Leveling Mower Deck

Leveling a riding mower deck is probably the critical step missed by many. In this video Doc shows you some tips on how to level you riding mower deck not only side to side but also front to back. See how leveling a mower deck can REALLY make a difference.

[@jims1942]

I have know for 13 years to set the front of the deck lower than the rear. I always set mine 1/4" lower in front. I learned that from my 2007 Husqvarna mower (13 years old now) Owners Manual actually says *set the front of the deck between 1/8" and 1/2" lower than the rear* ... so I set it 1/4" low in front. As in ALL things ... "live & learn". I like your 2x4 idea, I'll do it! :)

[@james-jl2ej]

Your lawn looks so damn good and it's thick as hell! Keep up the good work and I like the mowing footage

[@TommyTester]

Hey Doc, here's a good follow-up video idea ... LEVEL A MOWER DECK THE RIGHT WAY - UNDER LOAD. I think you will find the readings are different when you are ON the machine. That 1/8" forward pitch might reverse when our fat butts are in the seat and the tires are compressed. Also, you might find that some machines do not maintain "level" at all deck height settings. What might be "right on" at 2.5" might be way-off at 4". Set-up the deck under load at your most used deck height. Tommy.

[@jeaservices]

You might want to check the tire pressure before you go the leveling your deck.

[@ruston48]

Cheers Doc, time to re check mine , it's been a good while. All the best with the new machine, over 10 yrs with mine and not a problem, only a new battery.

[@majorpayne4098]

Tire pressure then use 2" blocks for rear sides and a 1 7/8" for front center. drop deck to 2" indicator on your deck height dial and adjust nuts so blocks just slip out from under the rim of the deck.

[@NWcpl]

Also before leveling "always" make sure your tire pressure is up to the recommendation of the tire you have on it to get an accurate deck level.

[@jet-z2r]

Love your joint, great advice. I'm going to experiment with my mower deck. Cheers from 🇦🇺👌🏻👍🏻

[@Anonymous-it5jw]

Great yard; great tips. I have been following the owner's manual's recommendations for having the rear of the deck lower than the front, and am not happy with the results (even with new blades, sharpness updated every few cuts). I even cut 2" x 4" blocks to the factory recommended heights to be able to quickly and accurately set and check that the front and rear deck heights meet those specs. Now I'm going to try your method - judging from the even, lush cut of your lawn, success should be just around the corner.

[@dmorgan28]

Thanks for the video. And the information. You’re yard looks great. 👍

[@Torpedomtb]

I use a mesuring tape. My mower has 4 wheel adjustment. But you can just messure front and back and left and right and adjust your deck that way. Then go mow, then you will know your deck lip to blade offset in cutting. Or you can simply mesure when your changing your blade so you know to add that difference to the bottom of the deck height.

[@alexmilanesi8490]

Hey Doc, that waviness in the lawn can be corrected over time slightly by mowing in a different direction. Especially with a heavy mower like you have vs a push mower.

[@playmateinmiami]

Your videos are so awesome! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge.

[@CapeAnnImages]

Actually a 1/8" difference is no big deal because of several factors. No yard is as level as a granite surface plate and once you climb aboard your weight changes what you measured. Also tire psi is not as stable as you think, outside temps can effect the psi hence the deck height and level aspect. But if you have any scalping issues adjust the anti scalping wheels.

[@HowTowithDoc]

Then go 1/4. Every maufac says the same. prevent double cutting with an angled blade.

[@LastBastian]

Well, this didn't help me, as you didn't show *how* to actually level anything. Looking at manuals on line I'm not finding anything about setting the front higher or lower than the back either.... ...Nice yard though.

[@jarrhead3538]

On a newer mower, there is a single rod connecting the deck to the tractor. On the tractor, there is an angled bracket holding the deck to the tractor. There should be two nuts. Tighten them.

