42" Deck not level on 416-8

[v65animal 0]

I searched the site, found a link to a Toro PDF. Apparently if the wheels are Ok, then the bar must be bent is all it has to say. The wheels are beat up, but measure to be the same. Any other ideas?

I took some pictures with the deck in the lowest position and lowered to the ground. The discharge side rear wheel is off the ground.

I posted some pictures of the yard showing how it's scrapping on one side.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sam.woodson/WheelHorseDeck#

Thanks,

Sam

[v65animal 0]

The tag on the deck is badly faded. I took a picture, then tried to enhance it.

Is this a valid Model number for a 42" side discharge deck?

0542K505

I'm pretty sure about the 0542 part

The Serial is to the far right, I can read it. 66452

I didn't see a parts breakdown on the Toro site for the decks? Where is it located?

Thanks,

Sam

[WH854 45]

I think your Model# should read like this 05-42MS05 Try it here

https://lookup3.toro.com/partdex/index.cfm?xCaller=Toro

Chas :D

[WH854 45]

This is my oppinion the second picture shows one roller that looks shot.Looks like you could use a couple of new wheels on the back of your mower. Picture 7 thal lift rod is bent the one that has all the threads.Check the air in your tires that also make uneven mowing. Thats my 2 cents!!!!!

Chas

PS If you mow on a slant you will get that streak :omg:

[Raider12 13]

Any chance there are any fracture in the deck shell? There area where the spindle bolts to the shell? I had this simular problem yers ago, I found the deck shell had a fracture allowing the spindle to sit off center.

Denver

[rickv1957 74]

Check both sides of deck front to back with a level to determine if both sides are the same,if not shell could be sprung,Rick

[tgranthamfd 29]

Roller shot, deck wheels in bad shape, and rod badly bent. could be more too.

[gwgdog66 23]

Also make sure the deck is attached properly to the front tachamatic hitch. The fork can miss fitting around a rod up under there that can cause this.

[MalMac 1,332]

Take your deck flip it upside down. Take the blade from the outer side (the discharge side) rotate it around so the tip is next to the middle blade. Check to see if you have a differecnce in hight. The tips should be level with each other. If not like said in earlier post the deck is sprung. That is very commond on the 42" decks. The older ones like the one you have were bad about this. Even the newer ones did it if you hit something hard.

Tim

[GlenPettit 1,717]

Be sure that the tire pressure is correct and exactly even on right-left; 10# in each of all four tires.

Just being off by two psi would have a noticeable effect on mowing.

- - - when checking level, try using 2 or 3 levels all at once, at the same time, on the deck (those cheap $1 - 12" dollar-store ones work fine for this).

[v65animal 0]

Yes, the rear wheels are worn, but they are evenly worn.

Yes the front roller on the Left side (as sitting on it) is shot.

The tire pressure is good all around. Sitting on the level concrete, you can see how it's off.

This afternoon:

I will try to bend the rod that connects to the rear center of the deck.

If the "shell" has sprung, can it be bent, braced, etc?

I've thought about making the rear wheel on the one side adjustable, so it would contact the ground with the other side if worse comes to worse. The bearings are nice and quiet, it cuts nice, just not evenly.

I checked the parts list, apparently you can't buy a new deck, correct?

I'm going to give the entire mower a GOOD cleaning today, then I'll look into removing the deck.

Thanks,

Sam

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Tim ("malmac1") nailed this one.

The terrible cut from this mower deck is beyond correct tire pressures or being level under the tractor....... this deck is badly twisted and needs stripped and straightened - and maybe even welded & reinforced.

There's actually a support plate available (from the commercial version of this deck) that will bolt to the underside of the shell and strengthen the spindle mounting areas.

You'll need to drill a few holes in your existing shell, but the plate makes a huge difference.

Edit: spacers (thick washers) will need to be added under the spindle pulleys to provide clearance for the spindle mounting bolt heads if the reinforcement plate is used.

New Toro# is 79-6160-01 and it sells for a little over $120. Use model #78415 to look up the IPL.

[WH nut 553]

Its real common for the right side to be sprung because a lot of people step on the deck on that side to mount the tractor, I have been trying to get one straight for awhile now

[v65animal 0]

I took the deck off the tractor tonight and took some more pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sam.woodson/WheelHorseDeck#

I couldn't find any cracks.

