[powrguy]

I have a 1997 John Deere 345 that I purchased new, with the 54" deck and the power-flow bagger. To my knowledge, it's never run into anything with the deck like a stump or rock or anything, but my wife sometimes uses it, so that's why I say "to my knowledge".

Over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed an uneven cut, and I put the tractor on the concrete driveway flat area, and the right side of the deck measures 1" lower than the left side. This is with the gauge wheels not touching the ground, and the deck is hanging slanted whether up or down position. I don't see any damage to the suspension arms or anything.

Have you any of you had an experience with this trouble?


thanks

 

[gmanula]

Pull out your operators manual, and there should be a fairly simple procedure outlined for leveling up the deck. The two lift arms in the back of the deck are adjustable, you simply need to tighten up the right side to get it on level. You need to make sure you measure the height from the tip of the blades, and you want the left and right as close to the same height as possible.

Also, you need the front cutting edge to be 1/4 of an inch or so lower than the back which can be accomplished simply by adjusting your lift arms, there is a nice thread somewhere around here explaining the numerous benefits of doing so.

Good luck on getting your cut back on level.

P.S.-I wouldn't try to blame that one on your wife.

 

[powrguy]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't see any adjustment on the arms, but to tell you the truth, when I got down and was looking at them, they APPEARED to be even with each other, looking straight across from the side under the floorboard.

I'm going to check into it, and yes, I will look in the Owners Manual I got with it. I change/sharpen the blades every Spring, and recently put a new deck serpentine belt on it, but don't recall any problem putting the deck back on, and it appears to be mounted properly.

I'll check it out.


thanks, again.

 

[davidg]

you have had this machine for 12 years and never had to level the deck? DANG! i have to level mine at least once a season just due to bouncing around in the yard.

just because the arms appear even does not mean anything. they are a long ways from teh edges, and it don't take much in teh middle to get the outside off. be prepared to have to adjust both sides though, cause usually a big change on one side will affect the other side.

 

[powrguy]

LOL !

I checked it out, and the deck was a FULL 1" lower on the right side than the left, measured at the tips of the blades outboard.

I cranked up the right adjustment, then trued the left adjuster also to make both blade tips within probably 1/16" even. I didn't know there was an adjustment until told so on the forum, but then, how many of us really go through the WHOLE Owner's Manual when we get the new toys?

Anyway, next time I mow, I think the uneven cutting is done, and I should be good for ANOTHER 12 years of adjustment-free use.

thanks for the help.


tom

 

[Dave Shaver]

Always check for the correct tire pressure all the way around BEFORE leveling the deck.
Dave:trink40:

 

[Grateful11]

>"you have had this machine for 12 years and never had to level the deck?
DANG! i have to level mine at least once a season just due to bouncing around
in the yard."

Well unless you bend something or it you're getting wear and tear it should
stay level. Bouncing alone shouldn't make get out of level.

 

[HydroHarold]

According to my PowerFlo manual, the gauge wheels on the right side should be set one hole lower (closer to the ground) to compensate for all that weight needlessly hanging on the end of the deck. Mine will groove soft ground making right turns no matter how it's setup or adjusted. That heavy blower belongs on the back not way out on the end of the deck (In my less than humble opinion).

 

[h2ofwlr]

Just stand on the left side of the deck and jump up and down on it several times--that should even it out. If you are a Bubba, maybe only jump on it once or otherwise you my break the deck.






















.
:sidelaugh



BTW, I have actually have seen guys do this to level the cut....:fing20:

 

[HydroHarold]

How about a counterweight moulded to fit the opposite side of the deck? Attach with nylock wingnuts and go... If you ever lift a PowerFlow blower unit you can easily understand why it jams the RH front gauge wheel into damp sod on right turns. BUT this doesn't answer why my PF jams the right rear gauge wheel against the blower housing at any cuts lower than 3.5"... For other model decks there's an offset wheel bracket available, but JDparts doesn't say whether it will fit my deck or not.