X530 Mower Deck Height Adjustment Repair Needed?

[mkbrown87]

I bought a used X530 a couple of years ago. I could never get the mower deck height adjustment to function properly, but worked around it by adjusting the anti-scalp wheel and letting the deck ride on those to the desired height. As the season is beginning, thought I would fix this issue once and for all.

First, I went to the local JD store and explained my problem and they showed how it is supposed to work. I went back home and realized that the knob turns round and round, with no stop at either end. I thought it might be a problem with the knob (which I broke when taking it off), but that doesn't seem to be the issue. I can turn the shaft around and around, and the metal "nautilus" shaped adjustment wheel doesn't have a stop point at any azimuth. I went back to the JD store, and they said that isn't the way it should be. I find that makes sense, but I am not sure what parts may be broken or need to be repaired. I am at a loss. Any thoughts or help?

 

[mkbrown87]

 

[mkbrown87]

This is after I cleaned all of the built-up grass clippings that were stuffed under the metal body panel.

 

[beenthere]

So is the question "is the "nautilus" (cam) supposed to have a stop?

:welcome: to TBN

 

[mkbrown87]

So is the question "is the "nautilus" (cam) supposed to have a stop?

:welcome: to TBN

Yes, shouldn't it have a stop at both ends, allowing it to rotate 300 deg. or so, but no further. Also, I was looking to see how it controlled the height, and it is not readily apparent to me.

 

[beenthere]

Your pic shows the "arm" I believe that comes to rest against the cam, not allowing the deck to drop any further. This arm may not be connected.

With the fender deck off, raise and lower the deck to see what the cam is supposed to "stop", not allowing the deck to drop any further. Then take it from there... to find the problem.

 

[mkbrown87]

Your pic shows the "arm" I believe that comes to rest against the cam, not allowing the deck to drop any further. This arm may not be connected.

With the fender deck off, raise and lower the deck to see what the cam is supposed to "stop", not allowing the deck to drop any further. Then take it from there... to find the problem.

So I did exactly what you said (although I could see the "arm" move and rest against the cam without removing the body panels). I rotated it to various positions to see how it affected the mower deck height (and it does). I'm still not certain why the cam can rotate beyond the ~300 degree range, but it doesn't matter now that I know. Once I the replacement knob comes in, I need to readjust the mower deck height and level, and I should be in business after that. Thanks for your help.

 

[beenthere]

mkbrown87
Go one step further, and follow the instructions on the decal that is under the knob that you are replacing.
Should look like this in first pic.
Also I think, from the jdparts.com site, that there is a spring under the cam that likely has a detent effect so the knob doesn't rotate uncontrolled.. Shown in 2nd pic attached item #16

 

[mkbrown87]

mkbrown87
Go one step further, and follow the instructions on the decal that is under the knob that you are replacing.
Should look like this in first pic.
Also I think, from the jdparts.com site, that there is a spring under the cam that likely has a detent effect so the knob doesn't rotate uncontrolled.. Shown in 2nd pic attached item #16

Yes, that spring is in place. You can feel the cam rotate with the detent. It isn't that the cam free-wheels--it is just that there isn't anything that keeps the knob from turning past 4" to the right to go back to 1" on the left. Now that I understand how the whole part works, it really doesn't matter, either. As long as the deck is properly leveled at the 2.5" mark with the attached gauge, then the level control knob should actually control the height of the cut.

 

[tk tom]

My tractor (gx335- predecessor to x530) will rotate a full 360 with no stop. Not sure why there would be a stop? And there are detents to keep from wandering around. You're deck is not designed to roll on the anti-scalp wheels and you are likely getting a poor quality cut compared to a proper setup.