[@618sam]

My right side is lower than the left. There’s 2 adjustment rods, 1 front, 1 back, but I can’t get the right up with the left. There’s also a rod (bracket) on the rear right, but it doesn’t have a way to adjust it. Another video suggested using “hairpin clips” on this bracket, but so far I can only get 2 and it did bring it up some, but the right is still 1” lower... is it necessary to buy an expensive mower so I have a mechanic to fix this stuff? Annoyed..

[@1557Reckless]

@@618sam Same here. Husky YTH2042 and I have the front adjustment rod, and the left rear adjustment rod but as it sits not the right side is atleast 1.5" lower than the left. Even if I lift up on the right side I can't get it level unless I drop the left rear rod waaayyy down but I already have to cut my grass at the 5 mark and it only goes up to 6 so if I drop it way down I won't have any adjustment height left.

[@jeffcheek7969]

Hello had no idea why I kept getting a brown haze with my cuts just needed to lower the front THANKS A BUNCH

[@carlisebarnes8248]

Thanks for all your informative help, but I have a problem with mushrooms what does this mean and how can I get rid of them?

[@johnrodebaugh7120]

Hey Doc, Great advice, BUT Always Gage ALL tires First...………...Thanks for Sharing.

[@cherylheffelfinger2677]

Thank you Doc for info on mowing. Had a Deer in Pa..the best! Here in SC a hand mower. Will try to use your tips with it. If not, maybe a small deer tractor is in my future.

[@outdudedoors]

Might work well for some, but I always measure the underside of my blades. Front , then side to side.

[@wcb22516]

That is a nice back yard. About what size is it? Like the walk way to the pool!

[@zachcardio4891]

I had new sod layed and there is about half inch gaps in some sod strips.. Should I lay some potting mix/sand blend in the cracks to grow more efficiently?

[@HowTowithDoc]

Fill gaps with 50/50 mix more so for a SMOOTH lawn. Lot of work but it will really pay off.

[@FernandoRodriguez-ds5ri]

Should the scalping wheels touch the grass as you cut. Another video I watched said the scalping wheels should float about an eight of an inch above the grass tips. You agree?

[@HowTowithDoc]

put mower on HARD surface. wheels should be 1/8 to 1/4 up.

[@zm6922]

Any thoughts on weight of mower? An hd zero turn or sub compact tractor makes more sense for my overall property but worried about 1000lbs for one vs 500lbs for a riding mow on the turf. Will a heavy unit damage with over compaction?

[@HowTowithDoc]

We use reel mowers to cut mainly but yes any time it rains you have to wait days before cutting

[@derrickely8302]

Great looking lawn..allllllmost better looking than mine...I use ammonia nitrate but when u do u have to water the he'll out your grass or it will burn your grass..this stuff will have your grass super thick and green

[@timthomas9105]

Lots of people care about their yards. I had an acre in Indiana. Now in FL we have three. Lots of creative landscape.

[@ryanalswede3475]

Suppose to measure at the blade tip and also check air pressures. Deck lip means nothing.

[@ktcopyguy]

I use a spray paint cap = 2”

[@wsmcmc3864]

I enjoy the information that you share in your videos. I wanted to point out that this process should always start with tire pressures. The front tire pressures aren't as critial as the rear because the front axle articulates and has very little impact on the left/right leveling of the deck. The rear tires can seriously effect the deck. 2nd is a question. Could the reason for nosing the deck down forward be to compensate for the weight of the operator which would likely settle the rear tires into the turf and there by level the deck in physical operation?

[@HowTowithDoc]

Yes tire pressure first.... but no one does it on a "cut by cut" basis. Nose deck position is by design. Talk about that in the video. first / front blade cuts.. rear skips it.

[@wagstail4804]

I've always set the front of deck slightly so i get one cut , just always made more sense to me. Done it for years. I think you may see gas consumption lower also.

[@WKYanks]

Cub Cadet XT1 says lower by 1/4 inch too. Thx

[@earljohns8109]

so does craftsman

[@larrysmith710]

10-12 psi in the front and 13- 15psi in the back

[@Strmshadow73]

Actually, on my John Deere D105, the back tires are 10 psi and the front are 14 psi.

