Lawn mower deck adjustment. Ariens Blog

US8919087B2. Height of cut adjustment system for mower cutting deck. Google Patents

Publication number US8919087B2 US8919087B2 US13/844,922 US201313844922A US8919087B2 US 8919087 B2 US8919087 B2 US 8919087B2 US 201313844922 A US201313844922 A US 201313844922A US 8919087 B2 US8919087 B2 US 8919087B2 Authority US United States Prior art keywords height cut deck control lever handle Prior art date 2008-01-20 Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) Active. expires 2028-07-02 Application number US13/844,922 Other versions US20140260162A1 ( en Inventor James W. Lancaster Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.) Exmark Manufacturing Co Inc Original Assignee Exmark Manufacturing Co Inc Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.) 2008-01-20 Filing date 2013-03-16 Publication date 2014-12-30 2008-01-20 Priority claimed from US12/009,613 external-priority patent/US8438822B2/en 2013-03-16 Application filed by Exmark Manufacturing Co Inc filed Critical Exmark Manufacturing Co Inc 2013-03-16 Priority to US13/844,922 priority Critical patent/US8919087B2/en 2014-09-18 Publication of US20140260162A1 publication Critical patent/US20140260162A1/en 2014-12-30 Application granted granted Critical 2014-12-30 Publication of US8919087B2 publication Critical patent/US8919087B2/en Status Active legal-status Critical Current 2028-07-02 Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

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Images

Classifications

• A — HUMAN NECESSITIES
• A01 — AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
• A01D — HARVESTING; MOWING
• A01D34/00 — Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
• A01D34/01 — Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus
• A01D34/412 — Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters
• A01D34/63 — Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a vertical axis
• A01D34/74 — Cutting-height adjustment

• A — HUMAN NECESSITIES
• A01 — AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
• A01D — HARVESTING; MOWING
• A01D34/00 — Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
• A01D34/006 — Control or measuring arrangements

Abstract

A mower carrying a rotary cutting deck has a height of cut system for adjusting the vertical position of the deck relative to the mower frame for changing or adjusting the height of cut. The height of cut system comprises a pair of parallel cross shafts that carry a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages that connect to the deck, the cross shafts and linkages pivoting jointly with one another and with a pivotal control lever. One of the cross shafts carries a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck. The control lever is maintained in a plurality of adjusted pivotal positions by a height selection bracket fixed to the frame with the height selection bracket being capable of having its position changed or adjusted relative to the frame by a single adjustment bolt. Each suspension linkage has its effective length adjusted by turning a threaded adjuster carried at the upper end of a connecting rod that is part of each linkage to allow the deck to be leveled relative to a reference plane. The adjustment of the height selection bracket is accomplished without affecting the length adjustments previously made to any of the suspension linkages.

Description

This invention relates to a rotary cutting deck mounted to and carried on a mower. particularly, this invention relates to a height of cut (HOC) system that vertically moves the cutting deck up and down relative to the mower frame, and thus relative to the ground, to adjust the height of cut of the grass.

Riding mowers having a zero radius turn (ZRT) capability are well known in the mowing art. Such mowers have a frame that carries a power source, such as an internal combustion engine, for propelling the frame over the ground and for providing power for mowing. Two powered rear drive wheels are carried on the frame with the front of the frame having a pair of unpowered front wheels, the wheels collectively supporting the frame for rolling over the ground. Often, the unpowered front wheels are caster wheels.

The rear drive wheels in a ZRT mower are individually powered by separate hydraulic drive motors that receive pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system driven by the power source of the mower. The drive motors are individually controlled by separate control levers placed adjacent an operator’s seat provided on the mower frame. The mower is steered by advancing one lever farther than the other to cause one drive motor, and thus the drive wheel on one side of the mower, to rotate faster than the other drive motor and drive wheel, thereby causing the vehicle to turn. Very sharp spin or ZRT type turns can be accomplished by advancing one control lever forwardly while pulling the other control lever rearwardly to cause the drive wheels on the opposite sides of the mower to simultaneously rotate in opposite directions.

A rotary cutting deck is carried at the front of the mower. The cutting deck usually houses a plurality of cutting blades that rotate about substantially vertical axes to cut grass in horizontal cutting planes. The blades are typically staggered relative to one another with a center blade being offset forwardly of a pair of side blades located on either side of the center blade. This allows the orbits of the cutting blades to overlap without having the blades contact one another, thus avoiding the need for timing the rotation of the blades. As the mower is driven over the ground and the blades are rotated, the blades cut a relatively large unbroken swath of grass during each pass of the mower. Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc. manufactures and sells ZRT mowers of this type under its Lazer Z brand name.

To change the height of cut of the grass, the cutting deck is vertically moved up and down relative to the mower frame and thus relative to the ground to change the height of the cutting blades relative to the ground. In many known mowers, the HOC system used to do this includes multiple suspension links to the cutting deck. These movable links move up and down simultaneously with one another under the action of a single control lever. The control lever has a plurality of discrete adjusted positions relative to the mower frame, often established by the control lever engaging against a pin, to allow the height of cut of the cutting deck to be adjusted in a plurality of discrete increments. The height of cut is adjusted by changing the location of the pin within an array of adjustment holes provided therefor on the mower frame. The pin is selectively inserted by the operator into whichever adjustment hole corresponds to the desired height of cut.

In HOC systems of this type, it is desirable to be able to level the cutting deck relative to a reference plane, such as a ground plane or a rake angle plane. This can be done in prior art mowers by adjusting the effective distance between the suspension links and the cutting deck. However, in making the cutting deck leveling adjustments, the actual height of cut might vary from the nominal height of cut provided by the location of the pin at the completion of the cutting deck leveling adjustments. Thus, the operator will have to readjust the cutting deck leveling adjustments until the cutting deck is level to the desired plane at the same time the actual height of cut corresponds to the nominal height of cut. This can be a cumbersome, time consuming and labor intensive adjustment operation.

Further, the pin/hole type of HOC system provides only a plurality of discrete heights of cut. Infinite heights of cut can be obtained using threaded adjusters, but such adjusters require many turns to adjust the height of cut over a wide range of travel. Thus, it would be desirable in HOC systems to provide a system in which discrete heights of cut can be easily and quickly selected, such as by inserting a pin within a selected hole, but which would also permit the operator to quickly and easily obtain heights of cut in between the preset discrete heights of cut.

The cutting decks used on mowers of this type are often quite large and heavy. Counterbalance springs have been used in prior HOC systems to help the operator lift the cutting deck when going from a lower to a higher height of cut. However, most HOC systems of this type use a pair of tension springs as counterbalance springs. These springs surround a pair of longitudinal connecting rods that run over the top of the cutting deck adjacent opposite sides of the mower. Such springs are typically exposed and in plain view due to the location of the connecting rods. Thus, to some extent, the springs are prone to being damaged and present an obstacle that the operator has to step over if the operator were to attempt to mount the mower from either side of the cutting deck.

