24 sectiOn 6— Maintenance & adjustMents
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.
NOTE: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before performing any
deck leveling adjustments. See the tire side wall for proper
inflation pressures.
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 position)
and rotate both blades so that they are perpendicular
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 right side of the deck must be raised or lowered.
Loosen, but do not remove, the hex cap screw on the
right deck hanger bracket. Refer to Figure 6-6.
Level the deck by using a wrench to turn the
adjustment gear (found immediately behind the hex
cap screw just loosened) clockwise to lower the right
side of the deck, or counterclockwise to raise the right
side of the deck. See Figure 6-6.
Figure 6-6
The deck is properly leveled when both blade tip
measurements taken earlier are equal.
Retighten the hex cap screw on the right deck
hanger bracket when proper adjustment is achieved.
adjustment is achieved.
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Front to Back Leveling.
The front of the deck should be approximately 1/4 inch
lower than the rear of the deck. Adjust if necessary 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. Refer to Figure 6-7.
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.
Refer to Figure 6-7.
Figure 6-7
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 tighten the outer
hex nuts against the inner hex nuts to lock them in the
adjusted position.
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