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Great looking yard

[@cb7pwn]

hard to get a good cut with a cheap deck... people think its all about horsepower, but its mostly in the quality and heaviness of the mower deck

[@kingkid5786]

Mr how to How do I get Centipede grass out of Bermuda grass need help with this

[@TellersandTales]

Hey doc, question : Vigoro says to put their preemergent only once a year. Is it safe to put down every six months??

[@HowTowithDoc]

Funny... says on the label it's only effective for about 4 months. I would apply something else. Like dimension. I really like to see people do 3 treatments a year. fall - winter - early spring then you don't have to worry about weeds.

[@TellersandTales]

How To with Doc thanks for the reply. I do plan on getting more professional items in the future. It's was on sale... Lol love your videos, it has helped me alot. Keep up the great work. 💯 💪

[@Puffy2102]

How To with Doc Doc, I have a Bermuda lawn that's full of big clusters of crabgrass and is basically choking out my Bermuda. Is it too late in the summer to try and save? Which product would you use right now in this heat and how? I'll definitely be doing your 3 PE treatments next time.

[@HowTowithDoc]

You can try now, but be careful treating now.... and read the label as far as heat and drought application. Make sure it's crabgrass and not goosegrass. Crabgrass sprays won't kill goose.

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Great tool. I use it every time before I mow..

[@grain450]

I am thinking your scalp wheels should lifted up just a bit.They should not be rolling constantly.

[@EJ-ge4st]

Is that fake grass?! Damn make a video on how to get grass like that on a 5 acre yard in Illinois

[@myrond3588]

I was thinking that he would lock up if he saw my lawn/weed patch

[@georgea0731]

Assume the strap on the discharge chute was for raising it when you in a tight spot?

[@HowTowithDoc]

Getting through the gate... :)

[@leeroyjenkins9992]

Lol I miss small yards if I used grass catcher I'd need a dumpster lol looks real good!

[@tomhardware2254]

All mower decks should be lower in the front not just John Deere.

[@markb972]

Looks amazing, but your anti-scalp wheels shouldn’t be riding on the grass.

[@HowTowithDoc]

Actually they should. 1/4" off the ground on hard surface.

[@robertrff]

I love your program Doc - keep up the informative work. I have a question, do you recommend bagging your grass clippings or not?

[@HowTowithDoc]

Depends on your thatch layer. If it's getting deep them pick up. 1/2" is a good layer.

[@Chris-Indio]

Hell yeah looks good.

[@LlyleHunter]

I love John Deere. I even have their traveling sprinkler.

[@davieboy1970]

Am I wrong ? But don't you also have to take into consideration that your yard is not going to be even.. My yard is definitely not flat and it has a lot of bumps in it.. And I have a couple hills.. So it just never seems like the grass cuts even to me..

[@harrygmarshall5157]

Proper job !

[@2482jamie]

nice lawn wow!

[@timeless6964]

Why didn't You Armorall your Deck Wheels???.......slacker..

[@stephenP1979]

I wonder how level the mower deck would be if you used a small torpedo level? Anybody ever done this?

[@HowTowithDoc]

In the end...… it's all about the blades underneath that matter. That's why the mower blade level is a good idea for $9 www.howtowithdoc.com/leveling-mower-deck/

[@mikemorton6408]

What ever your quibbling about 1/4 inch first off throw that JD info on deck leveling, ln the trash can. Level surface, tape measure, everybody's got their own method, blocks are nothing but an extension of the ground, but I understand your helping people that can barely start the mower,

[@roshar9692]

Wow! You have a carpet not a lawn

[@mrkrharris]

come on, fess up, its carpet not grass...

[@johnnypare7426]

Dont say that you senn great and very bright

[@stevewithaphen]

love the lawn porn! Ornamental horticulture at its best!

[@Kodiak660]

Not a good practice to fuel up the mower in a garage.

[@14moldyhamsandwich]

joe rogan brought me here

[@HowTowithDoc]

Gotta love the Joe...…...