One aspect of this invention relates to a mower of the type having a mower frame. A rotary cutting deck is carried by the frame. A height of cut system vertically moves the cutting deck upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame to adjust the height of cut of the grass. The height of cut system comprises a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages connecting the cutting deck to the frame, a single pivotal control lever pivotally carried on the frame with pivoting of the control lever causing joint and corresponding pivoting motion in all the suspension linkages, and a height selection bracket fixed to the frame and coacting with the pivotal control lever to set and maintain the control lever in different pivotal positions corresponding to different heights of cut. The improvement relates to the height of cut adjustment system and comprises a latch movably carried on the height of selection bracket for latching the control lever in a maximum height of cut position. A handle is movably carried on the height of selection bracket for moving the latch out of engagement with the control lever when the operator slides the handle in a first direction on the height of selection bracket. At least one spring is provided that biases the latch into a position in which the latch engages the control lever and that biases the handle in a direction opposite to the first direction in which the operator slides the handle to release the latch. A locking slot is provided into which the operator can move the handle after the handle is first moved by the operator in the first direction sufficiently to release the latch. The operator can move the handle into the locking slot by movement of the handle in a second direction that is different than the first direction with the bias of the spring retaining the handle in the locking slot thereafter to thereby disable the operation of the latch until the handle is moved back out of the locking slot by the operator.

This invention will be described more completely in the following Detailed Description, when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mower having the HOC system of this invention for adjusting the height of cut provided by the cutting deck;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame of the mower and of a portion of the cutting deck, particularly illustrating the HOC system according to this invention for adjusting the height of cut provided by the cutting deck;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the HOC system of FIG. 2. particularly illustrating a torsion spring for biasing the cutting deck upwardly relative to the mower frame for transferring weight from the cutting deck to the mower frame;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of one end of one cross-shaft of the HOC system of FIG. 2. particularly illustrating the bearing with an inner Delrin sleeve for supporting the end of the cross-shaft;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of the HOC system of FIG. 2. particularly illustrating a height selection pin of the HOC system installed in one selected height adjustment hole in an array of height adjustment holes provided in a height selection bracket;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5. particularly illustrating the height selection pin having been disengaged from any of the height adjustments holes in the height selection bracket;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the height selection bracket and HOC system of FIG. 2 from the opposite side than the side depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 ;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7. but having the longitudinal connecting rod and the outside of the height selection bracket removed to better illustrate the single point adjustment bolt for tilting or pivoting the height selection bracket relative to the mower frame;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of the HOC system of FIG. 2. particularly illustrating one of the pivotal suspension linkages that suspend the cutting deck;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 9 of the suspension linkage, but with portions thereof having been exploded to illustrate the threaded adjuster used to fine tune the height at which the cutting deck is suspended by the pivotal link; and

Referring first to FIG. 1. a mower 3 has a frame 6 that supports a rotary cutting deck 4 adjacent the front thereof. Frame 6 is supported for rolling over the ground by a pair of rear drive wheels 7 r, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1. and by a pair of front caster wheels 7 f. A power source, such as in internal combustion engine 9, is carried at the rear of frame 6. An operator’s seat 11 is placed forward of engine 9 and generally between rear drive wheels 7 r for carrying a seated operator. Two control levers 13 are used by the operator to control the steering and propulsion provided by rear drive wheels 7 r in a manner well known for zero radius turn (ZRT) mowers. Other operational controls are provided for starting and stopping the operation of deck 4. Mower 3 as illustrated herein is similar to, but is not limited to, the Lazer Z mowers manufactured and sold by Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc., the assignee of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2. one embodiment of a height of cut (HOC) system according to this invention is generally illustrated as 2. HOC system 2 adjusts the vertical height of deck 4 relative to the ground to adjust the height of cut of the grass being mowed. Only those portions of deck 4 and of mower 3 that carry deck 4 that are needed to understand the structure and operation of HOC system 2 have been shown in FIGS. 2-11.

Referring to FIG. 1. mower frame 6 has a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side rails 8. Side rails 8 are secured together by a plurality of longitudinal and lateral cross members welded thereto. Vertical sleeves or hubs 12 are provided at the front of side rails 8. Hubs 12 rotatably journal the vertical pivot stems of the front caster wheels 7 f. Rear driven wheels 7 r are mounted laterally outboard of side rails 8 towards the rear ends thereof. Deck 4 is carried beneath the front portions of side rails 8 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 11. HOC system 2 comprises front and rear cross shafts 16 f and 16 r that are parallel to one another. Both cross shafts 16 are rotatably journalled on mower frame 6 by laterally spaced pairs of bearing blocks 18. Bearing blocks 18 are bolted by bolts 19 to a fixed portion 14 of mower frame 6 adjacent each side rail 8. See FIG. 4. Cross shafts 16 will thus rotate about substantially horizontal pivot axes that extend laterally across and overlie the middle portions of the front and rear sides of deck 4.

Referring further to FIG. 4. each bearing block 18 is generally U-shaped and is bolted to the underside of the portion 14 of frame 6 to have a low profile. Bearing block 18 is preferably metallic. An inner plastic sleeve 17, made of Delrin, is carried within bearing block 18. Sleeve 17 extends around approximately 270° or so, receives one end of a cross shaft 16, and provides a low friction contact surface with cross shaft 16. Thus, the combination of a U-shaped bearing block 18 with an inner plastic sleeve 17 effectively journals the end of a cross shaft 16 with both reduced friction and low profile characteristics, thus constituting an improvement over simply using a square or rectangular Delrin block with a shaft receiving bore as the bearing block. In addition, plastic sleeve 17 does not require the frequent applications of lubricant that are typically needed for conventional cylindrical metallic bushings.

Each cross shaft 16 terminates in an outer end that is outboard of the adjacent side rail 8. Each end of each cross shaft 16 includes a pivotal suspension linkage 20 that connects the end of cross shaft 16 to a fixed bracket 22 on deck 4. Thus, deck 4 is suspended or hung beneath cross shafts 16 by the four pivotal suspension linkages 20. Since linkages 20 are spread out over deck 4 both laterally and longitudinally, i.e. there are four linkages 20 arranged in a rectangular pattern relative to deck 4, deck 4 is supported in a plane defined by the points where the four suspension linkages 20 connect to deck 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10. each suspension linkage 20 comprises a rearwardly extending pivotal link 24 that is fixed to one end of one cross shaft 16 to rotate with cross shaft 16. The other end of link 24 is forked having a pair of parallel fork arms 26. A pivot pin 28 is pivotally supported between fork arms 26 with the outer ends of pivot pin 28 being received in a pair of aligned bores 27 in fork arms 26. The top central part of pivot pin 28 is cut away to form a flat, upwardly facing bearing surface 30 in the middle of pivot pin 28. Pivot pin 28 includes a generally vertically extending bore 32 passing from top to bottom through pivot pin 28 with the upper end of bore 32 being located in the middle of upwardly facing bearing surface 30 as shown in FIG. 10.

Suspension linkage 20 further includes a generally vertical connecting rod 34 having an eyelet 36 on the lower end thereof. As shown in FIG. 5. a bolt 38 passes through a hole 37 in eyelet 36 and into and through deck bracket 22 with the shank of bolt 38 serving as a pivot connection between connecting rod 34 and deck 4. Connecting rod 34 extends upwardly from its pivotal connection to deck 4 through bore 32 in pivot pin 28. Connecting rod 34 is long enough so that its upper end terminates well above pivot pin 28. The upper end of connecting rod 34 is threaded as shown at 35 in FIG. 10. Connecting rod 34 and pivot pin 28 are both solid metallic members and are not themselves flexible.

