Mower Deck Leveling Gauge

timb · May 19, 2003

Somewhere I saw a picture or a drawing of a simple gauge to help with mower deck leveling. It was shaped something like a "vee", with one arm longer than the other - and a pivot at the base of the vee. With the tractor parked on a flat level surface, you snuck one end up under the deck so the tip of the short vee arm contacted the end of the blade - and read the effective cutting height off of the other (longer) vee arm against a scale.

Sounded like a great and simple idea - probably something you could even fabricate pretty quickly yourself - but for the life of me I can't find any reference to such a gauge now. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Anyone ever seen one of these? At the very least I'd like to see a picture again before I head down to the workshop.

Tim

Anonymous Poster · May 19, 2003

Tim,

The manual for my 54 inch (JD) deck has a picture. I know because I was just putting the deck on yesterday and had to reference the manual for an adjustment. You are right about the general make-up of the tool. Maybe the online manuals have it?

I just raise my deck up high enough to get a tape measure under the side that doesn't have the discharge shoot, but the leveling tool seems a good idea.

Good Luck

Bob

JackIL · May 19, 2003

These gauges are available from John Deere dealers selling lawn and garden equipment.

JackIL

MDNY · Mar 7, 2004

I noticed that on the JD stie as an accessory but no price listed. Any ideas on cost?

timb · Mar 8, 2004

Too expensive for a piece of rubbery plastic but too cheap to make me fabricate my own the weekend I wanted it and already had 100 other things to do!

That didn't answer your question - but I think it was under $10?

Tim

By the way - it does work just fine and one of these or a home made equivalent does help a lot getting a deck level.

MDNY · Mar 8, 2004

Thanks. I have room in my garage for what I think I will be buying. Leaning towards teh X585 4WD w/ FEL and a rear blade and 54" MMM. More research to come. I feel this will give me the mower and mover I need without breaking the budget and requiring me to build a new garage to house it. Someday I may just get that bigger machine.