I will call the dealer about the Deck Brace and ask if they can do the metal work. Just drilling and putting it on isn't the problem, I don't know how to "Unwarp" the deck.

If the local Toro dealer can't do the metal work to Unwarp the deck, what type of shop should be able to do it correctly, Auto body or something else? My Dad can weld, but I'm still not sure we would know how to UnWarp it.

Are NEW decks available? I assume the answer is No, but just checking.

I saw another thread, it appears you can take a deck off a New tractor that isn't a Wheel Horse of course, mount the Hardware on the new deck and it works? Does it have to be a certain brand?

Thanks again!

Sam

[tarcoleo 119]

The tach-a-matic harness can be adapted to other decks--only a few.

I did that with an old Gilson 42" SD deck some time back and it lasted

about 15 years under my C-111. The thing you need to be sure of is

that the prime pulley on the deck is centered on the harness. The Gilson

deck was a deadringer for a WH deck, three blades and was heavy duty.

Sold it a couple weeks ago for $150 (original cost $50).

Tom in RI

[MalMac 1,332]

I sent you a email.

[Butch 194]

I just saw a new deck blank on Ebay for $400. Ouch! These decks are expensive and I expect the used ones to only go up in price since they are no longer made.

Butch

[WH854 45]

Toro still has 42 inch deck assembly avaliable P/N 107408-01 for $731.12

Infact most of the parts are available for 42and 48 inch decks try this model # here check it out 05-42MS02

https://lookup3.toro.com/partdex/index.cfm?xCaller=Toro

Chas

[Raider12 13]

Hey.... Look at photo no.18. The center blade pulley. That does not look like it is sitting straight at all. Which means the either pulley is bent or the spindle is sitting crooked??

[rickv1957 74]

I would say that deck shell is bent where spindle mounts,shell can be straightened out with a little work,Rick

[v65animal 0]

I received the eMail from Tim, so I waited on calling the Toro dealer until I got home to try it out to see if I could straighted the deck at all.

Using the pipe wrench I was able to pry on the blade near the discharge side and the center and discharge side blades are now about even.

The blade on the closed end of the deck is about 1/4 (thickness of a standard pencil) closer to the ground than the other 2 blades.

Then I noticed as mentioned earlier today, the center spindle is at an angle. The metal around it looks fine, no sign of a crack with the covers off, etc. I then tried prying on the center one.

I think I can work it out, it might be good to take everything off, and beat it on the ground with a hammer on a 4x4 or something to get the bow out of the center.

Tim said it would just come back, so now that it appears it can be fixed, I will call Toro tomorrow about the brace.

Thanks for all the help. I'll keep you posted with what I find.

Sam

[Raider12 13]

shell can be straightened out with a little work,Rick

I agree with Rick, being you have a solid shell (not broken or rusted) to work with. No reason you shouldn't be able to make this work. I wish you lived closer I'd glad to lend a hand in straighting it out. Iv been there, done that before.

I would tuen this deck over, align all three blades together so I could put a nice straight edge across all three blades (or close to it) to see hom maney or off level and which way etc.

[v65animal 0]

Tracking number shows I will receive the deck brace, wheels and rollers on Tuesday.

Question, before it arrives, does this brace attach UNDER the deck on the blade side or ON TOP of the deck by the belts?

I believe it goes UNDER the deck, if so, I thought I should sand the under side down first and spary paint it with RUST-OLEUM so the rust isn't trapped between the deck and the brace.

Grass needs cut now, I want to get this thing up and running ASAP.

Thanks,

Sam

[v65animal 0]

Any tips on installing the brace? I used the pipe wrench on the discharge side blade to get it more level, however the Center blade seems to be off.(Per the picture with the arrow) Any tips on getting the deck level? I thought if I took everything off, I might be able to place a 4x4 on top and beat on it a little bit.

Thanks,

Sam

[rickv1957 74]

Remove center spindle assem and turn deck upside down on a block of wood and using a straight edge carefully hammer shell back in place,you may have to also work fom the top,dont overdo it and stretch metal,Rick