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I have a 42" craftsman model: 917.270820 and the right rear side is about an inch higher than the left rear side of the mower deck. Although the front is even, side to side.

Any thoughts, solutions, ideas ???
Thanks,
John

First you have to put the tractor on a hard surface then there is 2 pins on the back of the deck that hold it up
if you follow that bracket there is a rod that comes from up inside the tractor and there is nuts at the bottom of this rod
but you want to make sure that the rod is not broke first then you can adjust the nut to raise and lower the deck right here
you might have to adjust both sides in order to make sure it is even every so often measure in the same spot on both sides.
Hope this helps if you need more help just ask

Flintmotorsports said:

First you have to put the tractor on a hard surface then there is 2 pins on the back of the deck that hold it up
if you follow that bracket there is a rod that comes from up inside the tractor and there is nuts at the bottom of this rod
but you want to make sure that the rod is not broke first then you can adjust the nut to raise and lower the deck right here
you might have to adjust both sides in order to make sure it is even every so often measure in the same spot on both sides.
Hope this helps if you need more help just ask

Click to expand...

Hi Flint...thanks for the response....the lift links appear to be alright as do the suspension arms. My concern is if I adjust the nuts attached to the lift link arms, I run the risk of altering the front measurement of the mower deck. That's the odd part. the front of the deck is even side to side.
I'd welcome any other thoughts you may have.
Thanks again,
John

so I looked up your mower and it has 2 rods that hook the front and when you adjust the back it will not affect the front in any
way it will just move that side that you are adjusting.

Flintmotorsports said:

so I looked up your mower and it has 2 rods that hook the front and when you adjust the back it will not affect the front in any
way it will just move that side that you are adjusting.

Click to expand...

Flint, Thanks...so you're saying by adjusting the nuts on the link arms that connect to the suspension arms, I will NOT disturb the height of the front mower deck. If you're correct, then you may have solved my problem.

Weather permitting, tomorrow, I'll try out your suggestion...I sure hope you're right.
Thanks ever so much for taking the time and effort to look into this for me. It's been driving me NUT'S !!!
Have a great evening.
Thanks,
John

bigcut said:

Flint, Thanks...so you're saying by adjusting the nuts on the link arms that connect to the suspension arms, I will NOT disturb the height of the front mower deck. If you're correct, then you may have solved my problem.

Weather permitting, tomorrow, I'll try out your suggestion...I sure hope you're right.
Thanks ever so much for taking the time and effort to look into this for me. It's been driving me NUT'S !!!
Have a great evening.
Thanks,
John

Click to expand...

yes that is what I am saying I have mostly craftsman mower come into my shop and I see this all the time give it a try and let me know but make sure you are on a hard flat surface
if not it will be level and make sure to measure off the same point on the same side

Flintmotorsports said:

yes that is what I am saying I have mostly craftsman mower come into my shop and I see this all the time give it a try and let me know but make sure you are on a hard flat surface
if not it will be level and make sure to measure off the same point on the same side

Click to expand...

Thanks Flint....I'll try it tomorrow if it doesn't rain. The tractor is out on the concrete patio (hard level surface). So, we'll see what happens...I'll let you know.
Thanks again for your kind help.
John

bigcut said:

Thanks Flint....I'll try it tomorrow if it doesn't rain. The tractor is out on the concrete patio (hard level surface). So, we'll see what happens...I'll let you know.
Thanks again for your kind help.
John

Click to expand...

Yeah that is no problem that is what this site is for to help out when needed

Please let us know if that works, I am curious to know.

You will want to readjust the rake after you adjust the side-to-side.

Flintmotorsports said:

Yeah that is no problem that is what this site is for to help out when needed

Click to expand...

Hi Flint,
I promised to get back to you. Sorry about the delay, but, I couldn't remember which website I posted on and the weather has been a problem.

Anyway, you were right. I finally caught a break in the weather and got the deck level to an 1/8 ". What I finally had to do after I got the side to side level, was, I pulled the pins that connect the front links to the mower deck @ the mower deck. I measured the height at front and rear of deck. Then I backed off the nuts on the front links where they connect into the tractor frame. I then placed the links back into position where they connect to the deck without installing the pins, making sure I had plenty of play between tractor frame connection and mower deck. Then I gradually tightened both front links, taking measurements at the front and back as I went along. Once level, I installed the pins that connect the front links to the mower deck. That was it. I was done in about an hour.

When I disconnected the links from the mower deck, I figured, if I got an uneven measurement at the front or back, it might indicate a damaged suspension arm or a lift link that goes thru the suspension arm. But, the measurements were the same on each side of the front on the deck and the rear, with the rear being somewhat higher off the ground, but even on both sides. To me this said, I didn't have any bent parts. And, as I said, I backed off the front link nuts and gradually tightened them up, being careful to continue to take measurements as I went along.

Thanks for keeping me on the right track...I was pulling my hair out. I feel like a Certified Master in Deck Leveling now. Maybe almost good enough to get a job in your shop. Lol !!

Let me be the first to wish you a "Merry Christmas" to you and your family and thanks for the guidance.
John