments.
Hex Nut
Feeler Gauge
Leveling the Cutting Deck
NOTE: Prior to leveling the mowing deck, per-
form the following steps:
1). Check the tire pressure. The front tires will be
approximately 14 PSI, and the rear tires will be
approximately 10 PSI.
2). Place the tractor on a level surface.
3). Depress and lock the parking brake.
4). Place the cutting deck in cutting position 3 or 4.
FRONT TO REAR ADJUSTMENT:
IMPORTANT: The front of the deck will be
between 1/4" to 3/8" lower in the front than the
rear of the deck.
1). Using a work glove or rag, rotate the blades until
they are parallel with the tractor frame. See
figures 1 and 2.
FIGURE 1.
3

Variable Speed Drive
2). Measure the front blade tips to ground.
3). Measure the rear blade tips to ground.
4). Make certain the front blade tips are 1/4" to 3/8"
lower in the front than the rear blade tips.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 3.
NOTE: If an adjustment is needed, perform the
following steps:
5). Loosen both two jam nuts on the rear side of the
deck stabilizer bracket using a 3/4" wrench. See
figure 3.
FIGURE 4.
Rear Front
Jam Nuts
6). Locate both lock hex nuts on the front side of the
deck stabilizer bracket. See figure 4.
Lock Nuts
7). Tighten both lock hex nuts to raise the front of
the deck or loosen both lock hex nuts to lower
the front of the deck using a 3/4" wrench.
8). Retighten both jam nuts on the rear side of the
deck stabilizer when the proper adjustment has
been achieved.
SIDE TO SIDE ADJUSTMENT:
IMPORTANT: The cutting deck must be even
side to side.
1). Using a work glove or rag, rotate the blades until
they are cutting edge tip to cutting edge tip
(perpendicular) to the tractor. See figure 5.
FIGURE 5.
4

Variable Speed Drive
FIGURE 6.
2). Measure the outer blade tips to ground. Both
measurements taken should be equal. See figure
6.
FIGURE 7.
4). Rotate the 3/4" deck adjustment gear right or left
until the deck is level side to side and both blade
tips to ground are equal in measurement.
5). Retighten the hex cap screw on the left deck
hanger using a 1/2" and 3/4" wrench when the
proper adjustment has been achieved.
FIGURE 8.
NOTE: If an adjustment is needed, perform the
following steps:
3). Loosen (DO NOT REMOVE) the hex cap screw
on the left deck hanger bracket using a 1/2" and
a 3/4" wrench. See figure 7.
Side
Equal Side
Hex Cap
Screw
NEW ADJUSTMENT DESIGN
Adjustment
Gear
4 - 5
5

Variable Speed Drive
Deck Belt Removal and Installation
42" CUTTING DECK:
1). Lower the deck to the lowest position.
2). Pull the PTO idler pulley and bracket towards the
discharge chute, relieving belt tension. See
figure 1.
FIGURE 1.
3). Remove the deck belt from the electric PTO
clutch on the engine.
4). Remove the self tapping screws securing the
spindle belt covers. See figure 2.
FIGURE 2.
5). Remove the spindle belt covers.
6). Remove the PTO deck belt.
REINSTALL THE NEW BELT IN THE REVERSE
ORDER ABOVE.
46" CUTTING DECK:
LOWER BELT:
1). Pull the lower deck belt flat idler and idler bracket
towards the left side of the tractor, relieving the
belt tension. See figure 1.
2). Remove the lower deck belt.
REINSTALL THE NEW BELT IN THE REVERSE
ORDER ABOVE.
Electric
PTO
Clutch
Idler
Pull
Screws
Cutting Deck Removal
1). Lower the lift lever to the lowest setting.
2). Pull the PTO idler pulley and bracket towards the
side discharge chute. See figure 1.
FIGURE 1.
Idler
Pull
Electric
PTO
Clutch
6

Variable Speed Drive
FIGURE 2.
5). Pivot the deck support pins to the rear.
6). Raise the lift lever to the highest setting. This will
raise the lift arms up and out of the way of the
deck assembly.
7). Slide the cutting deck forward and release the
front deck hangers off of the front stabilizer rod.
DO NOT DROP the deck to the ground. See
figure 3.
FIGURE 3.
8). Slide the deck towards the side discharge chute
and remove it from the tractor.
CAUTION: Remove the deck stabilizer assembly
from the tractor prior to moving the unit.
3). Remove the deck belt from the lower pulley on
the engine.
NOTE: The 46" decks have an upper and a
lower belt. The upper belt is removed for cutting
deck removal.
4). Pull the rear deck support pins outward from the
deck lift arms. See figure 2.
Deck Support
Pin
Lift
Arm
Front
Stabilizer
Rod
Drive Belt Removal and Reinstallation
TRANSMISSION BELT REMOVAL AND
INSTALLATION:
UPPER BELT:
1). Raise the seat of the tractor and disconnect the
battery cables from the battery. Remove the
negative cable first. See figure 1.
FIGURE 1.
7

Variable Speed Drive
2). Remove the battery strap, battery, and the
battery tray from the tractor. See figure 2.
FIGURE 2.
3). Raise the deck lift lever to the highest position.
4). Pull the transmission idler pulley towards the
transmission and release the upper drive belt.
See figure 3.
FIGURE 3.
5). Slowly release the idler pulley.
6). Remove the upper drive belt from the transmis-
sion pulley and the variable-speed pulley. See
figure 4.
NOTE: Slowly roll the drive belt off of the
variable-speed pulley.
FIGURE 4.
Upper Drive
Belt
Pull
Upper Drive
Belt
VARIABLE-SPEED BELT REMOVAL AND
REINSTALLATION:
LOWER BELT:
IMPORTANT: Prior to lower variable speed belt
removal, perform cutting deck removal and upper
drive belt removal.
1). Remove the hex bolt and lock nut securing the
variable-speed pulley to the transmission using a
9/16 socket and a 9/16 wrench. See figure 5.
FIGURE 5.
9/16"
Wrench
9/16"
Socket
8