54" MMM Fine Cut hieght adjustmenr

[mow4fun]

So we have a very nice day and I decided it is time to get acquainted with my BX1860 mower. I purchased the 54" MMM fine cut deck and read the manual to make sure the height on the anti scalp wheels is set correctly.

I raised the deck, set the height adjustment knob to 3, set the anti scalp wheels to the 3rd hole from the top as per the manual. I was parked on the driveway on a flat level area. When I lowered the deck, the front anti scalp wheels were resting on the ground and the rear were about a 1/4" up. I tried this on the lawn and same results.

I then changed the height on the anti scalp wheels to the 4th hole from the top. This time the front anti scalp wheels were about 1/4 inch clearance while the rear is about 1/2 inch clearance.

Did I do this right, any thoughts or prior experience with the deck adjustment?

 

[Evil the Weasel]

I think the manual provides a good starting point, but your best bet is to use whatever holes give you approx 1/2" between the scalp rollers and a level surface when you have it lowered at your desired cutting height. That means you wont necessarily be using the same positions front to back. This could also mean there are setup issues to ask the dealer about or to explore yourself.

 

[mow4fun]

I always thought that the front should be a bit lower than the rear, shouldn't it?

 

[TripleR]

Your mower deck manual will have a section on set up and adjustment. You will measure the proper height adjustment front to back by measuring from the blades distance during their rotation front to back. It sounds as though your deck may not be properly adjusted and if not, I would refer this to the dealer if it is a new mower. I have adjusted the deck on a BX and it is a bear as any adjustment anywhere throws something off somewhere else.

Another thing to consider is that your index mark on the deck surface may be improperly marked as I have seen this and your indicator is going to be off. I have seen this referred to on this site.

 

[mow4fun]

Yeah, I've been reading through it and will verify all measurments and adjust accordingly next we have good weather like today.

Question: I had the FEL on, would that have caused the differences I described?

Maybe I should take the FEL off first before messing around with the current setup?

 

[CHDinCT]

Yeah, I've been reading through it and will verify all measurments and adjust accordingly next we have good weather like today.

Question: I had the FEL on, would that have caused the differences I described?

Maybe I should take the FEL off first before messing around with the current setup?

Yes, that could be causing your front tires to load up and squat some if it was up off the ground. It does sound like your deck is too low in the front, or too high in the back. Try checking your gauge wheels with the FEL on the ground and with all hydraulic pressure relieved. The other quick thing to check is your tire pressure. Make sure those are close to spec before you start going crazy adjusting the deck geometry itself. As Triple R says, it can be a bear to adjust. I think I played with mine for an hour once and couldn't get it perfectly level front to back and side to side, but I got it to be "good enough"

 

[TripleR]

CHDinCT is right, a FEL no matter how you have the pressure in your front tires will make your front drop and throw off your ability to correctly judge your deck measurements. Take it off, not just put in the down position before doing anything. Adjusting these things is only slightly easier than brain surgery.

 

[ttstraw]

mow4fun,

I did this very thing Saturday for the same reason but on a 60" deck on a 2920. The 2920 is differerent in how you make the adjustments but the theroy is the same and its spelled out in the book pretty well. I set mine to 2" for tuning and in the end I was able to get the center blade tip when pointed straight ahead dead on 2" with the back of the blade ~2 1/8. The right and left blade when pointed perpedicular with the tractor I was able to get the outside tip to where a 2" block of wood would slide under it while touch the blade. It took a little bit to understand how the adjustments moved the blades but once I got that figured out it was easy and I learned a lot about the mower. Good thing is you do it once and you set as long as your tire pressure is right. Pick another nice day and go through the deck adjustments procedure, then you will know you are set.

Tom

 

[Gator6x4]

So we have a very nice day and I decided it is time to get acquainted with my BX1860 mower. I purchased the 54" MMM fine cut deck and read the manual to make sure the height on the anti scalp wheels is set correctly.

I raised the deck, set the height adjustment knob to 3, set the anti scalp wheels to the 3rd hole from the top as per the manual. I was parked on the driveway on a flat level area. When I lowered the deck, the front anti scalp wheels were resting on the ground and the rear were about a 1/4" up. I tried this on the lawn and same results.

I then changed the height on the anti scalp wheels to the 4th hole from the top. This time the front anti scalp wheels were about 1/4 inch clearance while the rear is about 1/2 inch clearance.

Did I do this right, any thoughts or prior experience with the deck adjustment?

The best approximatrely $10.00 you will spend to help in setting up your mower deck and maintaining it will be spent at the John Deere Dealers. Stop by and purchase one of the plastic deck leveling devices sold by John Deere. You can use the device to set your deck up and always get a good looking lawn. Takes the guess work and skinned knuckles out of it.

 

[BANDAMAN]

I think the other posters have you pointed in the right direction, but I just wanted to add that the BX mower decks are one of the worst things to level I have ever dealt with...very frustrating! You can get it good enough like CHDinCT stated, but it seems futile to try and get it perfect. I would sure like to see them improve the design.