I bought a used Troy Bilt Bronco riding mower (2003 model) for $400 as a small project to understand the small engine. The model and series number are here

Model Number: 13av60kg011
Serial Number: 1b189h10031

Manual can be found here, search for relevant document.

Side by side comparison of Pony and Bronco.

And, understand the Kohler SV540 engine
Engine surging won’t idle smoothly

Here are a list of basic tune up

	
Air filter
	
Fuel filter
	
Engine oil change
	
Spark plug

Here are some useful video on tune up.

This guy gives simple instruction for a basic turn up on a Pony -- suggested every 25 hours.

Tire replacement carlisle available at Walmart

Oil change seems easy.

Potential problem fixing

Working on the carburetor to solve the problem. 

This video hits the engine that I have on my mower.

I will need this repair kit to repair the carburetor.

This fuel solenoid is very important and fragile part located at the bottom of the carburetor. 

How to replace the drive belt, hopefully I never need to do this.

To get the deck off seems quite easy and straightforward.

It is not common, but we have a broken blade engagement cable, we bought replacement at Amazon and we fixed it just like that.

It turn out that we there are two different kind of cable end connections, and ours is like this one.