King cutter scalps on one side

[padolin]

Hey folks, i have a 72 inch king cutter finish mower. In the past it has done really well keeping my 8 acres mowed smooth and nice. I loaned it to a friend last summer and when he brought it back it scalps on the outboard blade. Im not sure if he hit something and bent the shaft or the deck or what.

Does anyone have experience with this?

I hope i wont need to get a new mower deck, this one is only 4 years old.

 

[DK35vince]

What all have you checked so far ?
Tire pressures
Bent blade
Did your friend for some reason change the height adjustment shims on that side?

 

[Thomas]

Blade tight..can you hear blade hitting something.

 

[padolin]

I have replaced the blades. They are not bent or loose. It has solid rubber tires, so that cant be it. it is the right side blade out of three blades. It scalps forward. As if the whole shaft or deck is bent.

 

[Thomas]

Does deck adjustment wheel look damage?
Can you swap other side good adjustment wheel w/adjustment wheel deck side scalping to see if any difference?

 

[jeff9366]

Have you put a bubble level on the deck to be sure it is level left-to-right, making any adjustment necessary with the right Lifting Rod on the Three Point Hitch?

 

[Gary Fowler]

Sounds like a bent spindle. Level the deck then check the blades to see if all are level in all directions. If it is bent bad, you should be able to eyeball it and tell if it is bent when you turn it .

 

[padolin]

ok, im hoping its the spindle. Ive checked everything else. Its definitely either the spindle or the deck itself, and the deck seems awful sturdy to have it bent.

I wasnt sure if the spindle could bend that way and still work

Thanks for all the input. i appreciate it. Now i guess i get to shop around for parts!!

 

[whis]

turn it upside down and see if blade tips meet and same height

 

[Coyote machine]

Ask your 'friend' who borrowed it, if he hit something with it, while in his use. Better to not loan out equipment at all to best maintain friendships. second best bet it do the work on their place with your equipment, operated by you, though this too can present problems.
Don't shop parts until certain what the problem is.