Why hasn't it been invented???

MinnesotaDaveChalmers · Jul 17, 2014

I'm confused actually - mower blades get out of level?

I've been running the same haudraulic drive Craftsman rider since about '95 and eye balled it one time when new - two years ago replaced the belts and eyeballed it again - cuts good and even.

My "yard" is pretty uneven and I hit gopher mounds and such, ram it through overgrown areas taller than the hood, get it stuck, pretty much all the stuff a person should not do to a mower.

Summary - something must be wrong with your John Deere.

Ed of all trades · Jul 17, 2014

The dealer normally levels the deck as part of set up. We used a 1" iron shaft 1" long with a threaded hole in one end and a small rod welded to the side. You stood it up under the deck and adjusted the bolt that was threaded into the hole to the bottom of the deck and then used that setting to check the other side. It worked well.

Poopdeck Pappy · Jul 17, 2014

MinnesotaDaveChalmers said:
I'm confused actually - mower blades get out of level?

No, the blades don't get out of level. The deck does. And the only way to check it is to measure the distance from the ground to the blade tips at the front and the back on each side of the mower (on level ground). Just checking the deck won't do it.

Most decks need to be set with the front 1/8" to 1/4" lower than the rear so that only the front of the blade is cutting. I usually set mine at 1/4" lower in front so that when an operator is on it (and compresses the rear somewhat), it will be approx 1/8" lower in front.

MinnesotaDaveChalmers · Jul 17, 2014

Poopdeck Pappy said:
No, the blades don't get out of level. The deck does. And the only way to check it is to measure the distance from the ground to the blade tips at the front and the back on each side of the mower (on level ground). Just checking the deck won't do it.

Most decks need to be set with the front 1/8" to 1/4" lower than the rear so that only the front of the blade is cutting. I usually set mine at 1/4" lower in front so that when an operator is on it (and compresses the rear somewhat), it will be approx 1/8" lower in front.

That's roughly what I meant - still the question remains, why would that happen several times to a John Deere and not a low quality Crafstman.

Grunt0311 · Jul 18, 2014

MinnesotaDaveChalmers said:
I'm confused actually - mower blades get out of level?

I've been running the same haudraulic drive Craftsman rider since about '95 and eye balled it one time when new - two years ago replaced the belts and eyeballed it again - cuts good and even.

My "yard" is pretty uneven and I hit gopher mounds and such, ram it through overgrown areas taller than the hood, get it stuck, pretty much all the stuff a person should not do to a mower.

Summary - something must be wrong with your John Deere.

I think we are talking about two completely different situations here. No disrespect meant, but some people enjoy mowing and take satisfaction in a very manicured lawn. I am one of those people. It sounds like your defintion of level and mine are a little different, not that either is right or wrong. To those that have thick, manicured lawns like mine, they probably feel my frustration to some extent. The eyeball method doesn't cut it for me, as I am going for perfection, or as close as I can get to it.

oosik · Jul 18, 2014

Hmmmm. My "lawn" sounds a lot like Dave J's. I have a very large yard that I mow, gopher mounds, lumps, bumps and all. The only real grass I've ever planted is the field where my drain field is located. Otherwise, I have a large yard of field grass that after years & years of mowing kind of turns into lawn. I use to water it but as the summer progresses this field grass dies, no matter what you do, and if you water it, you end up with wet, dead field grass. The primary reason for a lawn around my house is to stop any potential wild fires that may blow my way in the heat of the summer. To that end, the lawn between the house and the direction of the prevailing wind always stays green from subsurface moisture and the remainder comes back to life with the fall rains.

Kind of makes you fellows with the manicured, perfect lawns cringe, doesn't it. Ha,ha

Thomabear · Jul 18, 2014

oldballs said:
I set my deck three years ago and have never checked it since. My turf has never complained nor have I.....maybe I need some laser glasses.

I suppose the set it and forget it method works well when you are running 1 implement such as yourself. Unfortunately most of us run several implements which requires top link adjustments and occasionally the bottom link spread adjustments. That's why I can appreciate the "Walmart Special" stick on RV levels. Just stick em right next to the top link and it takes all of about 10 seconds to level things up without guessing. They definitely won't break the bank at a couple of bucks for a pair.

Xfaxman · Jul 18, 2014

oosik said:
Hmmmm. My "lawn" sounds a lot like Dave J's. I have a very large yard that I mow, gopher mounds, lumps, bumps and all. The only real grass I've ever planted is the field where my drain field is located. Otherwise, I have a large yard of field grass that after years & years of mowing kind of turns into lawn. I use to water it but as the summer progresses this field grass dies, no matter what you do, and if you water it, you end up with wet, dead field grass. The primary reason for a lawn around my house is to stop any potential wild fires that may blow my way in the heat of the summer. To that end, the lawn between the house and the direction of the prevailing wind always stays green from subsurface moisture and the remainder comes back to life with the fall rains.

Kind of makes you fellows with the manicured, perfect lawns cringe, doesn't it. Ha,ha

I am in the same situation, we are lucky that weeds are green! :thumbsup:

Front yard and across the driveway.