The threaded upper end 35 of connecting rod 34 carries a threaded adjuster 40 in the form of a hollow cylinder with a fixed nut 42 carried on the top thereof. Connecting rod 34 is threadedly engaged with the threads in adjuster 40, namely with the threads in nut 42. This allows adjuster 40 to be threaded up and down along the threaded upper end of connecting rod 34 to adjust the effective length of connecting rod 34 between link 24 and deck 4. This permits precise adjustment of the effective length of connecting rod 34 for deck leveling purposes as will be described hereafter. Once a desired position of adjuster 40 is reached, this position can be locked by tightening a jam nut 44 down on top of adjuster 40.

Pivotal links 24 used in suspension linkages 20 on the right side of deck 4 are bell cranks with each of these links 24 also having a forwardly extending link arm 46. See FIG. 7. Links 24 used in suspension linkages 20 on the left side of deck 4 do not have such forwardly extending link arms 46. See FIGS. 2 and 11. Link arms 46 of the right side suspension linkages 20 are connected together by a longitudinal connecting rod 48 whose ends are pivotally connected to link arms 46 by pivots 50. Longitudinal connecting rod 48 rotationally links cross shafts 16. Rotation of one cross shaft 16 will rotate the other cross shaft 16 in the same direction and in the same amount by virtue of longitudinal connecting rod 48. It should also be apparent that this will cause all four pivotal links 24 in all four suspension linkages 20 to be simultaneously rotated together in the same manner, i.e. in the same direction and amount as the joint rotation of cross shafts 16.

Referring now to FIG. 8. forwardly extending link arm 46 in the rear suspension linkage on the right side includes a forwardly protruding finger that forms a control lever 52 whose rotational position determines the height of cut provided by HOC system 2. Control lever 52 extends into and between a pair of spaced plates 54 that make up a height selection bracket 56 that is fixed to mower frame 6. As shown in FIG. 6. the innermost plate 54 of height selection bracket 56 is secured by front and rear bolts 58 f and 58 r to an upwardly extending mounting flange 60 on the right side rail of mower frame 6. The outermost plate 54 of height selection bracket 56 is carried and supported by the innermost plate with the two plates 54 being spaced apart by a gap 62. It is this gap 62 into which control lever 52 extends.

Height selection bracket 56 carries an array of height adjustment holes 64. A height selection pin 66 can be inserted into any one hole 64 in height selection bracket 56 to select a different height of cut. FIG. 6 shows height selection pin 66 disconnected from any height adjustment hole 64. FIGS. 3. 5 and 6 show height selection pin 66 inserted into a height adjustment hole 64 max that provides the maximum height of cut. Height selection pin 66 simply serves as a stop that coacts against control lever 52 to set the rotational position of control lever 52. The weight of deck 4 acting through HOC system 2 will tend to always bias control lever 52 into engagement with height selection pin 66.

As shown in FIG. 8. height selection bracket 56 includes a pivotal latch 68 for latching control lever 52 in the maximum height of cut position. If the operator wishes to lower the height of cut to something other than the maximum height of cut, the operator will reposition height selection pin 66 into one of the other height of cut adjustment holes 64. The operator can then release pivotal latch 68 by pulling back on a latch handle 70. Once HOC system 2 is unlatched, the rest of HOC system 2, including cross shafts 16 and the four pivotal links 24, will all rotate in the counter-clockwise direction A in FIG. 8 until control lever 52 contacts height selection pin 66 in its new location. Rotation in the direction A in FIG. 8 causes deck 4 to lower relative to mower frame 6 and relative to the ground to decrease the height of cut. The minimum height of cut is provided when height selection pin 66 is located in height adjustment hole 64 that is highest and farthest to the rear in the array of height adjustment holes 64, which hole is indicated at 64 min in FIG. 8.

The operator can move deck 4 back up from a lower to a higher height of cut using a foot pedal 72 that is secured to one of the pivotal links 24, namely to pivotal link 24 in right front suspension linkage 20 in HOC system 2. Pushing down on foot pedal 72 causes HOC system 2 to rotate in direction B in FIG. 8. which is a direction in which deck 4 moves upwardly. As this happens, control lever 52 will start to rotate forwardly relative to the array of height adjustment holes 64 in height selection bracket 56. When the rear edge of control lever 52 becomes adjacent height adjustment hole 64 corresponding to the desired height of cut, the operator can move height selection pin 66 into that corresponding hole. The operator can then release foot pedal 72 and the weight of deck 4 will keep control lever 52 abutted with height selection pin 66 in its new hole. Alternatively, the operator can raise deck 4 to its maximum height of cut position before doing any repositioning of height selection pin 66.

If deck 4 is returned by the operator to its maximum height of cut position, pivotal latch 68 will be engaged by control lever 52 as deck 4 rises. The bias of a spring 67 had returned pivotal latch 68 to its usual position in the path of control lever 52 after pivotal latch 68 was initially unlatched by the operator pulling rearwardly on handle 70 and control lever 52 swung past latch 68 when deck 4 was being lowered. However, with deck 4 now being raised, control lever 52 is able to cam or push latch 68 out of the way against the bias of spring 67 as deck 4 moves back towards its maximum height of cut position. Once control lever 52 clears latch 68, latch 68 reengages against control lever 52 as shown in FIG. 8 to again hold or lock deck 4 in its maximum height of cut position. Thus, latch 68 automatically resets into a locking relationship with control lever 52 whenever deck 4 is moved back to its maximum height of cut position.

There are some instances where it is desirable for latch 68 to be disabled during operation of HOC system 2. For example, there are times when the operator desirably wants to move deck 4 upwardly and downwardly numerous times in a short time interval using just foot pedal 72. In this situation, having to unlock latch 68 and having latch 68 automatically reset becomes a hindrance.

Accordingly, height selection bracket 56 includes a downwardly facing, J-shaped locking slot 69 at the rear end of the channel 71 in which handle 70 is received. If the operator now pulls on handle 70 sufficiently rearwardly and then downwardly, handle 70 can be moved down into locking slot 69. In this position, the bias of spring 67 will hold or retain handle 70 in locking slot 69 with latch 68 simply being pivoted upwardly into a position where latch 68 is held clear of the path of travel of control lever 52. In this position, latch 68 is effectively disabled and deck 4 will not be locked into its maximum height of cut position every time deck 4 approaches that position. Slot 69 is a simple and effective way of disabling the operation of latch 68.

To help the operator overcome the weight of deck 4 in raising deck 4 using foot pedal 72, a single torsion spring 74 is provided placed concentrically around front cross shaft 16 f of HOC system 2. As best shown in FIG. 3. one end of torsion spring 74 bears up against the rear edge of a tab 76 of a collar 78 that is secured to front cross shaft 16 f. The other end of torsion spring 74 is restrained or held down by a downwardly facing U-shaped channel 80 that is fixed to one of the side rails of mower frame 6 by a bracket 82. Thus, as torsion spring 74 tries to unwind, the end bearing against the rear edge of tab 76 of collar 78 on front cross shaft 16 f rotates cross shaft 16 in the same clockwise direction B as is achieved when the operator pushes down on foot pedal 72, namely in the direction in which deck 4 is raised. This helps counterbalance the weight of deck 4 and reduces the amount of downforce the operator has to apply to foot pedal 72 to raise deck 4.

