John Deere 1338 Gear 1538 Gear 1538 Hydro 15538 Gear 15538 Hydro 1546 Gear 1638 Hydro 1646 Gear 1646 Hydro Sabre Lawn Tractor Factory Service Repair Workshop Manual TM–GX10131

Price range: $42.00 through $51.00

John Deere 1338 Gear 1538 Gear 1538 Hydro 15538 Gear 15538 Hydro 1546 Gear 1638 Hydro 1646 Gear 1646 Hydro Sabre Lawn Tractor Factory Service Repair Workshop Manual TM–GX10131

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Loaded with Hi Resolution illustrations, instructions, photos, and diagrams, complete to service and repair your John Deere.

191 Pages

Medium

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SKU: N/A Categories: Heavy Machinery, John Deere

Description
Additional information

John Deere 1338 Gear 1538 Gear 1538 Hydro 15538 Gear 15538 Hydro 1546 Gear 1638 Hydro 1646 Gear 1646 Hydro Sabre Lawn Tractor Factory Service Repair Workshop Manual TM–GX10131

TM–GX10131

Loaded with illustrations, instructions, photos, and diagrams, complete to service and repair your John Deere.

” Works on any computer, laptop, smartphone, iPad, iPhone, or tablet. “

191 Pages

Models covered:

John Deere 1338 Gear, 1538 Gear, 1538 Hydro, 15538 Gear, 15538 Hydro, 1546 Gear, 1638 Hydro, 1646 Gear, 1646 Hydro Sabre Lawn Tractor

38–Inch and 46–Inch (96 cm and 117 cm) –

Service Manual Covered :

General Information

Safety

General Specifications

Repair Specifications

Test and Adjustment Specifications

Fuels and Lubricants

Serial Number Locations

Engine

Engine Removal

Engine Installation

Electrical

Gear Power Train

Hydrostatic Power Train

Steering

Attachments

Miscellaneous

Service Information Bulletins

This manual is the same as the manual used by workshops. Service Manual contains detailed instructions and step by step diagrams for all workshop procedures.

Language: English
Format: PDF – Indexed and Searchable

COMPATIBLE WITH ALL WINDOWS & MAC COMPUTERS
(WINDOWS 10, WINDOWS 8, WINDOWS 11, ETC.)

Windows/Mac/Tablet/Phone Friendly

Factory Service Manual

Our manual provides the highest-quality OEM repair information available. Unlike common aftermarket repair manuals such as AllData, Haynes, Chilton, and others, this is the same factory service information used by dealership technicians.

Features & Benefits

Factory Information – Accurate repair procedures, specifications, service information tailored to your vehicle.
Permanent Ownership – No subscriptions, recurring fees, or expiration dates. Buy it once and keep it forever.
No Software Required – Works with any standard PDF reader on Windows, Mac, smartphones, and tablets.
Flexible Storage Options – Save your manual to a USB drive, CD, DVD, cloud storage, Dropbox, computer, or mobile device.
Print-Friendly Format – Print the entire manual or only the pages needed for a specific repair.
Portable & Convenient – Compact PDF files make storage and access simple from virtually any device.

Get dealership-level repair information with the convenience of a PDF manual designed specifically for your vehicle.

This generation of John Deere Sabre 38-Inch and 46-Inch Lawn Tractors represents a popular family of budget-friendly residential mowers produced in the late 1990s. Built to compete directly in the department store market, they combined entry-level Briggs & Stratton or Kohler single-cylinder and V-twin air-cooled gas engines with varying chassis configurations.

Factory Service & Operator Documentation

Primary Technical Manual: Full diagnostics, electrical schematics, belt routing, and powertrain repair steps for all of these models are detailed in the single John Deere manual TMGX10131.
Alternative Service Manual: Certain older production runs or localized variants of these chassis numbers fall under technical manual TM-M126434.
Operator’s Manual: Everyday maintenance intervals, basic adjustments, and fluid type listings are found under publication number OMGX10130 (or its precursor OMGX10099).

Model Suffix & Configuration Breakdown

The model numbers provide a specific roadmap to the tractor’s horsepower rating, deck sizing, and transmission setup:

First Two Digits: Denote engine horsepower (e.g., 13 = 13 hp, 15 = 15 hp or 15.5 hp, 16 = 16 hp).
Last Two Digits: Outline the physical width of the mower deck cutting path (38 = 38-inch deck; 46 = 46-inch deck).
Gear vs. Hydro:
- Gear models feature a mechanical 5-speed inline gear transaxle.
- Hydro models use a foot-pedal-controlled continuous variable hydrostatic transmission.

Common Mechanical Issues

Loose Drive or Deck Belt Routing: The tensioner pulley springs weaken over time. This causes the long drive belt or primary deck belt to slip out of alignment or jump off the pulleys when engaging the blades.
Sector Gear & Steering Backlash: The entry-level mechanical steering configuration uses a crescent sector gear. The teeth on this gear wear down quickly, creating substantial “play” in the steering wheel or allowing the wheels to track crookedly.
Plastic Hood Fracturing: The distinctive bright green composite hoods used on the Sabre line are notably brittle and prone to structural cracking around the rear mounting hinges due to continuous engine vibration.
Hydrostatic Transaxle Weakness: The lighter residential hydrostatic transaxles used in the 1538, 15538, 1638, and 1646 Hydro models can struggle over high operating hours or steep inclines, resulting in a noticeable loss of forward driving power as the fluid thins out from heat.