30
Leveling the Mower from
Side-to-Side
The mower blades must be level from side to side. Check
the side-to-side level any time you install the mower or
when you see an uneven cut on your lawn.
1. Position the mower on a flat surface. Disengage the
PTO, set the parking brake, stop the engine, and remove
the key. Disconnect the spark plug wire(s) from the
spark plug(s).
2. Check the air pressure of all four tires. If needed, adjust
to the recommended inflation; refer to Tire Pressure,
page 29.
3. Set the height-of-cut at 3 in. (76 mm).
4. Carefully rotate the blade(s) from side to side (Fig. 36).
Measure between the outside cutting edges and the flat
surface (Fig. 36). If both measurements are not within
3/16 in. (4.75 mm), an adjustment is required; refer to
steps 5 and 6.
Front
1
2
3
3
2
1078
Figure 36
1.
Blades side to side
2.
Outside cutting edges
3.
Measure here
5. Remove the hairpin cotter and washer from the leveling
bracket (Fig. 37). To level the blade(s), reposition the
leveling bracket(s) in a different hole and install the
washer and hairpin cotter (Fig. 37). A front hole lowers
the blade height and a rear hole raises its height. Adjust
both sides as required.
1
4
3
2
m–5177
Figure 37
1.
Hairpin cotter and washer
2.
Leveling bracket
3.
Front hole
4.
Rear hole
6. Check the front-to-rear blade slope; refer to Adjusting
the Front-to-Rear Blade Slope, page 30.
Adjusting the Front-to-Rear
Blade Slope
Check the front-to-rear blade level any time you install the
mower. If the front of the mower is more than 5/16 in.
(7.9 mm) lower than the rear of the mower, adjust the blade
level using the following instructions:
1. Position the mower on a flat surface. Disengage the
PTO, set the parking brake, stop the engine, and remove
the key. Disconnect the spark plug wire(s) from the
spark plug(s).
2. Check the air pressure of all four tires. If needed, adjust
to the recommended inflation; refer to Tire Pressure,
page 29.
3. Check and adjust the side-to-side blade level if you
have not checked the setting; refer to Leveling the
Mower from Side-to-Side, page 30.
4. Measure the length of the rear trunion rod (Fig. 38). If
the rod length is not 11-1/2 in. (29.2 cm), remove the
clevis pin and cotter pin from the end of the rod
(Fig. 38), loosen the jam nut, and turn the yoke until the
11-1/2 in. (29.3 cm) dimension is obtained. Then secure
the yoke with the clevis pin and cotter pin. Repeat this
procedure on the opposite side of the mower.
