Adjusting Your Lawn Tractor, Leveling the Deck

Adjusting

Your Lawn

Tractor

WARNING

Never attempt to make any adjustments while the engine

is running, except where specified in the operator’s manual.

Never attempt to adjust the brakes while the engine is running. Always disengage PTO, move shift lever into neutral position, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.

,OOSEN	4IGHTEN
TO LOWER DECK	TO RAISE DECK
Figure 5-1

!DJUSTMENT 'EAR (EXE"OLT

Figure 5-2

WARNING: Never attempt to make any adjustments while the engine is running, except where specified in the operator’s manual.

Leveling the Deck

NOTE: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before perform- ing any deck leveling adjustments. Refer to Tires on page 24 for information regarding tire pressure.

Front To Rear

The front of the cutting deck is supported by a stabilizer bar that can adjusted to level the deck from front to rear. The front of the deck should be between 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch lower than the rear of the deck. Adjust if necessary as follows:

1.With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface, place the deck lift lever in the top notch (highest position) and rotate the blade nearest the discharge chute so that it is parallel with the tractor.

2.Measure the distance from the front of the blade tip to the ground and the rear of the blade tip to the ground. The first measurement taken should be between 1/4” and 3/8” less than the second measurement. Deter- mine the approximate distance necessary for proper adjustment and proceed, if necessary, to the next step.

3.From the front of the tractor, loosen the hex lock nut on each end of the deck hanger rod, and turn away from the inner hex nuts. See Fig. 5-1.

4.Tighten the inner hex nuts front against the front hanger bracket to raise the front of the deck; loosen the hex nuts to lower the front of the deck.

NOTE: Models with a 42-inch deck have only ONE jam nut, washer, and lock nut.

5.Retighten the two lock nuts against the inner hex nuts when proper adjustment is achieved.

Side to Side

If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly, a side to side adjustment can be performed. Adjust if necessary as follows:

1.With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface, place the deck lift lever in the top notch (highest position) and rotate both blades so that they are perpendicular with the tractor.

2.Measure the distance from the outside of the left blade tip to the ground and the distance from the outside of the right blade tip to the ground. Both measurements taken should be equal. If they’re not, proceed to the next step.

3.Loosen, but do NOT remove, the hex cap bolt on the left deck hanger bracket. See Fig. 5-2.

4.Balance the deck by using a wrench to turn the adjustment gear (found immediately behind the hex cap bolt just loosened) clockwise/up or counterclock- wise/down. The deck is properly balanced when both blade tip measurements taken earlier are equal.

5.Retighten the hex cap bolt on the left deck hanger bracket when proper adjustment is achieved.

Parking Brake Adjustment

WARNING: Never attempt to adjust the brakes while the engine is run- ning. Always disengage PTO, move shift lever into neutral position, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.