The use of a single torsion spring 74 around one cross shaft 16 of HOC system 2 is preferred as it simplifies prior art designs in which multiple compression springs were used around various connecting rods. In addition, referring to FIG. 1. both the front and rear cross shafts 16 used in HOC system 2 can be conveniently covered by various shields 81, escutcheon plates, or portions of the mower floorboard. Preferably, front cross shaft 16 f is covered by a V-shaped foot rest 83. The operator can rest his feet atop or against the rear side of foot rest 83 while operating the mower. This also hides, covers and protects torsion spring 74 as well as front cross shaft 16 f. This is a further advantage over the exposed and unprotected springs in prior art designs.

Suspension linkages 20 disclosed as part of HOC system 2 of this invention permit the operator to easily and precisely level deck 4 relative to a flat plane, such as a reference ground plane or a fore and aft rake angle plane. The effective length of each connecting rod 34 between pivotal link 24 in each suspension linkage and deck 4 can be precisely adjusted by the position of adjuster 40 along connecting rod 34. If deck 4 needs to be raised at one suspension linkage 20 and lowered at another to level deck 4, this is done by appropriate rotation of adjusters 40 of the involved suspension linkages 20 in opposite directions. This is easily done simply by loosening jam nut 44 in each suspension linkage 20 and then applying a wrench to nut 42 on each adjuster 40 to thread adjuster 40 either upwardly or downwardly. When just enough movement of adjuster 40 has been accomplished, jam nuts 44 can be retightened.

In addition to the individual adjustments that are designed as part of each suspension linkage 20, a single point adjustment 84 is further provided for moving the position of height selection bracket 56 relative to mower frame 6. Single point adjustment 84 is best shown in FIG. 8. Single point adjustment 84 comprises a first, inverted V-shaped bracket 86 fixed to height selection bracket 56 and extending between side plates 54 thereof, a second upright V-shaped bracket 88 fixed to the underside of the adjacent side rail 8 of mower frame 6, and a threaded adjustment bolt 90 passing through the two V-shaped brackets 86 and 88. The head 92 of bolt 90 and the nut 94 carried on the top end of bolt 90 are both accessible to the operator.

In using single point adjustment 84 on height selection bracket 56, the operator first loosens the bolts 58 f and 58 r that lock height selection bracket 56 to the mounting flange 60. When both bolts 58 f and 58 r are loosened, bracket 56 can move relative to slots 61 f and 61 r in mounting flange 60. Slots 61 f and 61 r are shaped to allow bracket 56 to rotate or pivot about the axis of rear cross shaft 16 r. In any event, with bracket 56 thus loosened, the operator can grip both the head 92 of bolt 90 and nut 94 with suitable tools and rotate one or the other to move the two V-shaped brackets 86 and 88 closer towards one another or further away from one another. This will rotate the entire height selection bracket 56 slightly to move height selection pin 66 either closer towards or further away from control lever 52, thus providing a further incremental adjustment of HOC system 2 using just the single bolt 90 that is part of single point adjustment 84.

Single point adjustment 84 has various uses. If deck 4 has been leveled relative to a reference ground or rake angle plane by individually adjusting the various suspension linkages 20 as need be, it may be that the actual height of cut being delivered by deck 4 will vary slightly from the nominal height allegedly being provided by height selection pin 66. In other words, height selection pin 66 might be positioned to deliver a 1″ height of cut, but it is possible that the actual height of cut being delivered will be 0.9″, or 1.1″, or the like. Thus, single point adjustment 84 allows the operator to true up the actual height of cut with the nominal height of cut by using bolt 90 to adjust the position of the entire height selection bracket 56 without affecting the deck leveling relative to the reference plane. Once this truing up process is finished, the operator can then lock height selection bracket 56 in this position by tightening down all the bolts 58 used to secure height selection bracket 56 to flange 60 on side rail 8.

Another possible use of single point adjustment 84 is to be able to obtain intermediate heights of cut that are located in between the discrete heights of cut provided by the various height adjustment holes 64 in height selection bracket 56, again without affecting the deck leveling provided by the adjustment of the suspension linkages 20. For example, if height adjustment holes 64 in height selection bracket 56 provide only ¼″ incremental changes in the height of cut, one could get smaller incremental changes from a given position, e.g. a ⅛″ change, by using single point adjustment 84. In other words, the operator would place height selection pin 66 in one of the two holes that are closest to the actual desired height of cut and then appropriately rotate single point adjustment 84 in the correct direction to additionally move pin 66 the right amount needed to get the smaller incremental change that was desired.

Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the scope of the invention shall be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims ( 1 )

An improved mower of the type having a mower frame, a rotary cutting deck carried by the frame, a height of cut system for vertically moving the cutting deck upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame to adjust the height of cut of the grass, wherein the height of cut system comprises a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages connecting the cutting deck to the frame, a single pivotal control lever pivotally carried on the frame with pivoting of the control lever causing joint and corresponding pivoting motion in all the suspension linkages, and a height selection bracket fixed to the frame and coacting with the pivotal control lever to set and maintain the control lever in different pivotal positions corresponding to different heights of cut, wherein the improvement relates to the height of cut adjustment system and comprises:

a) a latch movably carried on the height of selection bracket for latching the control lever in a maximum height of cut position;

b) a handle movably carried on the height of selection bracket for moving the latch out of engagement with the control lever when the operator slides the handle in a first direction on the height of selection bracket;

c) at least one spring that biases the latch into a position in which the latch engages the control lever and that biases the handle in a direction opposite to the first direction in which the operator slides the handle to release the latch; and

d) a locking slot into which the operator can move the handle after the handle is first moved by the operator in the first direction sufficiently to release the latch, wherein the operator can move the handle into the locking slot by movement of the handle in a second direction that is different than the first direction with the bias of the spring retaining the handle in the locking slot thereafter to thereby disable the operation of the latch until the handle is moved back out of the locking slot by the operator.

US13/844,922 2008-01-20 2013-03-16 Height of cut adjustment system for mower cutting deck Active 2028-07-02 US8919087B2 ( en )

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US12/009,613 US8438822B2 ( en )	2008-01-20	2008-01-20	Height of cut adjustment system for mower cutting deck
US13/844,922 US8919087B2 ( en )	2008-01-20	2013-03-16	Height of cut adjustment system for mower cutting deck

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Cited By (7)

Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party

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US20160316619A1 ( en )	2015-05-01	2016-11-03	Deere Company	Height of cut control system
US20170034996A1 ( en )	2015-05-01	2017-02-09	Deere Company	Height of cut control system
US20200077581A1 ( en )	2018-09-11	2020-03-12	The Toro Company	Variable height-of-cut and ground working vehicle incorporating same
US11006574B1 ( en )	2017-02-14	2021-05-18	Alamo Group Inc.	Mower with rotary cut height adjustment
US20220087100A1 ( en )	2020-09-21	2022-03-24	Deere Company	Mower deck transport lock
US11310961B2 ( en )	2019-04-18	2022-04-26	Deere Company	Mower deck transport lock
US11357169B2 ( en )	2017-04-04	2022-06-14	Husqvarna Ab	Cutting deck height adjustment system for a riding lawn care vehicle

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CN205454612U ( en )	2016-01-13	2016-08-17	扬州维邦园林机械有限公司	Lifting adjusting mechanism of lawn car grass cutting blade dish
AU2018288056B2 ( en )	2017-06-23	2020-07-02	Husqvarna Ab	Deck lift assembly for a riding lawn care vehicle
US11240957B2 ( en )	2018-06-21	2022-02-08	Deere Company	Mower deck transport lock

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US20220087100A1 ( en )	2020-09-21	2022-03-24	Deere Company	Mower deck transport lock

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How to Get the Best Looking Lawn in 2019

As a homeowner, you ​want the best performance from everything you own. You want to know how to make your dishwasher to wash its best, you want to improve your home’s ability to maintain a comfortable temperature more effectively and you want your lawn mower to cut as best as it can, resulting in the best looking lawn in the neighborhood. Good equipment is a big part of that equation, but for whatever lawn mower you use, there’s a few adjustments that can be made to help improve the cutting quality of that mower and a few mowing techniques that can be mastered to help foster healthy, full grass growth.​

Lawn mower deck adju​​stments

This isn’t about the cutting height. Did you know that the level and pitch of most lawn mower decks can be fine-tuned to perfect cutting results?

