Sounds like you are working with several unknowns. First, I would go to the Simplicity Manufacturing site and get an owners' manual. Try this link:
http://www.simplicitymfg.com/manuals/index.cfm?rd=1
OK, I do not know your specific model number, but 1693381 will get you to Landlord DLX info and there are several important manuals that can be downloaded.
Cutting height for Simplicity mowers depends on the height the rollers are set to as well as the connection to the tractor at the tow bar. Roller height is adjusted by some sort of lever...decks vary in how this is done. The tow bar connection is predetermined when Simplicity matches decks and tractors, but if you were to have a deck that was not designed for your tractor, there could be a problem getting it adjusted. You should be able to follow the owners' manual deck leveling instructions and end up with a cutting height of say 3 1/2", with the front-to-back varying by 1/8" or so lower in the front. (There are different opinions on this...some say lower on the back...I go with lower on the front.)
So, get the manual, see if your deck looks kosher, and try to follow the leveling procedure. Let us know how you make out and I'm sure someone will try to answer any other questions that come up. :goodl:

PS The deck lift via the chains should have nothing to do with cutting height nor should it interfere with traction.

 

Not sure about a 2001 Landlord, but on the newer Simplicity tractors, you need to hook the deck up to the second link in the chain to give you the required deck lift.

Before I figured this out, I couldn't lift the deck high enough to be able to clear the little ledge to get into the shed.

 

The rollers are set for deck height of cut. These decks are designed to ride on the (rollers) ground. the front attachment pivits on the front axle.
They have been of the same type design since the 60's on almost all garden tractors. There should be a acme type screw to adjust. Some new models (prestige) have a servo motor that does it electrically now too. I crank mine all the way down and cut the highest it'll go.

MU

 

tday, Just to clarify the traction issue, in your post it sounded like you were losing traction because the deck was exerting a lifting force on the tractor due to the rollers holding it up too high. Of course that should never happen, but it is true that the extra weight of the deck when suspended from the chains will give you better traction. This has never been an issue for me when going forward, but sometimes it is necessary to lift the deck in order to gain traction when backing up. :fing32:

 

I guess my post was a little confusing, No it's not like i'm losing traction because i don't have the weight of the deck hanging from the chains. It was just something I encountered when I was mowing over an un-even spot, I guess the roller was just digging in to the grass?


I think I understand the cutting height question now(it is always supposed to ride on the rollers) but with my rollers adjusted to my cutting height there is a lot of slack in the lift chains. so when I use the lift, it barely pulls the rollers off of the ground. Should I move the chain to the second link.

And then when I am mowing over a bad spot is it ok to temporarily raise it off the rollers without disengaging the pto?

thanks

 

"I think I understand the cutting height question now(it is always supposed to ride on the rollers) but with my rollers adjusted to my cutting height there is a lot of slack in the lift chains. so when I use the lift, it barely pulls the rollers off of the ground. Should I move the chain to the second link.

And then when I am mowing over a bad spot is it ok to temporarily raise it off the rollers without disengaging the pto?"

1st question-Yes

2nd question-Yes, but the rollers smooth out rough ground pretty well, so you really shouldn't need to.

 

thanks, talldog

 

Keep in mind, the deck will drop lower if you mow ditches or such with a lot of slack in the chain...consequently, it won't lift as high. If you don't need the extra play of having the deck drop down further such as mowing ditches, definitely rise it a link, this should make it a couple inches higher when you raise the deck.