How do you tighten the drive cable on a Toro model 20016 lawn mower?

Answer 1

The drive cable on the Toro 20016 front drive mower is easily tightened. The difficulty is in knowing how. The answer is counter-intuitive and had me wondering for a day or so. I almost cut the cable to make it fit but that is NOT necessary.
There are two important parts of the cable, the outer sleeve and the inner cable. The key is to route the outer sleeve away from the shortest route to the control handle. In other words do not run it directly from the clutch mechanism to the control handle. Allow it to bend toward the motor, away from the most direct path. Once you have all of the slack out of the sleeve, simply pull the sleeve back toward the clutch mechanism to tighten the inner cable. Pull it back from the adjustment locking collar on the handle. Lock it down at the adjustment collar.
Allow some slack in the control cable to make the clutch easier to operate and hold in the engaged position. Trial and error will help you get the final adjustment.
Remember, the outer sleeve can not be run directly from the clutch to the control handle. If you do that, the inner cable will seem to be more than two inches too long and you can not get the slack out.
Had me guessing for a while but it is really very easy.