Pitch lawn mowe​​r deck

Pitching a mower deck enables the aerodynamic design of the cutting chamber to lift grass, cut it evenly and discharge it effectively.

What is mower deck ​​​pitch?

Lawn mower deck pitch, or sometimes referred to as, rake, is the tilt from the front to the back of the mower deck on a zero turn lawn mower. Forward deck pitch creates an air seal at the front of the deck when the blades are rotating. This seal limits air entry into the cutting chamber to the rear of the deck, allowing the aerodynamic design of the deck to lift grass and cut it evenly as the blades are turning. This design results in an appealing cut quality and an even grass clipping discharge that’s free of clumps.

For most effective results, a lawn mower deck should have a pitch of 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the height of the deck rear to the height of the deck front. Naturally, this makes the sweet spot about 1/4-inch of pitch, depending on the type of mower. In any case, the front of the deck needs to be pitched lower than the deck rear, but don’t pitch too much because deck pitch that’s too steep can scalp lawns.

How to adjust lawn m​​ower pitch

Most zero turn mower decks are built with a feature that allows deck pitch to be adjusted quickly and easily. On an Ariens IKON X or XL, there’s no special tools or mechanical training necessary, just some wrenching on a few pieces of hardware. Before you begin, park the mower on a flat, level surface, check that the tire pressures are equal and grab a tape measure. Before you start, stop the engine, remove the key from the unit and wait for all moving parts to stop and for all parts to cool.

Check p​​​​itch

As directed in the operator’s manual:

• Raise the mower deck to a cutting height high enough that allows your hands to fit under the deck.
• While wearing thick, sturdy gloves, manually and carefully turn the blades so they’re positioned front to back. When turning blades, always grab the dull edge of the blade.
• Measure:
• The distances between the front tips of the outer blades and the surface the mower is sitting on.
• The distances between the rear tips of the outer blades and the surface the mower is sitting on.

​​If front measurements are lower than the rear measurements by less than 1/8 inch or more than 1/2 inch, adjust pitch.

Adjust​ pitch

Deck pitch can be adjusted at the front of the mower deck, the rear of the mower deck, or with a combination of adjustments to both the front and rear of the deck. Use any method desired, just as long as the front of the deck is pitched about 1/4 inch lower than the rear of the mower deck and that the measurements at the front of the deck match the mower’s cutting height selection.

To lower the front of the deck if it is too high:

• Loosen the nuts on the front deck hangers.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.

To raise the front of the deck if too low:

• ​​Tighten the nuts on the front deck hangers.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.

To lower the deck rear if it is too high:

• ​Loosen the nuts on the rear deck hangers.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.

To raise the deck rear if it is too low:

• ​Tighten the nuts on the rear deck hangers.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.

After pitch adjustment is complete, check deck level.​

Level mower deck​​​

Level the mower deck to ensure grass cutting height is even across the width of the deck. This will help ensure a smooth and seamless side-by-side blend between each row of freshly cut grass.​

What is lawn mower deck le​veling?

This is easier to understand than deck pitch. Deck leveling is simply making the cutting height on the left side of the deck even with the cutting height on the right side of the deck. In all cases, decks should be level with as little variance between each side of the cutting deck as possible. No variance between the two sides is best.​

How to level the mo​​​wer deck

Leveling a lawn mower deck is done the same way as pitching a mower deck, except it’s adjusting the deck height from side to side, not back to front. Same components and tools used as with pitching a mower deck, and as before, start with the unit parked on a flat, level surface, inflate the tires to specification and grab a tape measure. Before you start, stop the engine, remove the key from the unit and wait for all moving parts to stop and for all parts to cool.

Check mower d​eck level

As directed in the operator’s manual:

• Raise the mower deck to the highest cutting height with enough clearance to fit your hands under the deck.
• While wearing thick, sturdy gloves, manually and carefully turn the blades so they’re positioned side to side. Grab the dull edge of the blade when turning the blade.
• Measure:
• The distance between the left tip of the left blade and the ground.
• The distance between the right tip of the right blade and the ground.
• ​If distances between the left blade tip and the right blade tip has a difference greater than 1/4 inch, level the deck.

How to level your lawn mower d​​eck

As directed in the operator’s manual

​To lower the high side of deck:

• Loosen nuts on front and rear deck hangers of high side of deck.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.

To ​raise the low side of deck:

• Tighten nuts on front and rear deck hangers of low side of deck.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.​

How to sharpen law​n mower blades

Same as with dull knives or scissors – they don’t cut efficiently and result in the need to duplicate work. On a mower, worn blades have trouble lifting grass while mowing, and they don’t cut well, leaving behind an uneven cut and stragglers. If blades are worn too much, it might require mowing the same rows twice.

Dull blades may need replacement, which isn’t bad since new blades are relatively cheap and easy to replace. However, if enough blade material still exists, the blade can be sharpened.

Blades should be discarded if more than a half-inch of the blade material is worn away (by previous sharpening or wear) or if the air lift (the bend in the blade) is eroded. Sharpening blades is a wasted effort if the blades can no longer lift the grass and cut it evenly, and blades that are bent or broken can be dangerous and cause damage.

How to Level and Pitch an Ariens® EDGE Mower Deck | Ariens

Handling mower blades can be dangerous and is best left to those with knowledge and experience replacing blades. If you’re uncomfortable with this procedure, please rely on your nearest Ariens dealer to complete the service for you.

• Read the safety instructions in the operator’s manual before starting.
• Remove the deck as instructed in the operator’s manual.
• Remove the blades according to the directions in the manual.
• File or grind an equal amount of blade material from each cutting edge of the blade until sharp. Do not change angle of cutting edge or round the corner of the blade.
• Insert a screwdriver through the hole in the blade and hold the screwdriver horizontally. Position the blade horizontally and check for blade balance. This is critical. If the blade moves, sharpen the heavy end until the blade remains balanced in a horizontal position on the screwdriver.
• When the blade is sharpened and balanced adequately, reinstall it and torque it to the specification listed in the operator’s manual.
• Reinstall the mower deck.

Cleaning your m​ower deck

Mower decks packed with grass clippings, dirt and debris can damage your mower, affect cut quality and hurt lawns. Grass, dirt and debris holds moisture that corrodes bare metal on the spindles and mower blades, weakening them. Additionally, grass-packed cutting decks can harbor fungi and bacteria that can spread around your lawn and damage it.​

Grass buildup around the discharge area can prevent clippings from discharging evenly and could lead to clumping. Grass buildup under the deck can also affect the aerodynamics of the cutting chamber, disrupt the air lift under the deck (detailed in What is mower deck pitch?) and affect the cut quality.

