The John deere leveling tool is what has been recommended. Im no expert have only done it twice. You put the lawn mower on a flat surface then put the blades facing front to back on the mower measure the front tip of blade then measure the back tip of blade there should be a 3/4 inch difference higher on the back tip. Do that for each blade. Like I said Im no expert but this is what they told me to do. I still have not got the deere leveler but will get one when my wife goes back up to the states. Good Luck

 

Curious to hear answers....I think I got mine leveled right...

 

Be sure to turn the blades 180 deg and remeasure. A bent blade or spindle will make it seem out of level
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the JD deck gauge {as it's called} is on back order around here.

It's like you have to be on an oncall list to get one.

I just used a 2x4 block on the deck lip,
front center and in front of the back two wheels. I'm at 1/4 difference between the front and back

 

I've been using the deck leveling gauge for about 10 years now. It makes things a lot easier to check quickly.
As far as levelig the deck goes, it is slightly different from one brand to another regarding what to adjust, but the basic procedure is the same.

Start by setting your deck at the height you plan to cut. Next park the mower over a dead flat surface. Even minor "birdbatths) commonly found in concrete can give you false readings.

First, turn each outer blade so that the tip is pointing straight forward/rearward. Using the tool or something else to measure accurately, check to see if the tips are matching your setting on your mower deck for HOC. If not you'll need to adjust that, but generally they come pretty cllose from the dealer. For example, you want too cut at 3", and set your HOC there. The blade tips should be right at 3" at the front tip of each outer blade, measured at the bottom of the cutting edge itself.

Next, rotate the blades 180 degrees as already mentioned by someone above, and recheck them. Most manu's recommend the rear be 1/4" higher at the rear (not 3/4"). If they aren't, you need too raise the rear of the deck untiil they are (or lower it if that's what's needed to reach a 1/4" difference) by adjusting your deck according to your op's manual's procedure to do so.

after you get the pitch from front to rear set correctly, turn each outer blade so that they are pointing straight to each side. Check to see that they are the exact same (or out no more than 1/8" from side to side). They should also be approximately an 1/8" higher at the tips while in this position than they were while pointing straight ahead due to the picth of the deck.

If they are out more than 1/8", the deck will need to be leveled from side to side properly. Doing this won't affect the pitch as long as you don't have to make any radical adjustments. Just make sure to re-check ebverything once you have done the side to side re-leveling.

This is a link on how to do it from a JD manual. Scroll down the left hand column until you see the words Under the Operating sub section " Adjusting the Mower Deck-All models)". There are pics on how to do what I described above to a JD ZTR, but it will be similar for any brand-

http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMTCU27228_E9/Output/Index.html?tM=HO

 

The John deere leveling tool is what has been recommended. Im no expert have only done it twice. You put the lawn mower on a flat surface then put the blades facing front to back on the mower measure the front tip of blade then measure the back tip of blade there should be a 3/4 inch difference higher on the back tip. Do that for each blade. Like I said Im no expert but this is what they told me to do. I still have not got the deere leveler but will get one when my wife goes back up to the states. Good Luck

CIMKILL- that should be 1/4", not 3/4" for the pitch. Most manu's suggest anywhere from 1/8" up to about 1/2 " on the high end, with 1/4" being the most common.

 

In the shop that I worked in, it was common practice to level the deck from side to side first, the adjust the pitch. If the pitch is adjusted first, any adjustment made on side to side heights will alter the cutting height. As Ridin Green says, the cutting height may not change appreciably if the side to side adjustment is minimal.

I do agree on the 1/4" +/- pitch setting.

 

In the shop that I worked in, it was common practice to level the deck from side to side first, the adjust the pitch. If the pitch is adjusted first, any adjustment made on side to side heights will alter the cutting height. As Ridin Green says, the cutting height may not change appreciably if the side to side adjustment is minimal.

I do agree on the 1/4" +/- pitch setting.

I agree with you about side to side leveling first to a point. Let me explain.

I used to always do the side to side first back when I ran HD garden tractors for all my mowing because the generally they have an adjustment for side to side on one side only, so that needs to be set first or you'll never get the deck correct. Most Z's however, can be adjusted on either side, and ride on chans or long links, and they rarely come into play causing the deck to be out from side to side, so that is why I have switched to doing the front to rear first. If that is set correctly, I have found the side to side rarely needs any further adjustment, but I always check just in case something has become bent and/or damaged.

 

I use 4 wood blocks...2 are 4 inckes...2 are 3 1/2 inches...
On the outer blades...I put the smaller ones on the front of the blades and the 4 inch on the rear of the blades.
Lower the deck on the blocks...slack the adjusters....bring them up to snug..and tighten.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I've been using the deck leveling gauge for about 10 years now. It makes things a lot easier to check quickly.
As far as levelig the deck goes, it is slightly different from one brand to another regarding what to adjust, but the basic procedure is the same.

Start by setting your deck at the height you plan to cut. Next park the mower over a dead flat surface. Even minor "birdbatths) commonly found in concrete can give you false readings.

First, turn each outer blade so that the tip is pointing straight forward/rearward. Using the tool or something else to measure accurately, check to see if the tips are matching your setting on your mower deck for HOC. If not you'll need to adjust that, but generally they come pretty cllose from the dealer. For example, you want too cut at 3", and set your HOC there. The blade tips should be right at 3" at the front tip of each outer blade, measured at the bottom of the cutting edge itself.

Next, rotate the blades 180 degrees as already mentioned by someone above, and recheck them. Most manu's recommend the rear be 1/4" higher at the rear (not 3/4"). If they aren't, you need too raise the rear of the deck untiil they are (or lower it if that's what's needed to reach a 1/4" difference) by adjusting your deck according to your op's manual's procedure to do so.

after you get the pitch from front to rear set correctly, turn each outer blade so that they are pointing straight to each side. Check to see that they are the exact same (or out no more than 1/8" from side to side). They should also be approximately an 1/8" higher at the tips while in this position than they were while pointing straight ahead due to the picth of the deck.

If they are out more than 1/8", the deck will need to be leveled from side to side properly. Doing this won't affect the pitch as long as you don't have to make any radical adjustments. Just make sure to re-check ebverything once you have done the side to side re-leveling.

This is a link on how to do it from a JD manual. Scroll down the left hand column until you see the words Under the Operating sub section " Adjusting the Mower Deck-All models)". There are pics on how to do what I described above to a JD ZTR, but it will be similar for any brand-

http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMTCU27228_E9/Output/Index.html?tM=HO

Ridin Green
-I appreciate the information. I caught the JD dealer before they closed and got a deck gauge for $6.95 and will use your information to check my measurements within the next couple of days. I appreciate everyone's input. :usflag:

 

Tried out the deck gauge on a few mowers and was surprised that i was cutting about 1/2" lower than what the deck setting showed it to. Still need to get the time to level a deck with it.
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the JD deck gauge {as it's called} is on back order around here.

It's like you have to be on an oncall list to get one.

I just used a 2x4 block on the deck lip,
front center and in front of the back two wheels. I'm at 1/4 difference between the front and back

Most all of the aftermarket suppliers carry a similar tool, some plastic, some steel. Not difficult to get at all.
Personally, I use wood or just find a level/flat place on the deck to put a level on. You can also usually use the spindle pulley, just mark it for blade orientation, and put yer level on top. Bingo!