Deck leveling and height adjustment
The mower deck has three areas that may need to be checked and
adjusted periodically. Before considering any mower deck leveling
adjustments, check that the tire air pressure is within the specified range.
Deck level adjustments
Leveling the deck must be done in the following manner and order:
1. Check tire pressures to make certain they are properly inflated before
starting to level deck. The recommended pressures are as follows:
Drive wheels tire pressure ........................................8 - 10 psi
Gauge wheels tire pressure.......................................8 - 10 psi
WARNING: Stop engine. Make sure deck clutch switch is in
the down (OFF) position. Remove ignition key. Place control
levers in the brake position before leaving machine.
2. Park the unit on a flat surface.
3. Raise deck and place 3" of blocking under all 4 corners of the deck
(Fig. 9-34). This will set the cutting height at 3 ¼ ". NOTE: Back
of deck will automatically be set ¼" higher.
4. Set cutting height at 3 ¼" in the height indicator by placing the
height adjusting stop in the 3" hole, and turning the height stop so
that the flat side is against the stop handle. Fig. 9-35
5. Clamp the height adjusting stop against the stop handle (Fig. 9-35).
This will assure that the height will not move during the setting
process. Otherwise, spring pressure from the deck lift springs will
tend to pull the stop away from the handle.
6. Loosen all nuts on the deck lift threaded rods, and the hardware on
the adjuster (on the right front), until all the deck lift chains are
loose, and the deck is sitting tightly on all four blocks. Fig. 9-36, 9-
37, 9-38
7. Loosen the two nuts on the front of height indicator so that the foot
pedal is free. Fig. 9-39
8. Start the leveling process on the left front of the tractor.
9. Set the amount of threads protruding on the deck lift rod from the lift
block at approximately 1". Fig. 9-40
10. Jam both nuts against the block.
11. Push or pull on the deck lift foot pedal until the chain on the left
front just becomes tight, making sure that the deck stays tight
against the 3" block.
12. While keeping the chain tight, tighten the nuts against the deck lift
block on the height indicator rod. Fig. 9-39
13. Go to the right front of the tractor.
14. Loosen the 5/16" jam nut on the adjuster lift chain (Fig. 9-38), and
back the adjuster bolt out to allow the adjuster to move up and down
freely.
15. Be sure that adjuster is free to move up and down.
16. Tighten the adjuster bolt until the chain just becomes tight, making
sure that the deck stays tight against the 3" block.
17. Tighten the adjuster bolt jam nut to prevent the adjuster bolt from
moving. Fig. 9-38
18. Tighten the hardware holding the chain and adjuster onto the deck
lift arm.
19. Go to the right rear of the tractor.
20. Make sure that there is still slack in the chain. If not, loosen the two
nuts on the block holding the threaded rod until there is slack in the
deck lift chain. Fig. 9-38
21. Tighten the appropriate nut until the chain just becomes tight,
making sure that the deck stays tight against the 3" block.
22. Tighten the other nut on the opposite side of the block, and jam them
tightly together against the block.
23. Go to the left rear of the tractor.
24. Make sure that there is still slack in the chain. If not, loosen the two
nuts on the block holding the threaded rod until there is slack in the
deck lift chain. Fig. 9-36
25. Tighten the appropriate nut until the chain just becomes tight.
26. Tighten the other nut on the opposite side of the block, and jam them
tightly together against the block.
27.
Compress the deck lift assist springs so that there is 1” of space
between the front nut on the spring and the rear nut on the deck lift
block (Fig. 9-40). Typical both sides.
28. When completed, all chains will be tight, and deck cutting height
will be set to the deck height indicator.
Figure 9-39
Foot
pedal
Nuts
Figure 9-36
Deck lift threaded rod
NNuutt
Nut
Chains
Figure 9-37
Deck lift
threaded
rod
Nut
NNuutt
Chains
Figure 9-38
5/16” bolt
Adjuster
Hardware
Jam nut
