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My next door neighbor moved to a condo and gave me his Troy-Bilt 12AI869F011 Self-Propelled Walk-Behind Mower (2009).

It has a problem with the right front wheel. There seems to be a sort of suspension system that allows the front wheels to move up and down (I assume to help level out uneven lawns), but have never seen anything like it on a walk behind mower.

The problem is that whatever is supposed to hold the right front wheel in place appears to be missing, and when the right front wheel drops down, it stays down and doesn't "go back into place". I can't figure out what that part might be, even with the help of this diagram:

http://www.partstree.com/parts/troy-bilt/mowers-walk-behind-lawn-mower/12ai869f011-troy-bilt-self-propelled-walk-behind-mower-2009/drive-system/

I can see a hole in the chassis (mower housing) near the right front wheel which looks like it might have at one time had some sort of bolt or other part.

Is anyone familiar enough with this type of mower to help me diagnose the problem and find the needed parts? Thanks.

Check the front bracket assembly both wheels should go up and down at the same time.

Would the "front bracket assembly" be # 8 on the diagram (see URL previous post)?

Yes that is the part you need to check and also the spring that's on it. you may find that it is damage on the right side.

EngineMan said:

Yes that is the part you need to check and also the spring that's on it. you may find that it is damage on the right side.

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I feel sure something is damaged or missing, but what? Is it part #9 in the diagram?

I feel sure that I could give more helpful input if I just understood what that assembly is for? Is it a suspension system of some sort, or does it have another purpose? I would be very grateful if you would educate me in the next post.

What I can tell you is that if I push down on the handle and the front of the mower raises up, the right front wheel drops down while the left front stays in place. There does not appear to be anything keeping the right wheel from dropping down, and I expect that the part that keeps it in place, and/or moving in tandem with the left front wheel has fallen off or broken. I just cannot see either on the mower, or from the diagram what or where that part might be. Thanks.

That part raises or lowers both front wheels at the same time to allow longer or shorter grass cutting. It works in conjunction with the back wheels that do the same thing at the same time by moving part # 2. The spring is an assist for whichever is harder to do.

Odysseus said:

I feel sure something is damaged or missing, but what? Is it part #9 in the diagram?

I feel sure that I could give more helpful input if I just understood what that assembly is for? Is it a suspension system of some sort, or does it have another purpose? I would be very grateful if you would educate me in the next post.

What I can tell you is that if I push down on the handle and the front of the mower raises up, the right front wheel drops down while the left front stays in place. There does not appear to be anything keeping the right wheel from dropping down, and I expect that the part that keeps it in place, and/or moving in tandem with the left front wheel has fallen off or broken. I just cannot see either on the mower, or from the diagram what or where that part might be. Thanks.

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Have you taken off the right wheel and had a look at the shaft..? have you taken off part number 8 and had a look to where the damage is..? that's what you need to do.

Of course, thank you for pointing out what shuld have been obvious (shows what a crummy weekend mechanic I am).

As I hold up the front of the mower and look at the wheel that drops down, there is absolutely nothing to keep it from doing so.

Can you see anything in the diagram that might account for the problem?

EngineMan, my last crossed with yours. I will do as you recommend, but I can see very clearly past the wheel now and I don't see what might be missing. Kind of hard to know what is missing when one doesn't know what they are looking for.

Odysseus said:

Of course, thank you for pointing out what shuld have been obvious (shows what a crummy weekend mechanic I am).

As I hold up the front of the mower and look at the wheel that drops down, there is absolutely nothing to keep it from doing so.

Can you see anything in the diagram that might account for the problem?

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You say in your post "the right front wheel drops down while the left front stays in place." so that should tell you there is something wrong with the right side, take off the right wheel and move the shaft and see if there is play in it before the left side wheel moves up or down.

EngineMan said:

You say in your post "the right front wheel drops down while the left front stays in place." so that should tell you there is something wrong with the right side, take off the right wheel and move the shaft and see if there is play in it before the left side wheel moves up or down.

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Thanks for your patience with me. Maybe some photos will be helpful:

Axle in the up position as seen from under deck


Axle "dropped down" as seen from under deck


Axle "dropped down" as seen from outside deck


Closeup of axle "dropped down" as seen from outside deck


I hope this might clarify what I have been trying to explain

It has finally dawned on me to look at what holds the left front wheel in place and it appears to me that it is part #9 in the parts diagram, and what is missing from the right front would be the same part on that side.

I am unsure whether part #10 is the part which keeps part #9 from sliding down the axle and out of place. Any experience or conclusions to bear on this?

Just for what it is worth, that "hole" that the right side of the axle rests in looks like it was made with a can opener!

From your photo you can see clearly that the hole is worn out, it should be a round and part number 9 bush and the pin that holds it is missing, only thing you can do is rivet a plate across the hole under the axle to stop the axle from coming down. photo shows the type of thing to do.

I think that even I can manage that!

Many thanks for your patience and guidance. Us noobies need folks like you.

EngineMan said:

From your photo you can see clearly that the hole is worn out, it should be a round and part number 9 bush and the pin that holds it is missing, only thing you can do is rivet a plate across the hole under the axle to stop the axle from coming down. photo shows the type of thing to do.

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Don't know what is available in the USa or UK but down here all of the local branded push mowers have axel rebuild kits which have a shim to go in the flogged out hole, a new axel bush and retainer clip.
https://www.gaspares.com.au/products/CHD5244?q=&product_code=CHD5244&per_page=48&product_page=1&search%5Bcategory_url%5D=%2F_fits_brands%2Frover%2F_product_types%2Faxlesp
https://www.gaspares.com.au/products/CHD5221?q=victa&product_code=CHD5221&per_page=48&product_page=1&search%5Bcategory_url%5D=%2F_product_types%2Faxlesp
https://www.gaspares.com.au/products/CHD5405?q=honda&product_code=CHD5405&per_page=48&product_page=1&search%5Bcategory_url%5D=%2F_product_types%2Faxlesp

bertsmobile1 said:

Don't know what is available in the USa or UK but down here all of the local branded push mowers have axel rebuild kits which have a shim to go in the flogged out hole, a new axel bush and retainer clip.
https://www.gaspares.com.au/products/CHD5244?q=&product_code=CHD5244&per_page=48&product_page=1&search%5Bcategory_url%5D=%2F_fits_brands%2Frover%2F_product_types%2Faxlesp
https://www.gaspares.com.au/products/CHD5221?q=victa&product_code=CHD5221&per_page=48&product_page=1&search%5Bcategory_url%5D=%2F_product_types%2Faxlesp
https://www.gaspares.com.au/products/CHD5405?q=honda&product_code=CHD5405&per_page=48&product_page=1&search%5Bcategory_url%5D=%2F_product_types%2Faxlesp

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Or buy a rebuild kit and work out how to fit it...! good point bertsmobile1

EngineMan said:

Or buy a rebuild kit and work out how to fit it...! good point bertsmobile1

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Yes , Am yet to see any 2 fitted the same.
What I was told was to slip the shim into the slot.
bend the outside tabs back flat against the mower deck, ( yeah really ) leaving the inside ones to provide extra support .
install the new bush then find the W clip wont fit :confused2:

Has its a push mower and not a space rocket a small plate with pop rivets or self tapping screws will do the job..!

Ok, so you need at least 2 parts. Number 9 and 10. They kind of hold the axel in place in the hole.

Now you also need a bolt to attach the part in this picture to the deck. It will pivot on this bolt so it may need to be a shoulder bolt. I circled the 2 holes that need to be together with the bolt through them. Remember that this bolt can not be so tight that it will not allow movement. Check the other side to see what it is held on with.