deck height adjustment slop

[wedgeheaded 0]

I have 2 old WHs, a SB421 and a 93 520h, buth have so much slop in the adjusters that I wrapped them in tie-wire and twisted them in tight. While this takes care of the problem, it"s not fixed. I'm guessing this is a comon problem. How do I fix it right?

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

If it isn't a broken spring on the handle, 80% of the time the selector quadrant gets pushed or bent away from the gauge wheel "channel"/ handle.

Remove the quadrant and bend it back to 90 degrees so it fits tight against the channel, or loosen it and slide it tight against. (if it isn't bent)

 

The other 20% is the square (looks like keystock) stops welded to the gauge wheel cross bar getting worn enough to let the entire gauge wheel assembly push away from the quadrant.

[tunahead72 2,553]

TT,

 

I passed through this thread a couple of weeks ago, and just wanted to thank you for posting what turned out to be some very excellent advice for me.

 

I have a 310-8 with a 42-inch side discharge mower that's been difficult to adjust the height on for the last few years, and I finally decided to look into it and fix it. Your post showed me where to focus my attention, and I'm happy to report my height adjustment mechanism now feels and works much better.

 

In my case, all I needed to do was replace the quadrant bolts/nuts (rusted solid after 24 years, imagine that!) and slide the quadrant tight against the gauge wheel channel.

 

By the way, my quadrant is bent very close to a 90 degree angle, so that's not an issue, but how in the world would you bend something that thick if it were necessary?

 

Thanks again!

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

 & you're welcome.

 

Straightening the quadrant can be done easily with the help of a vise, a wooden block, and a hammer.

[tunahead72 2,553]

Thanks, I'll have to take your word for it for now (deck's already assembled & ready to slide back under the tractor), but I'll keep it in mind in case I have more problems with the deck height adjustment in the future.

 

I assume you're talking about clamping one face of the quadrant in the vise, and then laying the wood block on top of the other face and smacking that with a BIG hammer? I just thought the steel was awfully thick for that to work, but I'm really just a novice and I'm certainly willing to try it if I need to.

 

And wedgeheaded, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, this just seemed to fit in nicely with your original problem.

 

[tunahead72 2,553]

This thread was damaged in one of the software conversions that RedSquare went through several years ago.  I've filled in some missing text, and made some minor formatting changes to make it more closely match what was originally posted.

 

This particular thread has a very special place in my heart, because it was one of the very first topics I ever read here.  It helped me resolve an issue with my 310-8, and made me realize how much useful information is available here, and what a great forum RedSquare truly is.