LEVELING
THE MOWER DECK
When correctly
adjusted
the mower deck should
be
level side to side, and the front of the deck should be
approximately
1/4 inch lower than the rear of deck.
Side to Side Leveling
If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly,
a
side to side adjustment
can be performed.
Adjust
if
necessary
as follows:
•
With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface,
place the deck lift handle in the top notch (highest
posiUon) and rotate both outer blades so that they
are perpendicutar
to the tractor frame.
•
Lower the deck to the middle height position.
•
Measure the distance from the outside
left blade
tip to the ground
and
the
distance
from
the
outside
right
blade
tip
to
the
ground.
The
measurements
should
be equal.
If they're
not,
proceed to the next step.
•
Comparing
the
two
measurements,
determine
whether
the left side of the deck must be raised
or lowered.
•
Loosen, but do not remove, the hex cap screw on
the left deck hanger bracket. Refer to Figure 33.
•
Level the deck
by using a wrench
to turn the
adjustment
gear (found immediately
behind the
hex cap screw just loosened)
clockwise
to raise
the left side of the deck, or counterclockwise
to
lower the left side of the deck. See Figure 33.
yJ
Side of Deck _1
_.%_J
J_
Side of Deck 1
Adjustmer
//
_
Hex Cap
Gear
Screw
Figure 33
•
The deck is properly
leveled when reft and right
blade tip measurements
are equal.
•
Retighten
the hex cap screw
on the left deck
hanger
bracket
when
proper
adjustment
is
achieved.
Front to Back Leveling.
The front of the deck should
be approximately
1/4
inch lower than the rear of the deck. Adjust if neces-
sary as follows:
•
With the deck raised off of the ground, rotate the
outer blades so that they are parallel to the frame
of the tractor.
•
If the side to side leveling
was done correctly,
measuring
just
the
right
blade
should
be
acceptable
to attain the correct back to front pitch
of the deck.
•
Measure
the distance
from the front tip of the
blade
to the ground
and the distance
from the
rear tip to the ground. The front distance should
be approximately
1/4 inch less than the rear. If it
is not, proceed to the next step.
•
From the front of the tractor, loosen the outer hex
nuts on the deck front hanger rod and turn them
away from the inner nuts. See Figure 34.
/
/
/
/
J
Inner
H__ex
Nut
+ OeUtxeNut
_._
;:;_--_._Front Hanger
Rod Bracket
Front
Hanger Rod
Figure 34
•
If the front of the deck was too low, turn the inner
hex nuts clockwise
against the hanger bracket to
shorten the front hanger rod and raise the front of
the deck. See Figure 34.
•
If the front of the deck was too high, turn the hex
nuts
counterclockwise
to
lengthen
the
front
hanger rod and lower the front of the deck.
IMPORTANT:
The deck front hanger rod should
be at the front
of the slots of the front
deck
bracket, if one side of the rod is not at the front of
its slot, turn the inner hex nut on that side until
rod just
touches
the front of the slot. Then re-
measure
and re-adjust
the front
hanger
rod as
necessary.
When the correct
pitch of the deck is acquired,
secure
the inner hex nuts with a wrench
and
tJghten the outer hex nuts against the inner hex
nuts to lock them in the adjusted position.
28