How to Adjust the Brakes on a Craftsman Lawn Tractor

The Craftsman Lawn Tractor features a brake/clutch pedal for selecting gears and stopping the mower. The brake/clutch pedal is activated by the operator and pushes the brake arm to engage the brake rotor located in the transmission. Over time, the tractor may not stop as expected due to the brake cable being stretched or loose. The parking brake is also affected by this condition. If this occurs, the brake cable must be adjusted to restore the proper function of the brake pedal.

Adjustable wrench
Wheel blocks

Instructions

- 1
  Park the lawn tractor on a flat, level surface. Depress the brake/clutch pedal and engage the parking brake. Turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
- 2
  Locate the gear shift lever to the right of the operator's seat. Move the gear shift lever to the neutral position indicated by an "N" on the shift lever.
- 3
  Locate the brake cable and operating arm near the right rear wheel. Locate the spring attachment that connects the brake cable to the operating arm.
- 4
  Measure the distance between the brake cable spring and the operating arm. If the distance is greater than 1 1/2 inches, the cable will need to be adjusted.
- 5
  Locate the jam nut holding the adjustment nut in place. Loosen the jam nut, using an adjustable wrench. Rotate the adjustment nut with an adjustable wrench until the distance between the brake cable spring and operating arm is 1 1/2 inches.
- 6
  Tighten the jam nut, using an adjustable wrench until the nut is snug against the adjustment nut. Test the lawn tractor brakes to make sure they are operating properly. If the brakes are still not operating properly, you may need to replace the brake rotor.

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