[sproulman]

when you set your lever say to 2 and 1/2 inchs,i assume if you check the height from ground to bottom of the blade it should be at 2 and 1/2 inchs.my LA145 at 2 and 1/2 inch setting is showing 2 and 1/4 on the ground to bottom of blade.

is this at proper height?

 

[09 X540]

As long as it is within a 1/4 inch it is fine. It does need to be the same on each side and front needs to be 1/8 to 1/4 inch lower than the sides. That is the way it is on my mower anyway. Once you get the hang of leveling the deck it is fairly simple. I bought one of the $8 deck leveling guages from my dealer and it really helps out for fine tuning.

 

[ohiocowboy1277]

are you checking this on a flat paved surface or in the yard ? also are your tires properly inflated ? if youare sure the surface is flat and there are no invisible to the eye high spots i would think it would be 2 1/2 in from ground to blade if thats what you have it set on but there could be a manufacturers misadjustment causing it to be 1/4 in off but imo still not bad enough to notice as long as it is the same on both sides of the deck

 

[sproulman]

yes, level concrete garage floor.i feel blade should be 2 and 1/2 inchs if it is set at 2 and 1/2 inchs but thought i would ask.using a tape measure at discharge area to measure height.

 

[09 X540]

yes, level concrete garage floor.i feel blade should be 2 and 1/2 inchs if it is set at 2 and 1/2 inchs but thought i would ask.using a tape measure at discharge area to measure height.

I got my manual out for my X540 and checked it. It says that the difference between each side blade should not be more than 1/8 in. So actually if the tire pressure is correct and the surface is level then the blade tip should be exactly 2 1/2 in. with each side being no more than 1/8 in different. Then turn the blades going from front to back. The front of the blade tips needs to be 1/8 to 1/4 in. lower on each side. The leveling guage is cheap and for me it payed for itself the first time that I used it.

 

[2008 Impala]

I mostly cut at 3 and a half inches on the John Deere and position 5 on the Craftsman which makes them more or less the same.

 

[KeithB78]

i started at 2.5" to close and now 2.75" and going to try 3" next mowing. My lawn is pretty uneven.

 

[bontai Joe]

A quarte inch tolerence on grass height is about as close as you are gonna get. Maybe you are running your tires a little softer than the original tractor that was used to set the calibration. Maybe your linkage is assembled a hair different. When you think of ALL the parts and the clearances in them, starting at the bottom of your tires, going through your axles, to the frame, to the linkages that the mower deck is mounted to, to the deck itself, and out to the blade tips, 1/4" is pretty darn close.

 

[Jopopsy]

I keep the dial set at 3".

 

[09 X540]

I keep the dial set at 3".

Same here. 3 inches gives mine the best cut. I like to leave some grass there to help cut down on weeds.

 

[sproulman]

we all use 2.5 setting here in pa.in my neighborhood until heat hits in july then it goes up to no.3.in spring until last week you dont want to be any higher than than 2.5 because weeds will grow and send their seeds all over.

 

[h2ofwlr]

It also depends on the grass and soil type for the height. And of course the more small hills in the yard (uneven terrian) and the bigger the deck, the higher it should be set to aviod scalping the lawn.

The higher it is set, the less evaporation of water out of the soil too, so if watering, less water is used. As such as menioned, during heat and dry periods (if not watering or not) the higher that you cut it, the greener that it will be.

I cut mine at 3.5" and go to 4" once the 85 degree heat starts.

 

[Jeff T]

My LX is set at 3 1/4". I keep getting longer as the fertilizer keeps complaining I cut too short... I once cut at 2 1/2".

 

[etc02]

when you set your lever say to 2 and 1/2 inchs,i assume if you check the height from ground to bottom of the blade it should be at 2 and 1/2 inchs.my LA145 at 2 and 1/2 inch setting is showing 2 and 1/4 on the ground to bottom of blade.

is this at proper height?

The owners manual of my LA145 states that the front deck should be 1/8 to 1/4 inch lower to pevent "double cutting" and brown grass tips.

I never mow less than 3 inches

 

[heatman]

3 1/2" is the lowest I will set mine at. I usually cut at 4". Lawn stays much greener and zero weeds. It also makes much better stripes at a higher setting.

 

[Dude Man]

I raised mine from 2.5" to 3.5" this year. Due to mainly I read that the higher the grass the greener it stays, and makes a thicker lawn and drowns out the weeds. So far I also think my lawn looks better. However I did notice with raising the cutting height I seem to get more donuts around my trees, I think the tires bend the blades over and tears the blades out when turning.

Just my two cents. I could be wrong on all of this. I guess I have to live and learn to find the happy medium.

Good luck to all!!

 

[sproulman]

sproul to rescueisgus:

I WILL USE PA. as example.we get weeds from april to june 1st.during this time you want your setting at 2.5.having it higher will let dandy things and others to grow.

then comes june 1st and you should go to around 3.then in july 1st, up to 3.5 or 4.

even if you go high in heat, most times grass will get brown.but higher is better after JUNE 1ST.want more weeds and dandy things ,cut high spring ,you will have lots next year.:duh:

 

[brubakes]

I mow at 3" to 3.5"

 

[copcamaro]

when you set your lever say to 2 and 1/2 inchs,i assume if you check the height from ground to bottom of the blade it should be at 2 and 1/2 inchs.my LA145 at 2 and 1/2 inch setting is showing 2 and 1/4 on the ground to bottom of blade.

is this at proper height?

My dealer set my new X728 up so the blades are 1/4" lower in front than the rear. Mine says 3" and it is 3" at discharge side and oppisite side.

 

[copcamaro]

I raised mine from 2.5" to 3.5" this year. Due to mainly I read that the higher the grass the greener it stays, and makes a thicker lawn and drowns out the weeds. So far I also think my lawn looks better. However I did notice with raising the cutting height I seem to get more donuts around my trees, I think the tires bend the blades over and tears the blades out when turning.

Just my two cents. I could be wrong on all of this. I guess I have to live and learn to find the happy medium.

Good luck to all!!

Amen to this.
I have found cutting at 3-3.5 really makes the lawn look better.
Took me many uears to finally decide this was the way.