I was reading through my manual the other night and it seems that I have been leveling my deck incorrectly. I have a 54C deck on an X540. I have the JD leveling guage. I was measuring the blade tips with the side blades out to the side on both sides to get my left and right leveling done. Then I would turn my center blade to where it pointed straight out to the front and measure the blade tip on it to get the front measurement 1/8 to 1/4 inch lower than the rear. From looking at the manual it seems like you don't measure the center blade at all. It looks like you turn both side blades to where the point to the front and measure off them to adjust the front level. Can someone please tell me the proper way to do this? I need to pull the deck and shapen, grease, and clean the underside of the deck and I want to make sure and to get it leveled properly. Thanks in advane for any replies.
Deck leveling question.
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First find a level spot that can be harder then some think.Then make sure the tire pressure is correct.Then with the blade tips forward adjust so the front is 1/8th to 1/4 lower then back.I check both sides outer blades.But if you measure the threads on the arbor bolt both sides it should be the same both sides.Measure from the outer nut to end of threads and make them the same.Then check both sides and it should be OK.Then turn the blades so there facing out and adjust as needed.
My dealer tried to tell me that the deck should be checked for level from time to time.Especially after removing the deck.I have been around long enouph to know that is a bunch of bunk.As long as the nuts are locked tight why would removing the deck make it change.Atleast I have never had a problem keeping a deck level after it is set right.I think he told me this as an excuse for why it was not set before delievery.The tire pressure was not even set right.
My dealer tried to tell me that the deck should be checked for level from time to time.Especially after removing the deck.I have been around long enouph to know that is a bunch of bunk.As long as the nuts are locked tight why would removing the deck make it change.Atleast I have never had a problem keeping a deck level after it is set right.I think he told me this as an excuse for why it was not set before delievery.The tire pressure was not even set right.
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Doesn't have to be level. Only has to be flat.
Makes sense that you would compare the side and front measurement on the same blade as there can be a slight variance between blades.
I just went through this exercise with my X500 because I was getting an very uneven cut with ridges on the turning cuts.
Finding a level "flat" spot is the tricky part, at least in my garage.
I did remove the deck, sharpened the blades, cleaned, greased and re-installed the deck.
I used the level gauge/post, that pulls out of the height adjustment knob. Be sure to set the knob to the leveling position which sets the deck and blades to two inches, I believe, after your done with the process.
I could not believe how out of whack my deck was. The two rear adjustment points had to come up a good 3/8" and the front point almost an inch! No wonder it cut the way it did when turning. I did have exactly two inches from the floor to the blades, just what the height knob was reading, after I finished. You might have to go back and forth a few times, as you adjust the front, the back has to be adjusted again, and so on.
The other important thing, is to adjust the scalping wheels correctly. You adjust these after you set your desired cutting height... say 3 1/4". Then set the scalping wheels to be a quarter to a half inch higher than the ground.
The cut is like night and day!
I remember checking the deck when I bought the tractor last year and it was good at the time. I suspect when I put the plow on, which involved unbolting and adding a couple parts so you could lift the plow with the deck lifting pedal, something got nudged.
Anyway... have fun.
Finding a level "flat" spot is the tricky part, at least in my garage.
I did remove the deck, sharpened the blades, cleaned, greased and re-installed the deck.
I used the level gauge/post, that pulls out of the height adjustment knob. Be sure to set the knob to the leveling position which sets the deck and blades to two inches, I believe, after your done with the process.
I could not believe how out of whack my deck was. The two rear adjustment points had to come up a good 3/8" and the front point almost an inch! No wonder it cut the way it did when turning. I did have exactly two inches from the floor to the blades, just what the height knob was reading, after I finished. You might have to go back and forth a few times, as you adjust the front, the back has to be adjusted again, and so on.
The other important thing, is to adjust the scalping wheels correctly. You adjust these after you set your desired cutting height... say 3 1/4". Then set the scalping wheels to be a quarter to a half inch higher than the ground.
The cut is like night and day!
I remember checking the deck when I bought the tractor last year and it was good at the time. I suspect when I put the plow on, which involved unbolting and adding a couple parts so you could lift the plow with the deck lifting pedal, something got nudged.
Anyway... have fun.
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OK finding a flat spot can be harder then you think.
Thanks for the replies. I have leveled the deck before but I was adjusting the side to side adjustment with the outer blades and I was adusting the front with the center blade turned tworad the front. I see now that was not correct. I have the JD leveling guage that is much better than the one that is in the knob. I am going to shoot the works to it this weekend because I fertilized and then we got about 3 inches of rain in 3 days. My grass is really getting green and thick. It's time to put the X540 to work:thanku:
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