[CougarJackson]

Hello All,

As the title states, I am having issues cutting evenly/level. About a month ago I started to notice it so I attempted to level the deck. I could never get it just right, but I got close (I thought), but it never worked. I noticed that the leveling points on either side of the deck were so close to the centerline that when I lowered one side too much (to match the opposite side) then the opposite side lowered, too.

I got so frustrated that I decided to look into my blades. They were the factory Craftsman mulching blades. They appeared dull, so I headed to Ace for a sharpening. While browsing around, I found the same blade new and held mine up against it...MINE WERE BENT!!!!! Problem solved. Bought a couple Gator 3-in-1 something or others (I believe) and headed home. I installed them and again had some difficulty leveling, but I got it very close. Made my cut and back to square one. It is very inconsistent, though. Some areas look perfect and some look like I mowed grooves into the lawn.

Any suggestions?

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

Is the ground itself uneven? If one wheel of the tractor dips down because of a low spot, the deck will drop down at that spot as well. Me, I don't really care how it looks, as long as it cuts down to a reasonable height. My property is more wild flowers and weeds than grass anyway.

 

[CougarJackson]

The grass is MOSTLY even, but I have never had this problem in the couple years I have owned the mower...I don't think it is an environmental problem.

 

[APinNY]

Check your tire pressure. If one side is too low or too high it will not cut evenly.

 

[CougarJackson]

Tire pressure is perfect.

 

[wizzo]

Well if it ain't the blades being bent, your tire pressure being off and it ain't the ground, then either your deck isn't level, the deck is bent or the spindles are crooked. Silly question, but one of the blades isn't upside down is it?

 

[FORDLT75]

I would check to make sure all the mounts on the deck are good and not broke from the deck or the deck is cracked around any of them. I have seen this many times and it will make a deck mow uneven. Those sears decks are very flimsy anyways. My gt18 the previous owner said the deck would not level so mow and kept breaking belts. I have to replace two busted bolts on the rear mount and had to straighten up side bracket where the wheel sets. This is why the machine will not level out the deck to mow and keeps breaking belts.

 

[Boyd]

If you live near a JD dealership they sell a plastic tool that has an arm that touches the bottom of the blades to measure their height.
Another thing to check for is the spindles not being level with each other. Clean off the deck of all grass, dirt and sand and check the mountings like mentioned by the person posting above me. Cracks in a deck can be hard to see unless it is cleaned off really well. Then check to see if any of the spindles don't level with the others because of rust or from hitting a rock. If the angle difference is minor you can shim the spindle by putting washers between the deck itself and the spindle on one side. Get washers from various places that are various thicknesses and find how many you need to make things level. With the tractor off, the key out, spin one blade at a time 1/2 rotation until it is tip to tip with the blade next to it. Then rotate that same blade another 1/2 rotation. Then move on to the next blade and do the same thing.

 

[CougarJackson]

Got it fixed!!!!!!

Turns out I focussed too much on leveling the deck left to right, I never checked the height front to back. I think the manual said there should be about a 1/8 inch difference between front and back and I had just over an inch.

All is well in my world again.

 

[Dude11]

Glad everythings going your way--But I have a small question--Can anybody see the pictures??All I get is red X''s:dunno:

 

[CougarJackson]

Drop box is a piece of crap. LOL.