42RD leveling

[Mustang67ford 234]

I have someting going on with my 414-8 restoration and installing the 42" RD deck.  I am following the manual where it says to lower it, place it in the middle cut height, and adjust the back trunion nut until the front blade tip is 1/8" to 1/4" lower than the back.  Mine is way off.  To get anywhere close, I need to be in the lowest setting and the front rollers are then way off the ground.  I'm keeping an open mind in that maybe some portiin of the deck may have been modified.  If I tighten the nut all the way up on the trunnion, it gets better, but out of adjustment unless I cut more threads.  Here are some pics.  Last 2 are with the nut tight.

Edited April 24, 2022 by Mustang67ford

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 10,499]

Do you have the U on the front mounting on correctly? It must be over a cross rod on the front hitch as illustrated in the manuals.

[peter lena 8,068]

@Mustang67ford  , have 3,  42 "  R/D decks , I  use the deck lever at the last hole set , toward back of deck. then what I  do is put the lift  lever , left side all the way down , mine works very well at that  cutting height , gives me the tall grass I want . also holds the deck flat / horizontal . think your front lift carriage area  is your adjustment  issue . never did a book setting on it , hope you find it . pete

[roadapples 6,981]

Your front scalp wheels will not be touching when level...

[Mustang67ford 234]

4 hours ago, gwest_ca said:

Do you have the U on the front mounting on correctly? It must be over a cross rod on the front hitch as illustrated in the manuals.

Not sure I am following.  Any additional info?  Also, when raising, the release lever is hitting the deck.

Edited April 24, 2022 by Mustang67ford

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 10,499]

[lynnmor 6,783]

Depending on year, some owners manuals say this:

 

[Mustang67ford 234]

On 4/24/2022 at 5:27 PM, gwest_ca said:

Yes, that is how the fork is attaching. 

[clueless 2,898]

Is the attachment lift knob on the left side of the shifter console all the way down?

[Mustang67ford 234]

On 4/27/2022 at 11:24 AM, clueless said:

Is the attachment lift knob on the left side of the shifter console all the way down?

Yes

[doc724 924]

Was this a "new to you" mower?  I recall something similar many years ago.  I think there were two different holes in the bracket in the back that trunion goes into.  One works the other does not.  It has been 4 years since I sold off all my collection but I do remember having the exact same problem.

[8ntruck 6,376]

 now that @doc724 mentions it, there was something about this in a recent post.  I have a 42" RD.  I'll take a look at it tomorrow and confirm where the reunion mounts in the bracket.

[Mustang67ford 234]

1 hour ago, 8ntruck said:

 now that @doc724 mentions it, there was something about this in a recent post.  I have a 42" RD.  I'll take a look at it tomorrow and confirm where the reunion mounts in the bracket.

Thanks, I believe when my deck is lowered, I have plenty of slack in the lift chain.  My trunnion is in the 3rd hole back on the arm in the dash and chain attaches to 2nd hole back on the lift bar.  I'm thinking I need to cut more threads into the back J hook so I can tighten it up more.  Maybe my J hook is the wrong one.

Edited April 30, 2022 by Mustang67ford

[8ntruck 6,376]

If I remember correctly, there are two holes in the arm that the leveling rod connects to on the shaft connecting the gage wheels.  This might be your problem if you have the leveling rod in the wrong hole.  

[Mustang67ford 234]

35 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

If I remember correctly, there are two holes in the arm that the leveling rod connects to on the shaft connecting the gage wheels.  This might be your problem if you have the leveling rod in the wrong hole.  

I only have 1 hole on both ends of where the leveling rod J hook connects.

[Mustang67ford 234]

Looking at the 2nd photo I posted, for the position of the cutting height lever, are the gauge wheels at the right angle?  It looks like the position lever may have been rewelded to the rod the gauge wheels are on or it was just a sloppy factory weld.

[8ntruck 6,376]

I don't know if you have this sorted out yet, but here are a few pictures of my 42" RD:

 

 

There is only one hole in the arm from the gage wheel cross rod on the RD - that is different than a SD deck.  The arm where the leveling rod hooks is maybe 15 degrees up from being parallel to the arms that drive the linkage at the gage wheels.

 

And the current lift linkage hook up on the 42" SD currently on the tractor.  The RD swaps out just fine with this set up.

 

 

Hope this helps a bit.

 

Good luck.

[Mustang67ford 234]

On 5/3/2022 at 2:25 PM, 8ntruck said:

I don't know if you have this sorted out yet, but here are a few pictures of my 42" RD:

 

 

There is only one hole in the arm from the gage wheel cross rod on the RD - that is different than a SD deck.  The arm where the leveling rod hooks is maybe 15 degrees up from being parallel to the arms that drive the linkage at the gage wheels.

 

And the current lift linkage hook up on the 42" SD currently on the tractor.  The RD swaps out just fine with this set up.

 

 

Hope this helps a bit.

 

Good luck.

Thanks for the pics.  Still working thru it.