snowhound 105 #1 Posted August 25, 2015 Seems like I'm having nothing but bad luck with mowing decks first a rear discharge 42" was to close to the rear tires now the 42" side discharge I replaced it with mows to low even when set to the highest setting. I've followed the instructions for setting up the deck but it still cuts to low. Any ideas? The model tag is gone but I got it with a 400 series tractor and I have it on a 416-8I did find there was damage to the rear discharge deck that caused it to mount out of square.Ed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 555 #2 Posted August 25, 2015 (edited) Are you sure the deck is assembled correctly? Are the rear wheels on the deck at the same angle coming off the cross shaft? Is your height adjuster adjusted correctly? Are the spindle housings correct for the deck? Are the washers between blade and spindle housing too thick? Are your blades installed correctly? Many other questions, but pictures would help immensely here. Edited August 26, 2015 by MikesRJ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snowhound 105 #3 Posted August 25, 2015 I will get some photos next time I am at my son's house. As far as I can see the deck is correctly assembled. I admit I didn't check the blade washers and the spindles haven't been checked although I have no idea how to tell if they are the correct ones. When you say height adjuster do you mean the rear wheels on the deck or the height adjuster on the tractor. If you are talking about the one on the tractor I was under the impression that it wasn't used for deck adjustments. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 555 #4 Posted August 26, 2015 The rear wheels set the height of cut along with the Height adjuster shown by hte yellow arrow. You also may want to look at the second picture and make sure everything is assembled in the correct holes. And the manual may come in handy as well. May not be for your exact unit but the process is the same regardless.http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/Mowers/Mower-Rotary_1986_300-400-Series_810403R1.pdf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,046 #5 Posted August 26, 2015 (edited) Technically you aren't supposed to use the height knob for mower adjustments (per the manual), but many people do it anyway (I did for the 15 years before i read the manual).I cant seem to find where I read that it said it was "not recommended" but note in this part of the picture it says nothing about mower height:Did you set the leveler adjustment on the back of the mower (about dead center of second picture @MikesRJ posted of the 42" RD deck)? The front of the blade (when aligned parallel to the tractor) should only be 1/8 - 1/4" below the rear. Sometimes the front can be set down pretty far and make its seem like the adjuster isnt working well. Edited August 26, 2015 by bmsgaffer spelling Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 555 #6 Posted August 27, 2015 Maybe I need to revisit my own deck!?!?! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,046 #7 Posted August 28, 2015 Maybe I need to revisit my own deck!?!?! I dont think its a huge deal, many people have done it far longer than I had.My thinking is that there were probably two issues with using the dial-a-height: the deck wouldnt be cutting/floating like they designed it to, so might give inadequate results limit the wear on the mower lift bar as there's nothing there to limit wear and cutting with it holding the deck up will wear it out faster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
