How To Replace The Drive Cable On A Lawn Mower

What is a lawn mower drive cable? The drive cable connects the handle drive control lever to the transmission and engages the transmission to move the mower when you pull the drive lever up.


You'll need to replace the drive cable if it's broken or frozen up inside the sheath and your lawn mower won’t move.

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First let the engine cool down. Wear work gloves to protect your hands. Now, let’s get started...

Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug. Pivot the cable clip up and release it from the mower handle.

Release the zone control cable from the bail control bar. Release the drive cable from the drive control lever. Depress the release tabs and pull the zone control cable out of the drive cable clip. Cut the cable ties that secure the cables to the mower handle.

Remove the fuel tank cap. Place a plastic sandwich bag over the fuel tank opening and reinstall the fuel tank cap to prevent gasoline from leaking out through the fuel cap vent. Tilt the mower back to lift the front wheels then secure the mower handle to your worktable to hold the mower steady as you remove bottom-mounting screws.

Remove the bottom drive cover mounting screws. Release the mower handle from the worktable and carefully lower the mower to the upright position. Remove the top drive cover mounting screws. Release the height adjuster lever and pull the drive cover off.

Remove the drive cable end from the anchor post. Depress the release tabs and pull the drive cable sheath out of the transmission lever. Remove the drive cable. Attach the drive cable end to the anchor post.

Pull the drive cable sheath into the transmission lever. Put the drive cover in position on the mower and re-engage the height adjuster lever. Reinstall the drive cover’s top-mounting screws. Tilt the mower back to lift the front wheels then secure the mower handle to your worktable.

Reinstall the drive cover’s bottom-mounting screws. Release the mower handle from the worktable and tilt the mower upright. Remove the plastic bag from the fuel tank opening and reinstall the fuel tank cap.

Route the drive cable around the right side of the engine and connect the zone control cable to the drive cable clip. Reconnect the zone control cable to the bail control bar. Connect the drive cable to the drive control lever.

Snap the drive cable clip back into the mower handle. Install new cable ties to hold the cables against the mower handle. Trim the ends of the cable ties. Reconnect the spark plug wire to the spark plug.