Lawn mowing isn’t as simple as jumping on your lawnmower and cutting the grass. There are crucial aspects that must be in place to ensure you get a perfect cut. One of those aspects is the level of your mower’s deck.
An out-of-level mower’s deck isn’t a complicated issue, but it could drastically affect cut quality, especially if you’re the type that wants everything to be in perfect shape.
This article will educate you on all you need to know about the leveling of your mower’s deck. You’ll understand the importance of a mower’s deck being level and how to do it so you can get an admirable cut.
Why Should You Level Your Mower Deck?
You don’t need to level your mower’s deck if you aren’t experiencing any unusual symptoms. However, the chance that you’ll occasionally experience one of the signs that tell you that you need to level it is very high. Therefore, you may need to balance it once or twice a season.
One of the telltale time-to-level signs is that you’re getting an uneven cut when you mow. If one side of the deck is higher, it will transfer the same condition to the grass when cutting it.
You should also consider leveling the lawn when the mower isn’t cutting the grass well. This is different from an uneven cut. Here, all the grasses look as though it’s a substandard mower that worked on them.
When you get any type of uneven cut on your grass, it gives your lawn a poor look. A yard with a bad look can give your home a bad curb appeal. It can also be dangerous to the grasses and expose them to infections. Therefore, you should take proper (general) care of your lawn mower’s deck.
You could also perform other maintenance procedures on your deck when leveling it. Sometimes, the cause of the issue can also be related to a blunt or bent blade, which you’d discover when you work on it.
How to Level Your Mower Deck
There are many types of mowers in the market, and sometimes, the methods for leveling the deck can be different. The best way to know how to do it on your specific model is to look through the owner’s manual or search online. This section will educate you on how to level the deck on almost any type of mower.
1. Prepare the Mower
Check if your mower’s deck is out of place. The part where you check your mower’s height is the start of the repair process. You can proceed with the leveling if it’s out of place, and if it’s not, you can diagnose other possible causes.
Before you work on your mower, get it to a flat ground. When you put it on flat ground, you’d be able to get accurate measurements which is crucial when leveling your mower’s deck.
2. Ensure the Mower Is Turned Off
It’s imperative to ensure the engine is completely turned off before repair to avoid any issues. Disconnect the spark plug so it can’t come in contact with the engine.
3. Get the Equipment Ready.
Thick gloves are necessary if you’re carrying out a do-it-yourself (DIY) fix. Additionally, prepare the instruments that you’ll need for the process. A tire inflator, tire pressure gauge, measurement device, and wrench set are all you need to run this fix on any type of residential mower.
4. Check the Tire Pressure
You’ll need the tire pressure gauge to measure the pressure in all your tires. If any is deflated, it could affect your deck measurements and mess up the repair process. Use the inflator to inflate the deflated ones.
5. Rotate the Blades to the Side.
Rotate your mower’s blades so they’re straight from the right to the left of the tractor. This mower will help you get more accurate measurements and make the mower easier to work with. It’s imperative to wear protective gloves before touching the blade and always handle it on the blunt side.
6. Adjust the Left and Right Sides of the Mower.
Get a tape measure and get the measurement of your mower from the blade to the ground on both sides. Before you do this, you should manually adjust the deck height to around 3.5 inches. If the distance from the blade to the floor on both sides isn’t equal or there’s more than a ⅛ inch difference, you need to adjust it.
Adjust the deck using the lift link knock-on near the rear wheels with a compatible wrench. Do so for both sides of the deck until the difference is between â…› inches or both are equal. Adjust the nut counter-clockwise to loosen and reduce your deck level and clockwise to tighten and increase it.
7. Adjust the Front and Back Areas of the Deck
You need to measure your mower’s blades at the front and back just like you did for the sides. In this case, ensure that the front engine shouldn’t surpass the back by more than ⅛-½ inches. If it does, you’ll need to adjust it similarly to what you did in the previous sections through a nut lock at the front of the mower.
There’s all there is to leveling your mower’s deck. Understand that you don’t need to access your mower’s blade before you can repair it, but it’d be more accurate if you do. You can measure from the bottom end of your mower deck down and still get your measurements right since it’s where the blades are located.
Alternatively, you can use four pieces of blocks or similar instruments, 2-3.5 inches, to measure your deck instead. In this case, you only need to place them under the deck and adjust it until the blocks fit. When you use blocks, you eliminate the need for measuring tape when you work on the mower.
Conclusion
You should level your mower if it’s giving you an uneven cut or any other problems. Even if everything seems all right, inspect the deck regularly. You’d have to make minimal adjustments if you check the deck size occasionally.
Don’t forget that the overall maintenance of your deck is almost as essential as leveling it. Wash the deck regularly, especially if you have a mower with a deck washout port. Ensure that the blades are sharp always and sharpen them if they’re not.
If you maintain your mower’s deck properly, you will get a beautiful lawn anytime you run your machine.