Good lawn mowing prac​​​tices

Sometimes, getting a better cut quality can be achieved by simply breaking a few bad habits like mowing too fast, mowing in the same pattern and cutting grass too short.

Slow your mow

How fast should you mow? Driving slower while mowing has better results.

Driving faster than the mower blades and deck aerodynamics can cut and discharge overwhelms the deck and leaves behind stragglers and clumping. Slowing the drive speed of a mower allows the blades enough time to lift, cut and discharge grass blades evenly.

The right mo​​​wing pattern

By now, you probably know the most efficient a pattern to mow your yard, a pattern you probably don’t change with each mowing. Force yourself to change that bad habit and start mowing in different patterns.

Grass is like hair. If it’s accustomed to being pushed in the same direction, it learns to which way to fall. After mowing in the same direction cut after cut, it falls to one direction and doesn’t stand straight up, making it more difficult for the mower to lift the grass and cut it evenly.

Additionally, mowing in the same pattern creates ruts. A mower driving over the same rows with each mowing causes the soil under a mower’s wheels to become compacted, restricting the grass roots from getting necessary amounts of water, air and nutrients. This leads to grass discoloration in your mower’s wheel tracks.

Avoid these issues by mowing in a pattern that crisscrosses the pattern of the previous mowing.

Don’t cut grass too short

How much grass should you cut with each mowing? Keeping some length in your lawn is good for healthy grass growth.

Grass that’s cut too short becomes stressed because it uses its energy re-growing what was just cut instead of growing its root system. Longer grass makes healthier lawns be​cause longer grass has deeper root systems which access moisture and nutrients more effectively. Additionally, longer grass helps prevent the ability for weeds to take hold and germinate because tall grass blocks sunlight from those weeds.

Cut no more than one-third of the length of grass with each mowing.

Best lawn m​​ower brands

Performing service and adjustments on any lawn mower makes a big difference in cut quality, but you’ll never get the best cutting quality without having the right equipment. In 2019, consumers have numerous choices in a commercial lawn mower, but they’re not built alike.

Ariens zero turn lawn mowers are designed for homeowners who value time, performance and a landscape that can be enjoyed with their families. Read below to learn why Ariens lawn mowers deliver the best cut quality for homeowners.

Strong deck st​​ability

As opposed to decks that shake excessively while cutting, Ariens decks are sturdy and move with the contours of each landscape, ensuring an even cut.

Superior a​​​erodynamics

Ariens deck aerodynamics lift and discharge grass evenly and effectively, preventing stragglers and clumping. Additionally, the depth of an Ariens fabricated steel deck means there’s less need to trade speed for quality. Ariens decks are designed to process higher volumes of grass without degrading the quality of the result.

[image of Ariens mower cutting]

Constant belt tension

Constant belt tensioning is standard on every Ariens zero turn mower deck. This technology applies equal tension to a mower belt throughout the life of that belt, meaning that even after the belt wears and stretches, blade tip speed and cutting results are the same as when the belt was brand new.​

Where to bu​​​y an Ariens lawn mower?

Ready to learn more about the machines designed to give you the best looking lawn in the neighborhood? Visit your local Ariens dealer today to see which model is right for your yard.

Getting the Best Lawn Mower Cut Quality

Cutting the lawn has more purpose than making tall grass short. It’s about crafting landscapes that bring pride, landscapes that host parties and landscapes that literally work for you. By delivering superior cut quality for your clients, your reputation as a sharp landscaper will help retain current clients and be a selling point for new ones.

Read the following tips to learn how to get the sharpest looking landscapes. On a zero turn lawn mower, there are both adjustments and techniques landscapers can make and perform to ensure a smooth, even and appealing result with each mowing.

Adjust lawn mow​​​er deck pitch

Fine tuning a mower deck enables the aerodynamic design of the cutting chamber to lift grass, cut it evenly and discharge it effectively.

What is mowe​​​r deck pitch?

Lawn mower deck pitch, or sometimes referred to as, rake, is the tilt of the mower deck from front to back. Forward deck pitch creates an air seal at the front of the deck when the blades are rotating. This seal limits air entry into the cutting chamber to the rear of the deck, allowing the aerodynamic design of a Gravely lawn mower deck to maximize grass lift and cut evenly. This design results in a superior cut quality and an even discharge that’s less likely to clump.

For most effective results, a lawn mower deck should have a pitch, or height difference of 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the front of the deck to the back of the deck. Naturally, this makes the sweet spot about 1/4-inch of pitch, depending on the mower model. In any case, the front of the deck should be pitched lower than the deck rear. Be careful not to pitch too much that you start scalping lawns.

How to adjust l​​awn mower pitch

All Gravely decks are built so their owners can adjust deck pitch quickly and easily. There’s no special tools or mechanical training required to complete this procedure, either. Just a couple wrenches and a few pieces of hardware. Before you begin, park the mower on a flat, level surface, stop the engine, remove the key, check that the tire pressures are equal and grab a tape measure.

Check ​pitch

As directed in the operator’s manual:

• Raise the mower deck to a cutting height of 3.5 inches.
• Manually and carefully turn the blades so they’re positioned front to back. When manually turning blades, always grab the dull edge of the blade.
• Measure:
• The distances between the front tips of the outer blades and the ground.
• ​The distances between the rear tips of the outer blades and the ground.
• If front measurements are lower than the rear measurements by less than 1/8 inch or more than 1/2 inch, adjust pitch.

Adjust pitch

Deck pitch can be adjusted by lowering the front of the deck, raising the rear of the deck or a combination of both. Be sure to make adjustments so that the distances of your final measurements at the front of the deck accurately reflect the cutting height of 3.5 inches that was set earlier.

​​T​​o lower the high side of deck:

• Loosen jam nuts against deck lift links.
• Turn adjustment bolts counterclockwise.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.
• Tighten jam nuts against deck lift links.

To raise the low side of deck:

• Loosen jam nuts against deck lift links.
• Turn adjustment bolts clockwise.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.
• Tighten jam nuts against deck lift links.​

After pitch adjustment is complete, check deck level.​

Leveling yo​​ur mower deck

Level the mower deck to ensure grass cutting height is even across the width of the deck. This will help ensure a smooth and seamless side-by-side blend between each row of freshly cut grass.

What is lawn mower deck leveling?

This is easier to understand than deck pitch. Deck leveling is simply making the cutting height on the left side of the deck even with the cutting height on the right side of the deck. In all cases, decks should be level with as little variance between each side of the cutting deck as possible. No variance between the left and right side of the deck is best.​

How to level the mower deck​

Leveling a Gravely lawn mower deck is done the same way as pitching a Gravely mower deck, except it’s adjusting the deck height from side to side, not back to front. Same components and tools with pitching a mower deck, and as before, start with the unit parked on a flat, level surface, inflate the tires to specification and grab a tape measure.​

Check mower deck level​​

As directed in the operator’s manual:

• Raise the mower deck to a cutting height of 3.5 inches.
• While wearing thick, sturdy gloves, manually and carefully turn the blades so they’re positioned side to side. When manually turning blades, always grab the dull edge of the blade.
• Measure:
• The distance between the left blade’s left cutting edge and the ground.
• The distance between the right blade’s right cutting edge and the ground.
• If the distance between the left blade tip and the ground is 3/16 inches greater than or less than the distance between the right blade tip and the ground, level the deck.

