In the past, I have stored my MTD Riding Mower in Nuetral with the parking brake engaged. When I go to use it, I was always able to roll it out of my storage building after disengaging the parking brake. I do this rather than ride it out because it is a very confined area. But now it acts as if the parking brake is still engaged. I have tried engaging the brake and disengaging it several times, but the tractor still will not budge. I have also made sure it is truly in Nuetral by shifting and reshifting, also with no luck. When I start the tractor up, and disengage the brake, I can shift and it drives normally. I wrote to MTD and received a reply that my shifter needs adjusting because I am not getting into "True Nuetral", but they gave me no instructions on how to do this. If I am not in "True Nuetral", why does my tractor start up. According to the manual, it should only start in nuetral. It does have the speed variance lever and the usual safety switches. Thanks in advance for any info you can give me.

The engine will start in forward, or neutral when the brake/clutch is depressed. There is a linkage rod with a turn pin on it, you remove the cotter key, pull the turn pin from the hole and turn it on the linkage rod to adjust one way or the other. Use your hand after you disconnect the linkage and move the lever to the three positions, stop it in the middle which will be neutral. Then assure that the position of the gear shift is in neutral, and adjust the turn pin until it aligns with the lever's hole and reinsert the turn pin, and put the cotter key back in and test unit. All this linkage is probably on the left side of the transaxle, it depends on where the gear shift for forward, neutral, and reverse is located.

Thanks for your reply. I haven't had a chance to work on it since it has been rather cold (Northern Michigan). I'm hoping to have a day in the 50's again. I'll respond back when I have tried your suggestion. I looked quickly under the mower and saw the Cotter Key, which seems to hold two rods together. The one goes back to a transmission bracket and ultimately the shift lever. The other end goes into the tranmission itself and moves in and out when the shifter is moved to change gears. I am not sure what the turn pin is however. This is all just by observation and I didn't try to do anything.

I would also check to make sure it isn't just the brake sticking. If you mower drives around like normal, just won't move in neutral, the brake pucks are probably sticking against the disc brake on the right side of the transmission. Parking brake adjustment in the manual will show where it is.

Thanks for your suggestion also. I do remember seeing the parking brake adjustment section in the manual. I will examine both ideas tomorrow as the weather is supposed to be in the 60's.

Thanks so much for both of your inputs. It finally was warm enough to try them. I did the brake check first, only because it seemed easier. Turns out the Brake Disc was indeed jammed against the Brake Puck. As soon as I loosened it the Tractor rolled freely in Nuetral. So, after making sure the gap was correct, I retightened the hex screw. Tested the Tractor and it seemed fine. Just to make sure it would stop properly when needed. Way to go guys! I really appreciate you help.

It probably was at least $.02 worth.