How to Level a Riding Lawn Mower Deck

If you’ve ever noticed that your riding lawn mower is not cutting your grass evenly, there’s a chance the mower deck is not completely leveled. The mower’s blades are attached to the deck so if the lawn mower deck is uneven, the blades cutting the grass are uneven, giving your lawn an uneven cut. Follow our experts’ instructions to level your riding lawn mower deck in no time.

Before starting the job, park your riding lawn mower on a hard, flat surface, shut the engine off, and set the parking brake. If the parking brake is not on, your machine can roll back, injuring you or others. Lastly, remove the ignition key to prevent accidental starting.

Note: wear heavy leather gloves when working with or near mower blades.

Cub Cadet Zero Turn Mowers

To adjust the lawn mower deck from front to rear, place the deck lift lever in one of the middle height positions. Rotate the blade closest to the discharge chute, making it parallel to the lawn mower.

From there, measure the distance from the front of the blade tip to the ground, and then measure the distance from the rear of the blade tip to the ground.

Loosen the hex lock nut on the end of the front deck hanger rod, and raise or lower the front of the mower deck if necessary. If there is an additional jam nut keeping the lock nut in place, loosen that nut prior to adjusting the lawn mower deck and retighten it after you make the adjustment.

To adjust the lawn mower deck from side to side, rotate the blade closest to the discharge chute, making it perpendicular to the lawn mower. Measure the distance from the right side of the right-hand blade tip to the ground, then measure the distance from the left side of the left-hand blade tip to the ground.

Loosen the hex bolt that secures the adjustment gear on the left deck hanger bracket. From there, raise or lower the left side of the deck by turning the adjustment gear.

Your riding lawn mower deck is properly leveled when both blade tip measurements taken earlier are equal.

Retighten the hex bolt once the proper mower deck adjustment is complete.

Cub Cadet Tractors

To adjust your Cub Cadet Tractor deck from front to rear, place the deck lift lever in one of the middle height positions. Rotate the blade closest to the discharge chute, making it parallel to the lawn mower. From there, measure the distance from the front of the blade tip to the ground, and then measure the distance from the rear of the blade tip to the ground.

Loosen the hex lock nut on the end of the front deck hanger rod to raise or lower the front of the lawn mower deck. If there is an additional jam nut holding the lock nut in place, loosen the jam nut before adjusting the deck and retighten it after you make the adjustment.

To adjust your Cub Cadet Tractor deck from side to side, rotate the blade closest to the discharge chute, making it perpendicular to the lawn mower. Then measure the distance from the right side of the right-hand blade tip to the ground, and the distance from the left side of the left-hand blade tip to the ground.

Loosen the jam that secures the adjustment nut on the rod under the rear fenders inside of each wheel. Raise or lower the sides of the tractor deck by turning the adjustment nuts. The deck is leveled when the blade tip measurements taken earlier are equal.

Retighten the jam nuts once the proper lawn mower deck adjustment is complete.

A level riding lawn mower deck is essential for a quality cut. When mowing, always be mindful of hitting things in your yard like rocks or pipes. These hard objects can cause a lopsided mower deck, altering the way the blades cut. With a level riding lawn mower deck you’ll notice a more even cut of your lawn each time you cut the grass.