How High Should Deck Lift?

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Have a 36" RD gear deck on my Commando 4. I currently have it set at the 4" cut setting (highest setting).

 

The "J" shaped bolt that connects the deck to the lift handle has a long threaded portion and a nylock nut on it. The nylock nut is all the way at the end of the bolt.

 

When I lift the deck, on my flat concrete garage floor, the rear deck height wheels only pick up about 1/2" off the ground.

 

If I move the nylock nut up the threaded rod (closer to the lift arm piece in the dash tower), I can make the deck go higher up when the lift handle is pulled.

 

The question I have, is when the deck is in the "up" position, how high off the ground should it be? Obviously if I go too high, I'll end up hitting the frame with the deck.

 

Thanks

[Ed Kennell 42,108]

The modern decks are lifted until the rubber bumpers contact the foot rests.    I am not sure what is normal for the gear drive decks.

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Well, I'm looking at the deck now. I'm going to have an issue with it.

 

Wirh the handle in the up position, the deck carriage is lifted, but the rear height wheels are still on the ground barely. I dont have any clearance (at least with the deck set at 4").

 

However, if I start to lift the deck any higher, I think I may hit my back tires.

 

I may need to modify the part of the deck that the height wheels attach to, to make them longer and stick out past my back tires.

[rjg854 12,232]

To my understanding, the deck is supposed to be adjusted so that when raised it comes in contact with the bottom of the tractor.  That way it doesn't wobble around when you're done using it, and you're just driving around. 

 

Are your tires over sized?  I see your not running turf tires.  Mine are stock tires and I have room to raise my 36" deck until it locks up against the bottom of the tractor.  And I also have a '68 Commando 8.

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Tires are 23-10.50×12 Kenda K502 tires, on stock WH rims.

 

The deck wheels are 6" x 1-1/2" Arnold brand that I got from Lowes. They fit on the shaft, but are a smidge too narrow, so I had to shim with a washer.

 

I could also try running a 5" wheel, that would give me another 1/2" clearance.

 

One of my pins is undersize right now, as someone was runnning a solid plastic wheel on the shaft at one time. So I will need to replace the shaft at some point. There was a thread recently about a gentleman who replaced the pins on a similar style set-up as mine.

 

Edit: when I was looking at the deck tonight, I was thinking that maybe the 2 vertical plates would limit how high the deck goes. Looks like I was somewhat correct with that thought.

Edited May 31, 2019 by 71_Bronco

[rjg854 12,232]

My tires are 23x8.50x12, I'm not sure how much height difference between the two sizes.  It does look your tires are closer to the deck than mine are. 

[rjg854 12,232]

Just got done mowing with my Commando and thought I'd snap a picture of what mine looks like with the deck raised 

[71_Bronco 1,072]

I just ordered a set of 5" diameter wheels for my deck to see if that will help.

 

When I was mowing today, I ran over a rather large root next to this big weeping pine tree in my yard. The height wheel lifted the deck and stopped the back tire from spinning. The other side back tire kept going (thanks to the differental) and almost make it like a zero turn, until I pushed the clutch and backed off the root.

 

Out of curiosity, what model deck are you running? I have a 5-2362, according to the WH plate on mine.

[rjg854 12,232]

off hand I'm not sure of the exact model number, but it's a 36" rotary mower

 

PS  @gwest_ca 

model # 367

serial #324203

Edited June 2, 2019 by rjg854
info

[71_Bronco 1,072]

I wonder if the extra 2 inches of tire width are killing me. Stock tire size is the 23×8.50-12 like you have. I'm running 23x10.50-12 tires. Looks like the extra width of my tire is what is causing issues with the deck height wheel.

 

Hopefully the 5" wheel will work, or at least help. If not, I'll have one of my machinist friends turn up some longer wheel posts so they sit outside the back tire like yours do.