Leveling the deck is one lawnmower maintenance activity that is often overlooked, but can make a world of difference.
A properly leveled deck provides several benefits. First and foremost, it helps produce the clean, even cut Grasshopper mowers are known for. Secondly, a level deck helps reduce wear and tear on the mower’s blades, spindles, belts and engine. Thirdly, it helps ensure that the blades can efficiently chop the grass clippings, which helps optimize fuel efficiency.
If you’re noticing that things just aren’t looking as crisp and consistent after a crew has mowed, you might need to level the deck on the mower they’re using.
Check out the below step-by-step guide and demonstration video on how to level the deck on a Grasshopper FrontMount™ mower. If you’re looking to learn how to level the deck on a different style of Grasshopper mower, click on the below links:
How to level the deck on your MidMount™
How to level the deck on your Stand-On
The below instructions are unique to the 729T FrontMount model, however most FrontMounts are similar to each other. For exact instructions on your model, please contact your local Grasshopper dealer.
Step 1 – Park the mower on a hard, level surface. Remove the key and set the parking brake.
Step 2 – Check the rear tire pressure and adjust as necessary. Recommended PSI is noted on each tire’s rim.
Step 3 – Remove the side-discharge shield.
Step 4 – Set the deck to the mid-range of its cutting height.
Step 5 – Measure from the ground to the top of the deck shell on one side of the deck. Repeat on the other side. Compare the two measurements to determine if an adjustment is needed to level the deck from side to side.
Step 6 – If an adjustment is needed, locate the adjusting rods on each side of the deck. Note that the front of each rod is attached to the wheel lift channel.
Step 7 – On one side of the deck, loosen the jam nut at the front of the adjusting rod. Once loose, remove the cotter pin and nylon washer. Then slide the heim joint off of the pin.
Step 8 – If you need to raise that side of the deck, rotate the heim joint further onto the threads of the adjusting rod. To lower the deck, rotate the heim joint further away from the threads.
Step 9 – Take another measurement from the ground to the top of the deck shell on one side of the deck. Repeat on the other side. Compare the two measurements to determine if Step 8 needs to be repeated in order to get the deck level from side to side.
Step 10 – Once the deck is level from side to side, replace the cotter pin and nylon washer you’d removed from the adjusting rod earlier. Also retighten the jam nut.
Step 11 – To complete the deck-leveling process, you also need to evaluate the pitch of the deck. The front of the deck should always be 1/8” to 1/4” lower than the rear. To make a front-to-back adjustment, first identify where the deck attaches to the tractor. Also identify the multiple holes that accompany each of the two deck-attaching brackets.
Step 12 – Measure from the ground to those holes. Identify the hole that is closest to 8-1/4”. That is the hole you should mount the deck to in order to achieve the desired front-to-back pitch at a cutting height of 3” or higher.
Step 13 – If you want to mow at a lower height, lower the deck-attaching brackets by one hole. Additionally, move the axle bolts on each front caster wheel to the top hole.
Watch the above video for a detailed, step-by-step demonstration.
As you can see, leveling the deck on your FrontMount mower isn’t difficult at all. So the next time a freshly mowed lawn isn’t looking as clean and even as usual, follow this process to make sure everything is in the proper alignment, so your mowing crews can stay on the right track.