How to level your la​wn mower deck

As directed in the operator’s manual

• Loosen jam nuts against deck lift links.
• Turn adjustment bolts counterclockwise.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.
• Tighten jam nuts against deck lift links.

• Loosen jam nuts against deck lift links.
• Turn adjustment bolts clockwise.
• Retake measurements and continue adjustment, if necessary.
• Tighten jam nuts against deck lift links.

How to sharpen lawn ​mower blades

Same as with dull knives or scissors – they don’t cut efficiently and results in duplicate effort. On a mower, dull blades leave behind stragglers and require the terribly inefficient practice of mowing the same rows twice.

Dull blades may require a total replacement, which isn’t bad since new blades are relatively cheap and easy to replace. However, if the blades aren’t worn too far, they can be sharpened without spending money on new blades. Be aware that blades should not be sharpened if more than a half-inch of the blade material is worn away (by previous sharpening or wear) or if the air lift is eroded. If the air lift is eroded, blades can no longer lift grass effectively and cut evenly. Blades that are bent or broken should be discarded.

• Read the safety instructions and the procedure instructions in the unit’s operator’s manual.
• Remove the mower deck according to the instructions in the operator’s manual.
• Remove the blades according to the instructions in the operator’s manual.
• File or grind an equal amount of blade material from each cutting edge until sharp. Do not change angle of cutting edge or round the corner of the blade.
• Slide the blade onto an unthreaded bolt and hold the bolt horizontally. Position the blade horizontally and check for blade balance. This is critical. If the blade moves, sharpen the heavy end until the blade remains balanced in a horizontal position on the unthreaded bolt.
• When the blade is sharpened and balanced adequately, reinstall it under the mower deck and torque it to the specification listed in the operator’s manual.
• Reinstall the mower deck.

Cleaning your mo​​wer d​​eck

Mower decks packed with grass clippings, dirt and debris can damage your mower, affect cut quality and hurt lawns. Grass, dirt and debris holds moisture that corrodes bare metal on the spindles and mower blades, weakening them. Additionally, grass-packed cutting decks can harbor fungi and bacteria that can spread to other lawns and damage them.

How to sharpen lawn mower blades THE CORRECT WAY ( Angle grinders will destroy your mower blades)

Grass buildup around the discharge area can prevent clippings from discharging evenly and could lead to clumping. Grass buildup under the deck can also affect the aerodynamics of the cutting chamber, disrupt the air lift under the deck (detailed in What is mower deck pitch?) and affect the cut quality.

Good lawn mo​​​wi​​ng techniques

Sometimes, getting a better cut quality can be achieved by breaking a few bad habits like mowing too fast, mowing in the same pattern and cutting grass too short.

Why you shouldn’t mow t​​oo fast

For busy landscapers, efficiency is important. And while landscapers will find many creative ways to shave time off each job, patience on the jobsite yields better results. Driving faster than the mower blades and deck can process overwhelms the deck and leaves behind stragglers and clumping. Slowing down the drive speed of a mower allows the blades enough time to lift, cut and discharge grass clippings evenly.

Why you should mow ​​in different patterns

After mowing the same properties, landscapers will learn the best way to navigate through their clients’ properties and will sometimes stick to one efficient mowing pattern. However, mowing in the same pattern is bad for lawns.

Grass is like hair. If it’s accustomed to being pushed in the same direction, it learns which way to fall. After mowing in the same paths cut after cut, grass falls to one direction and doesn’t stand straight up, making it more difficult for the mower to lift the grass and cut it evenly.

Additionally, mowing in the same pattern creates ruts. The weight of a mower driving over the same rows with each mowing causes the soil under a mower’s wheels to become compacted. As soil compacts, it restricts water, air and nutrients from reaching grass roots, leading to grass discoloration in those mower tracks.

To avoid these issues, landscapers should mow in a different pattern that crisscrosses the pattern of the previous mowing.

Why you shouldn’t cu​​t grass too short

Grass that’s kept longer grows healthier.

Grass that’s cut too short becomes stressed because it uses its energy re-growing what was just cut instead of growing its root system. Longer grass makes healthier lawns because longer grass has deeper root systems which access moisture and nutrients more effectively. Additionally, longer grass helps prevent the ability for weeds to take hold in the soil and germinate because tall grass blocks sunlight from those weeds.

Landscapers should cut no more than one-third of the length of grass with each mowing.

Best mowers for good cu​​t ​​quality

Performing service and adjustments on any lawn mower makes a big difference in cut quality, but you’ll never get the best cutting quality without having the right equipment. Consumers have numerous choices in a commercial lawn mower, but they’re not built alike.

Gravely commercial lawn mowers are designed for landscapers. Not only is a Gravely durable, reliable and comfortable, but each Gravely is designed to deliver superior cutting results.

Strong de​​ck stability

As opposed to decks that shake excessively when cutting, Gravely decks are sturdy and move with the contours of each landscape, ensuring an even cut.

Cutting deck di​​mensions

The deep depth of a fully fabricated Gravely commercial mower deck processes greater volumes of grass faster with reduced need to compromise speed for quality on the jobsite.

Superior deck aero​​dynamics

Grass is lifted and discharged evenly and effectively, meaning there’s less chance for stragglers and clumping.

Constant belt tension

Gravely’s trademarked constant belt tension, or CBT, applies the same tension to a brand new mower belt than it does to an older, stretched mower belt. This ensures consistent blade tip speed and cutting results throughout the life of the belt, even as it wears.​

Lawn mowe​​​r dealers near me

Ready to learn more about the machines that have been shaping the American landscape for over a century? Stop by your local Gravely dealer to explore Gravely’s full product lineup and to get replacement parts like belts, blades and more. Add a Gravely lawn striper kit this season to enhance each lawn by giving it that professional, finished look.​

How To Level A Husqvarna Lawn Mower Deck

Today we’re going to put this deck back on to my Husqvarna 2246LS riding mower. The reason I had taken this off last fall was because this bracket had come off the deck.

Its weld had failed so I have a welder, but I’m not a very good welder so I ended up taking this to a shop to have it done sort of professionally. There’s a decent bead on it now, there’s actually a bead on the other side too and they put a little paint on to cover up the bare metal.

How To Level A Husqvarna Lawn Mower Deck

Step 1: Rerouting The Belt

So the first thing that I’m going to do here before I put the deck back under the mower is that I’m going to reroute the belt on here. You may be able to see that there is a routing diagram on the front of the deck. So we’ll just follow that for how the belt should go around the pulleys.

Step 2: Loosening The Screws

Next thing is that I’m going to take this Torx T30 screwdriver, and loosen the screws that hold these plastic shrouds down, just to make it a little easier to get the belts in there.

And as you can see, we didn’t need to take the thing all the way off. I just need to loosen it enough to kind of lift it and provide some room for the belt to slide down behind the pulley. It’ll be the same thing over both sides.

Step 3: Finishing

Now I’ll finish up routing the belt. It is going to go around this idler pulley and there are just some metal tabs here. They’re gonna have to move out of the way temporarily to get this on all over the deck.

