David414 322 #1 Posted May 22 I brought a well-used mowing deck, model # 78360, a three blade 48" .The Model # is the best I can read from the faded label, and it came off a 1993 314H. Put this deck on my 1989, 414-8. Problem is, I can't level the deck side to side, and the deck is visibly lower on the left side, (lift handle side). Checked the spindles, blades, tires, tire pressure, the front to aft decline of 1/8", 6" side wheels. Everything looks good. The fork from the deck carriage is properly seated in the attach o matic. With the deck in the mowing position, free floating and not being held up by the lift mechanism, and just by looking at the deck from the front of the tractor, the deck itself is visibly lower to the left side. I don't know how to correct this. Its off approximately 3/4" of an inch, measured from beneath the blade tips. My previous two decks, the 37" SD and the 42" RD decks had no issues in the side-to-side leveling. I gave both decks to my grandson, thus the 48". I hope the pictures help identify the problem and someone has a solution as I am stumped! Thanks for the help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 67,208 #2 Posted May 22 11 hours ago, David414 said: brought a well-used mowing deck, model # 78360, a three blade 48" .The Model # is the best I can read from the faded label, and it came off a 1993 314H. Put this deck on my 1989, 414-8. Problem is, I can't level the deck side to side, and the deck is visibly lower on the left side, (lift handle side). Did the deck ride properly on the 314? With the deck supported by scrap pieces of 4X4 on both sides are the gauge wheels and anti-scalp rollers an equal distance from the ground? My guess would be the assembly the gauge wheels are attached to is bent. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David414 322 #3 Posted May 22 26 minutes ago, 953 nut said: Did the deck ride properly on the 314? With the deck supported by scrap pieces of 4X4 on both sides are the gauge wheels and anti-scalp rollers an equal distance from the ground? My guess would be the assembly the gauge wheels are attached to is bent. I will try this and advise. Do this process with the deck off the tractor? Don't know how the deck worked with the 314. If the assembly is bent, any thoughts on how to correct? Thanks for the help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 67,208 #4 Posted May 22 1 minute ago, David414 said: I will try this and advise. Do this process with the deck off the tractor? Don't know how the deck worked with the 314. If the assembly is bent, any thoughts on how to correct? Thanks for the help! It could be done with the deck on the tractor, that way you can inspect it as used. If the gage Wheel support rod is bent or tweaked it could hold one side up higher than the other. if that is the case you could put one end in a vise and use a long pipe wrench to twist the other end to match it. If you don't have these tools available make friends with someone who does. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David414 322 #5 Posted May 22 Will do and advise. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brockport Bill 2,407 #6 Posted May 22 i suggest remove the deck from tractor first to do full inspection rather than just inspect it while on tractor -- evaluate entire operation of deck -- manually roll it around driveway -- observe its rear axle and front rollers -- observe if is level and even - - then manipulate the lift carriage assembly by hand - be sure its free and on balance and moves up and down and "floats" as it should - and be sure none of the lift carriage frame pieces are bent - - also evaluate bolt/nuts hardware - be sure they are installed and operating as they should - - the two front lift carriage anchors have an up down height adjustment with the spacer bushings/bolts - check they are postioned as they should and equal height. -- While deck is off - look under tractor be sure the attachomatic is as it should be and freely ( the spring, release knob etc) - with no damage or broken or misaligned pieces - - also evaluate the tractors lift arm mechanism to be sure it moves freely up and down as it should with deck off - As a note -- many owners have crashed into tree roots - curbs, sidewalks etc and done damage to deck and even bent or warped the entire shell or bent spindles -- a complete exam should provide solution - - good luck -- Bill 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brockport Bill 2,407 #7 Posted May 22 here are some various views of 48 decks from different angle perspectives that might offer some views of the hardware, rear axle, wheels, lift carriage etc that may be helpful to compare to yours to see if you can find anything unusual ???????????????? Bill 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David414 322 #8 Posted May 25 Brock Port Bill, I removed the deck and disassembled the carriage. The previous owner somehow managed to bend one side of the v fork used for the attach-o -matic . I could not understand why I was having such a hard time getting that v fork to line up. Replaced this part with a spare one I had, and presto, deck went on very easy. Second problem was a missing cotter pin on the main horizontal rod that supports the deck. This missing cotter pin let the deck carriage get jammed to one side and prevented the deck from floating. Third problem was excessive rust on both the front horizontal bar and the main horizontal bar, very rusty and dirty, this contributed to the free-floating problem. Corrected all three items and the deck is now free floating as it should and left to right alignment is now much, much better. Thank you and 953 Nut for your help! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David414 322 #9 Posted May 25 Guys, last question. My measured cut height is about 3". The long rod that spans the rear of the deck and holds the 6" wheels, can this be adjusted, or rotated to get extra height? I did not remove this bar. Is it assembled in only one position and the wheel height is fixed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brockport Bill 2,407 #10 Posted May 25 1 hour ago, David414 said: Brock Port Bill, I removed the deck and disassembled the carriage. The previous owner somehow managed to bend one side of the v fork used for the attach-o -matic . I could not understand why I was having such a hard time getting that v fork to line up. Replaced this part with a spare one I had, and presto, deck went on very easy. Second problem was a missing cotter pin on the main horizontal rod that supports the deck. This missing cotter pin let the deck carriage get jammed to one side and prevented the deck from floating. Third problem was excessive rust on both the front horizontal bar and the main horizontal bar, very rusty and dirty, this contributed to the free-floating problem. Corrected all three items and the deck is now free floating as it should and left to right alignment is now much, much better. Thank you and 953 Nut for your help! awesome --great to know a little detective work provided the solutions -- i have two 13 yr old twin grandsons now learning the tractor world of Wheel Horse and tool use etc - - i began couple years ago mostly "telling" them how to solve a mechanical, or tractor, or tool problem - now i mostly ask them their suggestion and observations how they would solve it ?? How to diagnos - use critical thinking, etc - most of us had to learn the hard way in life - trial and error -- my children are in their 40s with their own children -- they always ask me.... how i know these skills?? I tell them from my Dad and others teaching me -- plus, lots of making mistakes and failures -- but the trick is to step back and think of solutions after identifying the problem - - Your telling us the symptoms and comments was great example of that process - the other members here have helped me many, many times - - good to know some smart evaluation by you found a few of the issues as we had hoped and now you are operating -- good luck ! Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
