leveling a deck

[esbwn]

does anyone have a way to level decks? i have been trying but can not get it done. i have a LT1050 with about 96 hrs and the lines in my yard are driving me nuts...i just put new blades on and would like an even cut. thanks!

 

[mm371]

I'm not sure where the adjustment screws are on your deck, but you need to have it on a level surface such as a garage floor. Turn the blades where they are pointing out to the sides and measure from the floor to the tip of the blade. get each side the same distance from the floor and then turn the blades so the are pointing front to rear. measure again and adjust so they are the same height at the front as at the rear. Then you should be in good shape.

 

[anthonyk]

I tried that "measure the tip of the blade to the floor" thing, and it never worked well for me.
When I took my 1046 in for some service I asked the guy to level the deck and watched how he did it.
He parked the unit on a level concrete floor and took a small piece of 2x4 lumber and basically used it as a gauge.
He put the lumber under the edge of the deck on both sides, front and rear and lowered the deck until it just touched in all 4 places. Seemed simple, and the unit is cutting level.
It obviously doesn't have to be a 2x4, I think anything that you can shim under the deck will work, as long as it's the same on all 4 points.

anthony

 

[TractorLarry]

Seems to me this would level the deck housing, but does it actually level the blades?

-Larry

I tried that "measure the tip of the blade to the floor" thing, and it never worked well for me.
When I took my 1046 in for some service I asked the guy to level the deck and watched how he did it.
He parked the unit on a level concrete floor and took a small piece of 2x4 lumber and basically used it as a gauge.
He put the lumber under the edge of the deck on both sides, front and rear and lowered the deck until it just touched in all 4 places. Seemed simple, and the unit is cutting level.
It obviously doesn't have to be a 2x4, I think anything that you can shim under the deck will work, as long as it's the same on all 4 points.

anthony

 

[thatguy]

Seems to me this would level the deck housing, but does it actually level the blades?

-Larry

As long as the deck was the same all the way around (mine isnt) it should work - AND that the corresponding blade height was what you wanted.. I would certainly be easier to guage the deck heights off the floor than measuring the blades..

John Deere makes device that reaches under the deck to make measuring the blade height easier.. It was around $7 at the dealer..

Dont you want the rear to be a tad (1/8" to 1/4") HIGHER than the front (front to rear) as well??

brian

 

[anthonyk]

I think you're right, but that's what he did, and it's worked for me ever since.
I could never quite get the tape measure folded/bent correctly, while lying on the floor squinting under the deck

anthony

 

[mm371]

When I leveled mine, I used a piece of cardboard to measure with. I took a piece about 4" long and put one end against the floor and pressed the tip of the blade into it where I could see the mark without having to get down and look under the deck.

 

[esbwn]

thanks everyone! im going to try the wood blocks.