This belt just kind of wraps around this pulley. Now we’ve got a little bit of a twist and it should be good to go.

Step 4: Reinstalling The Spring

Next up I’m going to reinstall this spring that connects the idler arm to the deck and provides tension on the idler pulley. First, take this end of the spring and hook it around this hole that’s in the idler arm. Then orient it so that the hook is sort of facing up and the body of the spring is mostly below the arm itself.

Step 5: Stretching The Spring

What you should do next is stretch the spring out and hook the other end around this hole in the edge of this bracket. It looks a little funny over here but once this is tensioned up and the belt is in place, this will straighten out and be okay. So what I’ll do now is make sure both of these brackets are swung forward so they’re not in the way and we’ll slide this under the machine.

Step 6: Removing The Pin

Let’s take a close look underneath the left side of the machine that would be the side on your left, if you’re sitting on it writing it. The first thing is pulling that cotter pin out of the way. Next up, bring this bracket up and give it up the pivot point. I had to slide the deck a little bit forward there to line everything up.

Now continue to put the pin back in and reinstall the rod with this sliding end on it. But before doing that, pull this safety pin out of the way. Then make sure the deck height level is all the way down so the deck would be at its lowest position.

Step 7: Adjusting The Washer

Take the bent end of the rod and work it through the hole that’s in the lever attached to the deck height control. Then we’ll pull this washer out of the way, lift the deck up a little bit and get that kind of on the pin.

I’ll bring the washer back and then reinstall the safety. So now we’re over on the right side of the machine and looking at the back of the deck, there’s another safety pin here that needs to be removed.

Now we’ll pull this washer and set it aside. Next up, I’ve got this rod that you can’t see the other end of because the wheels in the way. But this is bolted on the machine with a lock nut. So I didn’t remove this when I took the deck off. I just let it hang there it was sort of out of the way. So this next thing is a little tricky but we’re gonna try and pivot this over.

Step 8: Setting The Safety Pin

We’re gonna pull this safety pin out and just like on the other side we’re gonna bring this bracket up. Give it in place, get it over that pin and then put the safety pin back. Take a look under the front of the machine at the front of the deck and we’re gonna reinstall this rod here.

Again, pull the safety pin off of that rod, then fish the bent end of it through this hole that’s in the bracket. Next we’re going to turn it around so that the bent part of it is sort of facing the right side of the machine. And we’re gonna put this through the hole that’s in the front of the deck behind the front wheel.

Step 9: Checking The Deck

I’ll pop the safety pin back on the end of this rod here and that should do it. Now get the belt mounted to the main engine pulley. Before I loop that around the pulley, I’m going to check and make sure the belt is still routed the way it’s supposed to be on the deck. And also make sure that it didn’t twist or anything like that.

Conclusion

I hope that you can follow these guide easily on how to level a Husqvarna lawn mower deck. It can be a little difficult at first, but just keep calm and do things step by step. Please leave a comment below if you have any new ideas for this kind of mower deck.

Should a Lawn Mower Deck be Level?

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Lawnmower decks are not often thought about, but they are important. Having a level deck on your lawnmower may or may not be important to fix. Does it matter if it’s level? A lawnmower deck should be level so that it can cut grass evenly. The deck of a lawnmower is the covering that protects the engine and person. It hides the blades and the debris that comes out of the lawnmower including the grass cuttings. Keeping the mower level keeps your grass uniform as you cut. Having a level lawn mower is important, but how can to do it? Read on below for more information about how to level your lawnmower deck.

Why Should You Level Your Lawn Mower Deck?

Leveling your lawnmower deck allows you to cut the grass evenly. If you notice that your grass looks uneven and choppy, then that is because you need to adjust or fix your lawnmower deck. The issue may be with the blade itself, but the deck can also be a cause for uneven grass. Plus, it is fairly easy to fix. Keeping your lawnmower deck level also keeps your lawnmower in good shape. You can maintain it and make sure that your lawnmower is running well and cutting grass efficiently. Also, if your lawnmower deck is uneven, then it is potentially hazardous. To keep yourself and others safe when using a lawnmower, make sure the deck is level so that the grass blades do not come out and the blades stay covered. If the blade is not covered properly, then you should not be using the lawnmower. The blades are sharp and dangerous, and you can harm yourself or others easily. Always make sure that your lawnmower deck is attached securely and level so that you can avoid ruining your equipment and you can avoid getting hurt. (Source) If you see that the grass is cut uneven, you can also sharpen the blade if you find it dull and not cutting grass very well. Just be sure to always exercise caution when dealing with the blade of a lawnmower because it is sharp and can potentially harm you. If your lawnmower has grass clippings cleaned off of it and the deck is level, then there should be no issue with its performance and it should cut the grass well.

How to Level Your Lawn Mower Deck

Leveling a lawnmower deck is not a complicated procedure. To start off, check the owner’s manual or look up the owner’s manual online for specific information for your lawnmower. Then, just follow along with those instructions. If you are looking for a general idea or a list of steps, then read below for how to level your lawnmower deck. Firstly, wear the correct clothing. Be sure to protect yourself so that you do not injure your hands or any part of you with the mower blade. The main item to wear is thick gloves. Wearing them will help protect your hands from getting injured when handling a lawnmower. You should also consider wearing long sleeves, jeans, and closed-toe shoes so that you are covered and at least partially protected when working with the lawnmower. Basically, you are adjusting the tightness of the screws to adjust the height of the deck and evening that out. The nuts against the deck are what you will loosen and adjust. These are connected to the deck and can control how high or low the deck sits. You will want to loosen the side of the deck that is lower, and tighten the side that is higher. Adjust these sides and measure the deck from the ground up on each side to see if the deck is even. Adjust until they are even and your deck will be successfully leveled.

How to Clean/Mantain Your Lawn Mower

Cleaning and maintaining your lawnmower is important. You do not want the blade to become dull and you want your engine and your wheels to run smoothly. Getting your blade, deck, and wheels clean is important to keep your lawnmower in great shape. Keeping up on this will make your lawnmower last for years, and you can avoid causing any damage to it. To make sure you keep up on the maintenance and cleaning of your lawnmower, you should check it out before using it. If you use your lawnmower daily for mowing the lawns of others, then clean out the lawnmower daily or weekly and check under the deck to see if it requires cleaning. If you mow every week to every 2 weeks then you should clean it out about every month. If you want to clean it after every use then you may do that as well, but cleaning after every handful of uses will still be enough to keep your lawnmower in great shape.

To properly clean a lawnmower deck you should take the deck off so that you can fully access the underside. This is the part that will be the most dirty from lawn clippings. Remove the grass and wipe it out with a cloth or paper towels. Then, you can clean out the deck with water and scrubbing if necessary. Before putting the lawnmower deck back on, make sure it is fully dry. You can gently clean off any other part of the lawnmower. Exercise caution when cleaning off the blade. You can remove this part or clean it separately from the mower. You can also sharpen the blade if you desire but look into your owner’s manual for specific details on how to sharpen the blade. Using a cloth or paper towels, you can wide down the wheels and any part that has grass clipping built up on it. Carefully wipe the engine and remove any dirt and grass. Then, you can fill up your lawnmower with gas if it needs a refill and put together all of the parts that you may have removed for cleaning. Finish putting the deck, blade, and other parts together and put your mower away. Now it’s ready for its next use!

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