I bought this mower with the hope of repairing the self propelled function but I know nothing about them. The pulleys are there at the bottom of the mower but there is no drive belt. I took off the cover of the clutch and the cable was disconnected. I can see where that goes but there is also a spring and I can't see where it is supposed to go. Any help with that would be appreciated. A manual would be good. Model number is 861MH3.
Sorry Sparker can't help but I am interested to see how it goes. It is obviously belt driven not using the Honda shaft drive? The Honda shaft drive is brilliant but the gearbox is junk
Sparker, belt should be cheap. The disc beside the spring, does the belt run on that or is that a wheel with a rubber ring on it that is driven from another disc that is driven by the belt. Is this how they get a right angle variable drive?
I found a little notch under the cable linkage and I think that's where the spring goes-so that's where it is now. The silver wheel next to the spring is operated by the hand control and engages the clutch, I think. The others are part of the drive as far as I can tell without the belt to spin the whole thing. I haven't pulled off the belt covers underneath the mower yet either. I am the worlds worst mechanic and that's why after all these years I'm still an apprentice and you're a senior technician and that's why I am always here begging for help.
There seems to be a big distance from the cable end to the connector on the control arm. If anybody has one of these would they please post some pictures of the cable connections to the control arm and the clutch box so I can see that the spring has been put in the correct place.
Sparker, my reason for interest in this is my mate wants a self propelled for his mowing business but he will never buy another Honda because the gearbox is not fit for purpose. His local mower repair shop has been telling him to look at the Rover but they are saying it has a Briggs and he doesn't want that. A Rover self propelled with a Honda could be the answer providing the drive is robust enough and I guess I would need to look at it in person.
I am sure you can get one closer to home Norm but if you're coming up this way you're welcome to it. I am a bit stumped as I don't know what it is supposed to look like when new. That's why I'd love the manual or even some photo's for it. I have googled fot MTD drive systems following AVB's post but couldn't find anything to help first go.
Looks like I need the belt, chain and clutch spring connector (that's what is missing up at the control handle). The belt and spring do not look like big jobs. I've never put one of those chains on. Is that a big job?
Sparker, my first question is why was all that removed, does it have a gearbox, does the gearbox function, these are things I would check before diving in and buying parts. As for fitting the chain it should be simple if you can get the chain and joining link.
That would be another $17, Gadge. That would bring the repair cost to about $80 in parts. I paid $40 for the mower. Starting to become disheartened as I know I could easily sell it for $80 to $100 as is. Not sure if I'd be adding much value by getting the self propelled function going.
Anyway, I've taken out all the screws holding down the gearbox cover but it won't budge. Is there some trick to getting the cover off?
Pull the motor off and put it on another push base and you should get $80/100 for it easily, at least you would down here, people love the bigger Honda motors
