[RandyC]

My 2305 (1 year old, 31 hours) was in my garage, and while I was puttering my cousin said to me "Do you know your tractor leans to the left?" I stood behind it, and yes it WAS leaning, quite noticeable on my nice garage floor, where it normally does not sit....

I made a jig and measured from the floor to the rear drive axle, and the difference side to side was almost 1/4" This could explain the **** I had leveling the mower deck....

I told my dealer, and sent emails to John Deere, with no solution. The tractor went back to dealer 2 weeks ago for service and to take the calcium out of the tires, which they suspected was the problem. It helped a little....

I re-measured and it is still over 1/8" side to side, closer to 3/16"

Anyone else have similar problem, or know what to try other than over-inflating one tire or buying new tires?

 

[LLigetfa]

The first thing that comes to mind is "it ain't a frigging piano". Really, we're talking 1/8ths of an inch??

If your garage floor has even the slightest pitch to it, it will change the centre of gravity on the tractor and shift some weight to the downhill side.

 

[RandyC]

Remember, that 1/8+ is only over a 25" span, that's almost 1/2" side to side on the 60" mower deck......

and when you look at the rollbar, which is even longer than the deck is wide, you really can see it leaning to left...

You should see what it does to the mower lift adjustments, all out of wack trying to get deck properly adjusted....

 

[MowHoward2210]

The first thing that comes to mind is "it ain't a frigging piano". Really, we're talking 1/8ths of an inch??

If your garage floor has even the slightest pitch to it, it will change the centre of gravity on the tractor and shift some weight to the downhill side.

:ditto: Turn the tractor around in the garage facing the the opposite direction and measure again.

 

[RandyC]

I am a millwright/machinist..I tried other spots..same result

My garage is only 4 years old, a 4' level says it's almost perfect...

I know one tire is wonky, not sure which one...

 

[1086]

:ditto: Turn the tractor around in the garage facing the the opposite direction and measure again.

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Being a millwright/machinist I would have thought you would know the difference between level and flat.

Throw the level at a jack rabbit and check for flat as Mowhoward said. Accurately chalk mark your tire position, turn the tractor 180° and place the tires exactly where they were and take a second reading. If it still indicates a problem then we might suspect tires. That can be checked by switching sides with the wheels/tires.

 

[LLigetfa]

Being a millwright/machinist you should also realize that taking measurements on the outside of cast pieces aren't going to be accurate. I don't dispute that your tractor might be listing to one side, but it should not prevent you from leveling the deck. I mean, it's all relative. There will always be variation in tires, not to mention the ground they roll on.

Put the tractor on axle jacks so that they barely clear the floor and spin the wheels to see if they have a bulge and if the rims have a wobble.

I mow very uneven ground and understand that a deck has a tendency to self-level so I have to contour mow certain areas and I have to rely heavily on the gauge wheels.

 

[Team_Green]

Put more of your body weight on your right butt cheeck, it will level it out..

I assume you have tire pressures the same. Tire run out could very well be the problem.

 

[RandyC]

the screw is measuring to the machined axle, not the casing...put your glasses on.....

The tractor leaning makes the deck sit at a weird angle, front right corner of the deck is high, the left rear is low, and there is no adjustment to get the "fake twist" out...the front bar only holds the deck parallel to the frame, with the rear deck hangers controlling the levelness side to side (and up and down of course)

even back from the dealer yesterday, the blades are almost 1/2" out still..and they said they adjusted it...

Oh, my floor is level AND flat..and the tire swapping has been tried, the lean transfers also

I need another tire to try

 

[KHodges]

I think it has to do with Alberta's proximity to the Magnetic North Pole and the lines of magnetic force. Your tractor is simply trying to align itself with those forces.:ROF :ROF

 

[LLigetfa]

the screw is measuring to the machined axle, not the casing...put your glasses on.....

OK, I'm not going to split hairs but to me it looks like you are measuring to a tapered cast portion, not a machined portion of the axle. I'm not saying there is 1/8ths variation but was only exaggerating to the absurd to make a point.

If you really think that 1/8th at the axle is the reason you can''t level your deck, then put a 1/8ths thick plywood or carpet under the tire to even it out and see if your deck is level.

Really, I think you're fixating on the wrong place. Take that 1/8ths out of the equation and focus on where the problem really is.

 

[JDFANATIC]

Randy,

It's hard to get the overall picture with your post. Can you post a picture showing the entire tractor?

 

[JDBrian]

Hi Randy

If the lean transfers from side to side when you change rear wheels then there must be a difference in the diameter of the 2 wheels. If the rims are true then the problem is in the tires. I am not sure if tractor tires are serial numbered like car tires but if they are then looking at the serial numbers may tell you if the 2 tires were manufactured at about the same time. If you are able to measure the difference in diameter then you should be able to find out if there is one of them out of tolerance and get a replacement tire.
Sorry to hear you are having trouble with your deck alignment. I don't have a lawn so I can't suggest anything on that one.

Brian

 

[davidg]

for a tire to raise the axle 1/8" it would have to have 1/4" larger diameter than the other tire. simple solution is to remove both tires and stand them next to each other. you can easily see which is larger/out of true.

i don't think a tire is your whole problem though.

 

[wally2q]

There are so many reasons why this could happen, where to begin....

1. Rear tire diameter not equal (these are not high speed tires that would require balancing etc - uneveness is OK in these sorts of tires)
2. Rear tires out of round (egg shape) - same explanation as #1 - not a high speed tire
3. Rear tire could have a flat spot from sitting under load for 1-2 days
4. Rear Tire uneven pressure
5. Rear tire tread alignment not the same (center of load is in-between lugs, vs. on the lug)
6. Casting of transmission uneven by 1/16'th (left to right) - in the location where it's bolted to frame
7. Frame slightly out of whack (may still be in-tolerance though)
8. Front tire pressure uneven
9. Front wheels turned left or right
20. Front tires diameter not equal (same as #1)
10. Front tires uneven (out of round - same as #2)
11. Front tire lugs misaligned (same as #5 for the rears)
12. I could go on but I got bored?...

cheers fellas!

 

[LLigetfa]

There are so many reasons why this could happen, where to begin....

...or all of the above. Most likely it is an issue of tolerance stacking. For those that are not familiar with the term, parts are manufactured to a specific tolerance, +/- a certain value. The law of averages usually mean that a + tolerance of one part often gets canceled by a - tolerance on another. Sometimes the odds "stack" up against you and you have all +'s on the right side and all -'s on the other.

 

[Kbeitz]

You probley got some last years air in one of your tires... With all the rain this year the air is really heavy... Last years air on one side with this years air on the other just wont work...

 

[BLIND REF]

Randy, is there a possibility that you could just adjust your mower deck on one side to work with the lean?

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=61327

 

[Mayor]

Pictures please....

 

[x595]

I think it has to do with Alberta's proximity to the Magnetic North Pole and the lines of magnetic force. Your tractor is simply trying to align itself with those forces.:ROF :ROF

Hi KHodges , now thats frickin funny :ROF , :sorry1: RandyC ...

Later,x595