How to Adjust Tracking & Speed on Your Lawn Mower (2024)
Is your lawn mower not driving straight? Or maybe one side of your mower feels faster than the other? You’re not alone. Tracking issues often happen with time, especially as your mower's transmissions begin to wear. Don't worry, though! You can fix this yourself with a few simple tools you likely already have in your garage.
This guide focuses on three main ways to adjust your tracking and speed so your mower can get back on track (literally!) without sending it to the dealer.
Understanding the Problem
Mowing the lawn should be easy, but uneven tracking can turn it into a frustrating challenge. If you're pushing the levers to the front, and your mower veers to the left or right, there’s a good chance your handles are misaligned or the speed needs adjusting on one side.
Common complaints often come up, such as:
- One side of the mower going faster than the other.
- The mower not driving straight.
- Uneven handles preventing smooth operation.
It's important to fix this because it not only affects how the mower functions but also the quality of your mow. After all, an uneven cut can make your lawn look sloppy.
Here’s how you can address the issue step-by-step.
Tools Needed
Before you start, gather the tools you’ll need for the process:
- 9/16 wrench or socket: You’ll use this for older models that have bolts instead of knobs.
- 3/16 Allen wrench: This is used for the speed adjustments.
- Wrench set: Handy for dealing with threaded rods or tightening nuts.
If you own a newer model, such as the 2024 TimeCutter, most of the process will involve simple knobs that make the process even easier.
Initial Handle Adjustment
Are Your Handles Even?
One of the first things to check if your mower isn’t tracking straight is whether the handles are even. It’s not uncommon for them to be out of alignment, which directly impacts how your mower behaves.
How to Adjust the Handles
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Locate the knobs or bolts:
- If you have a newer model, you'll see adjustment knobs near the base of the handles. On older models, there are two 9/16 bolts instead of knobs. Either way, you're going to need to loosen these to get started.
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Loosen and align the handles:
- For knob-based models: Simply loosen the knob, push the handles forward, and adjust until they are even. Take care to make sure the handles are bottomed out on the frame equally on both sides before you tighten everything back up.
- For older models with bolts: After loosening the bolts, adjust the handles and ensure that both bottoms hit the frame at the same point. Once everything looks good, retighten the bolts or knobs.
Don’t Overthink Straight Lines
A common misconception is that you’re going to be pushing your handles all the way forward, pressed against the frame at all times. In reality, you shouldn’t be doing this. When you're mowing, your goal isn’t to keep the handles fully pushed forward but to “float” them in the middle, allowing for smoother, subtle tweaks as you steer.
No mower will track perfectly straight 100% of the time, so some of your tracking adjustments will come down to how well you steer using your shoulders and arms. Don’t peg the handles to the frame and expect perfection.
Operating Tips
Learn to Steer Correctly
Operating a zero-turn mower requires more finesse than force. Instead of relying on pushing your mower to the max, focus on how you steer. For example, if your mower pulls to the left a little, just ease the right stick back a little.
Keeping both sticks jammed all the way forward isn’t the answer, as slight variations in the transmission's wear can throw off perfect tracking. Correcting it means small, mindful adjustments in how you're steering.
Float the Handles
A lot of first-time zero-turn users think the goal is to slam those handles forward, but this isn't true. You actually want to float them somewhere in the middle for smooth, fluid steering. Think of it as finding your "happy place" with the sticks. This will let you compensate when one side feels a little faster than the other.
Minor Adjustments for Tracking
What if you’ve adjusted the handles, but the mower still won’t stay straight? This often happens when one side of the mower is running faster than the other due to wear and tear on the transmissions.
Step-by-Step: Slow Down One Side
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Identify the faster side: If your mower is pulling to the left, it means the right side is moving faster. Conversely, if it veers right, your left side is faster.
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Use the Allen wrench to adjust:
- Insert your 3/16 Allen wrench into the adjustment hole on the fast side. Tighten it slightly (righty-tighty!) to limit how far the lever can move forward.
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Observe the changes:
- As you're tightening, you'll notice the lever starts to pull back from the frame slightly. This limits the travel of the stick when you push forward, reducing the speed on that side.
Think of this like adjusting the tracking on an old RC car. It's a small tweak, but those little clicks can make a world of difference.
Advanced Adjustment Techniques
If you’ve done everything so far and you’re still having trouble, there’s an advanced method that involves adjusting the tracking from the back of the mower. This adjustment deals directly with the threaded rod connected to the lever arms.
Adjusting the Rear Rod
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Locate the threaded rod:
- The rod controls how far the lever can push the transmission. If you want more forward speed, you need to adjust this rod by loosening the nut attached to it.
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Make small adjustments:
- Loosen the nut just a few turns at a time, then test the results. You’ll notice the arm will push further forward with each adjustment, giving the transmission a bit more forward speed.
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Be cautious about reverse speed:
- Keep in mind, adding more forward motion may reduce your reverse speed. And while everyone loves speed, you still need to be able to go backward.
Also, excessive adjustments can wear out your transmission faster, so it’s best to make only minor tweaks.
Importance of Throttle Settings
You might think running your mower at a lower throttle will help preserve it, but that’s actually not the case. Always run your mower at wide-open throttle. Here's why:
- Transmission performance: The transmission is designed to work best at full throttle.
- Deck speed: A lower throttle will slow down your deck blades, leading to a poor-quality cut.
- Charging system: Many mowers charge their batteries while running, and lower throttle settings can disrupt this function.
Some older folks might tell you to baby the mower and run it at three-quarter throttle, but this approach will do more harm than good. At full throttle, you're giving your mower exactly what it needs to function properly.
Understanding Mower Mechanics
Knowing how the rods and levers move helps make tracking adjustments easier. When you push your lever forward, it’s the rods inside the mower adjusting the transmission’s speed and direction. Every forward movement of the lever is translated into transmission motion.
Adjusting the rod lets you control how far the lever can push and how much speed the transmission gets forward.
Breaking In Your Mower
If your mower is brand new, don't rush into making adjustments right away. Mowers break in after a few months of use, and the way they track will naturally change as parts settle and wear in. Give it about six months before making any major adjustments unless the issue is severe.
Patience is key. If it’s just a slight drift or minor misalignment, use the minor adjustments described above before turning to drastic fixes.
Encouragement and Conclusion
Adjusting your mower’s tracking takes some practice, but it’s worth the effort to have smooth, straight cuts. Here’s a quick recap of how to keep your mower tracking straight:
- Start by making sure your handles are even.
- Don’t push your mower too hard—steer with care, floating the handles in the middle.
- Use small adjustments with your Allen wrench to tweak one side if it feels faster.
- If needed, use the advanced adjustments in the rear, but understand the consequences on reverse speed.
- Always run your mower at wide-open throttle for the best performance.
Keep practicing, and in time, mastering your mower’s tracking will become second nature. No need to stress over tiny deviations—they're often more about technique than hardware.
Remember, your mower is built to endure. Happy mowing!
Product Discussed In The Video
- TORO 50 in. (127 cm) TimeCutter Max Zero Turn Lawn Mower (77505)
- Shop All Toro TimeCutter Max Zero Turn Mowers
Check out more fun and informative videos on our YouTube Channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@mainstreetmower
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