I recently purchased a new X300. I love the mower and best I've had to date from Deere. One issue though that has me baffled is the fact that you can't adjust the deck wheels low enough to meet the spec that is called out in the manual. For example it wants the deck wheels something like 1/2" off the ground. Well unless your using the deck like at a super low setting there is now way to even come close. I have the wheels set now as low as they can go and they are still like 2" off the ground. Problem is when your on a hill side the deck tips bad causing a uneven cut. My older mowers could be set up correctly but its like this design is totally not right. Anyone else noticed this? Am I missing something here?
X300 and deck wheels height adjustment. Help
sawtooth
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I recently purchased a new X300. I love the mower and best I've had to date from Deere. One issue though that has me baffled is the fact that you can't adjust the deck wheels low enough to meet the spec that is called out in the manual. For example it wants the deck wheels something like 1/2" off the ground. Well unless your using the deck like at a super low setting there is now way to even come close. I have the wheels set now as low as they can go and they are still like 2" off the ground. Problem is when your on a hill side the deck tips bad causing a uneven cut. My older mowers could be set up correctly but its like this design is totally not right. Anyone else noticed this? Am I missing something here?
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:wwp::wwp::wwp:
Pictures really do make it easier. It's amazing what you can pick up from just 1 picture.
Pictures really do make it easier. It's amazing what you can pick up from just 1 picture.
I guess my issue is my LT series would adjust properly and which kept it level even running along hill sides. This deck wont scalp that high but leaves a nasty uneven cut that looks like crap. I guess Im just surprised that on a mower of this quality has this short coming. Especially coming from John Deere. I can go shorter I guess which gets it to spec. It cuts good their too just not a good height for NC in the hot summers.
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I have an X310 with the 42 inch deck. I run my deck at 2.5 with the deck wheels in the 2nd hole from the bottom. This gives close to 1/2 inch with deck down. But I can see that cutting at 3.5 inches the wheels would be higher than the recommended 1/2 inch. Mine seems to do a real nice job of cutting at that height. Al
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I have an X310 with the 42 inch deck. I run my deck at 2.5 with the deck wheels in the 2nd hole from the bottom. This gives close to 1/2 inch with deck down. But I can see that cutting at 3.5 inches the wheels would be higher than the recommended 1/2 inch. Mine seems to do a real nice job of cutting at the 2.5 height. Al
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Deere makes a wheel extension kit that will lower the wheels for the cut heights above 3". I used it on my X300 when I was trying to cut my yard at 3.5". Go to your dealer and ask for BM22550 Extension Kit | GAGE WHEEL, I think it was around $50-55. Basically you end up bolting a plate (and a support rod) on each front wheel that has about another 4 holes in it so that you can lower the wheels. http://jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com.deere.u90490.partscatalog.view.servlets.HomePageServlet_Alt
After a little Google search, I came up with this page describing the BM22550 application.
I think part of the problem is that the decks on some JD's have too much side to side slop in the deck hanger design. One of the Craftsman units I refurbed had a 'panhard bar' to eliminate any side to side movement and I think it would be interesting to add one to a JD.
I wonder about that too but that same movement may actually protect the deck when my wife runs over something allowing it to deflect out of the way. My wife is actually why I have a new X300 as she ran my LT down a bank and into the woods destroying both the front end and deck. Thankfully she was not hurt. I think the deck movement issue would only protect from minor impacts though.
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It's not just wives. The first time I cut grass with a 42" mower I whanged the heck out of the deck on the mail box post. My 30" Honda RER never had that problem ?!?!??! Fortunately the 42" mower was an L100 series JD that probably has way more side to side play than your X300. No harm except to my psyche.
Well it wotks perfectly. Also went with the high lift blades since Im bagging and not having as many jams in the tube when mowing damp grass. New wheel kit works fantastic though. Mows very even and level now.
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