GT2544 not cutting level

[toadtown]

I got a new GT2544 in April with the wheel weights. I have never really been happy with the way it cuts. I replaced an eight year old Simplicity. I have leveled the deck as it says in the manual, but it leaves streaks in my yard. The right hand side cuts too low.

I mow in the No. 5 position. The wheels are in the bottom holes which mades them about 1" from the ground. My yard is a slope that winds around. As I mow I turn to the left. I have noticed that while the mower is on a level surface, the deck lowers as you turn the front wheels to the left and raises when turned to the right. Is this normal?

Anyone have any ideas. It's 40 miles to the dealer.

Steven

 

[anthonyk]

Toadtown, that is exactly what my 1046 did!
I leveled with a ruler to within a 64th of an inch using the "blade tip" method described in the owners manual and still the right side scalped. Finally just lowered the left side till it looked uneven and made a few passes. Kept adjusting till it didn't leave that scalp. Very strange. Now it cuts perfectly, but is definitely NOT set up the way the manual describes. Maybe it's because we're both cutting across a downward slope and the lower side (right side) of the tractor is dipping due to gravity.
I give up. At least it now cuts perfectly.
Hope this helps.

Anthony /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Frank03]

toadtown,
Call your dealer to come to your house and either fix it there or take it back to the shop and fix it. You have a "1" year service free warranty on that machine and deck even if they have to come and pick it up, fix it , and deliver it back again. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif disregard this post if you bought the tractor at a box store /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ducati996]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( toadtown,
Call your dealer to come to your house and either fix it there or take it back to the shop and fix it. You have a "1" year service free warranty on that machine and deck even if they have to come and pick it up, fix it , and deliver it back again. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif disregard this post if you bought the tractor at a box store /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>

Was this a special offer from the dealer or Cub? It dosent sound like a standard Cub offering for service issues that sound like its not a warranty issue. Sounds like Deck leveling, in its purest form, he has had the machine since April...Use a John deere leveler, which gives you an accurate guage...
Check tire pressure in all tires..double check the blades, to make sure they are the right part number, mounted in the correct positon (not upside down), not dull, check and make sure the grass isnt built up too much....

 

[cyberkrazze]

If you read your warranty statement on the back of your owners manual, it clearly states that adjustments are not covered under warranty. Unless this was an agreement for 1 year free service that was made between the customer and the dealership before the sale, which usually does not happen. Warranty covers "defects" in the workmanship of a unit, not adjustments.

 

[Frank03]

I don't care what the aggreement says, if you are having this problem and it has been doing it from day one, I would be on the phone getting results. If his dealer is any thing like mine, they would be there in no time to help him out, but that just might be how my dealer operates. He has come to me for much smaller problems /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[JTKub]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ... If his dealer is any thing like mine, they would be there in no time to help him out, but that just might be how my dealer operates. He has come to me for much smaller problems /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif )</font>

I dunno of a dealer for any brand that will 'come to the house' for a $2999 GT. If you had 2-3x that worth of business through them maybe. You have an exceptional dealer, or have spent thousands thru him.
G/luck
Joel

 

[toadtown]

I have leveled this deck till I'm sick. I used the pencil method another forum member described. The deck is level from side to side, but it dips on the right side, making a terrible cut.

So I tried anthonyk's idea. I raised the right side of the deck 3/4" just to test. Now it cuts almost as good as my old Simplicity. I may have over shot a little. I will try again next weekend. After all, it is the trial and error method.

My dealer will come and get the mower and repair it under warranty unless it is an adjustment issue. If it is just an adjustment, they will charge a premium. That is why I posted here first. I have learned a lot from reading these messages.

I loved my old Simplicity, but it had a weakness. The transmission could not hold up to my almost 300 lbs and my hill. I shopped around and read this board and chose the 2544 in April. I bearly had enough time to mow, no time to tinker. I was juggling a job and helping my wife take care of my sick mother. Now that we are trying to get back to normal, after the funeral, I want to get this problem solved.

Steven

 

[anthonyk]

glad it helped.
that's wierd, isn't it?
I'm still trying to figure out how high to set the anti scalp wheels. Originally, I had them setting on the ground, but someone told me that the deck wheels shouldn't touch the ground. I'm moving them up to the highest position now.

anthony

 

[wsx7]

For the anti-scalping wheels - put your deck in the position for the height you will normally cut at. Then raise/lower the wheels until the bottom of the wheels protrude no more than 1/2" below the edge of the deck. That is the recommended position, and works good on my machine.

Hope everything works out okay for you.

 

[200_Buck_2165]

To properely set the anti-scalping wheels: (Guage wheels)

<font color="red"> Note:</font> Guage wheel adjustment should be performed onlly AFTER the mower deck has been properely leveled.

<font color="red"> Note:</font> Guage wheels are intended to prevent scalping of the lawn, and are not meant to be used to set the cutting height. Do not run the deck on the guage wheels.

1. Place the tractor implement lift handle in the normally desired mowing height setting, then check the guage wheels for contact or excessive clearance with the surface below.

2. If the wheels contact the surface, adjust as follows:

a. Raise the implement lift handle to its highest setting to relieve the weight of the deck from the wheels.

b. Pull the quick release pins from the wheel adjustment spindles.

c. again place the tractor implement lift handle in the normally desired mowing height setting.

d. Raise one of the rear adjustment spindles to align the index hole that provides approximately 1/2 inch (half inch) clearance between the rear guage wheel and the level surface. Secure in this position with a quick release pin.

e. Note which of the index holes was sused; then install the other rear guage wheel and the front ball wheels using the corresponding index hole of the other wheel adjustment spindles. Secure all with the quick release pins.

3. If the guage wheels have excessive clarance with the surface below, lower the wheels to the index hole that provides the approximate 1/2 inch (half inch) clearance as described above.

<font color="red"> Note:</font> All guage wheel adjustment spindles should be installed in teh guage wheel brackets using the same adjustment index hole position.


All taken from the Cub Cadet Operator's Manual for 300 series decks, in this case a 48" mowing deck.

Hope this helps.

 

[anthonyk]

thanks for the anti scalping tips.

anthony

 

[toadtown]

I sure wish my 2544 had quick release pins. I hate having to move those wheels up and down.

Steven

 

[JTKub]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I sure wish my 2544 had quick release pins. I hate having to move those wheels up and down.

Steven )</font>

They really should be 'set it & forget it' /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. I know whatcha mean though. I would rather have the quick adjust wheels just for maintenance and/or replacement purposes.
G/luck
Joel