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Uneven Cutting

#1

T

Tpar

Hey there, I am new to this forum and I wanted get some guidance. So I have a Cub Cadet ZT1 42” and I bought it new a few months ago. I am having an issue with it cutting uneven and it is irritating. I have changed the blades put a mulching kit on it. That’s all I have done to it. So is there anyway to adjust anything with the deck or what do y’all suggest I do to get this addressed and fixed? F78AA440-01BE-46DC-9CAE-241B97889A75.jpeg


#2

StarTech

StarTech

As actual level the image is like me being there to see the actual cut so I can't tell too much about it.

Several thing to check before attempting to level the deck.
  • That the tires are properly inflated. Rear to 10 psi each Front 15 psi each.
  • Second raise the mower up so you can access the underside of the deck.
    • Move both tips so they meet in the center of deck.
    • Are they level with each other
    • note you should bring each tip to the center to double check the level at tip .
    • If not level check for bent blade, spindle shaft, or bent spindle mounting area. Even a bad bearings can cause this. I have rebuilt the spindle on a local ZT1 twice in the last three years for one customer here. 6204-2RS bearings.
  • The center from rod is the deck forward drop adjustment. The deck need to be slight lower in the front than the rear of the deck.
  • If I remember correctly on each rear hanger is an adjustment for leveling the side to side level.


#3

StarTech

StarTech

Ahhh found the instructions for the deck adjustments.
CC ZT1 Deck ADJ.JPG


#4

cpurvis

cpurvis

Since your mower is only a few months old, you might want to talk your cutting issue over with the dealer who sold it to you.

Has it always cut like this or did the problem just begin? If it's always been like this, I'd suspect it was never set up correctly by the dealer. If it just started doing this, I'd look for something bent or broken in the mower attach hardware.


#5

B

bertsmobile1

And remember the cutting height is the height of the blades to the grass, not the bottom of the deck.
Most blades do not pun dead parallel to the bottom of the deck, particularly if it is a pressed deck.


#6

S

slomo

Start with exact tire pressure as StarTech said.

Soggy turf will allow uneven cuts.

Huge 0-turn mowers, well, they all do this rutting thing. Going too fast for the cut, deck bouncing all over. Cutting the turf too low like your picture indicates. Uneven turf and huge decks = a mess of a yard. Get a simple push mower. On a yard that small, no need for a 42" rut maker.

slomo


#7

S

slomo

You can see the deck hopping in the pictures. Scalp scalp scalp.

slomo


#8

T

Tpar

slomo said:
Start with exact tire pressure as StarTech said.

Soggy turf will allow uneven cuts.

Huge 0-turn mowers, well, they all do this rutting thing. Going too fast for the cut, deck bouncing all over. Cutting the turf too low like your picture indicates. Uneven turf and huge decks = a mess of a yard. Get a simple push mower. On a yard that small, no need for a 42" rut maker.
Lol...... I did a push mower for over 2 years, I ain’t doing it anymore, we have almost an acre to mow. It is cutting too low on 1 side of the deck, this isn’t the first time I have cut it, it has done it the last 4 times that I have mowed. What I am getting at is that something isn’t right with the mower, I have had several zero turns in my lifetime and never had one cut like this before.
Click to expand...


#9

T

Tpar

StarTech said:
As actual level the image is like me being there to see the actual cut so I can't tell too much about it.

Several thing to check before attempting to level the deck.
  • That the tires are properly inflated. Rear to 10 psi each Front 15 psi each.
  • Second raise the mower up so you can access the underside of the deck.
    • Move both tips so they meet in the center of deck.
    • Are they level with each other
    • note you should bring each tip to the center to double check the level at tip .
    • If not level check for bent blade, spindle shaft, or bent spindle mounting area. Even a bad bearings can cause this. I have rebuilt the spindle on a local ZT1 twice in the last three years for one customer here. 6204-2RS bearings.
  • The center from rod is the deck forward drop adjustment. The deck need to be slight lower in the front than the rear of the deck.
  • If I remember correctly on each rear hanger is an adjustment for leveling the side to side level.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I will look at this and see what I come up with.


#10

T

Tpar

bertsmobile1 said:
And remember the cutting height is the height of the blades to the grass, not the bottom of the deck.
Most blades do not pun dead parallel to the bottom of the deck, particularly if it is a pressed deck.
Click to expand...
Right.


#11

T

Tpar

cpurvis said:
Since your mower is only a few months old, you might want to talk your cutting issue over with the dealer who sold it to you.

Has it always cut like this or did the problem just begin? If it's always been like this, I'd suspect it was never set up correctly by the dealer. If it just started doing this, I'd look for something bent or broken in the mower attach hardware.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that will be my next step is take it to them if I can’t get it fixed myself.


#12

Mower King

Mower King

Tpar said:
Hey there, I am new to this forum and I wanted get some guidance. So I have a Cub Cadet ZT1 42” and I bought it new a few months ago. I am having an issue with it cutting uneven and it is irritating. I have changed the blades put a mulching kit on it. That’s all I have done to it. So is there anyway to adjust anything with the deck or what do y’all suggest I do to get this addressed and fixed? View attachment 56772
Click to expand...
Does your mulch kit include blocking off the grass chute?


#13

R

Rivets

When you installed the mulch kit and blades, are you sure you seated the blades properly to the spindle shafts. To me it looks like one of you blades is lower than the other, not mounted on the shaft correctly.


#14

G

Graeden

Check All things previously mentioned. However, a handy tool that assists in leveling your deck, pick up one of these tools:

Amazon.com : Stens 750-442 Deck Leveling Gauge John Deere AM130907 MTD 490-900-0041 Cub Cadet 490-900-0041 : Lawn Mower Deck Parts : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Stens 750-442 Deck Leveling Gauge John Deere AM130907 MTD 490-900-0041 Cub Cadet 490-900-0041 : Lawn Mower Deck Parts : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com

Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, TSC/Blaines or a local dealer will carry them. One of the easiest & more accurate ways of ensuring your blades are running parallel to the ground.

Here is a video on how to level your deck:


#15

R

Ranamow

If your blades don't line up tip to tip, and the blades are installed correctly, then the deck is probably warped.
I've seen this a few times. I just shimed the spindle. The proper way would be to true up the deck, or replace it.
Here's a video from "Teryl fixes it all"


#16

P

Pecon16

Tpar said:
Hey there, I am new to this forum and I wanted get some guidance. So I have a Cub Cadet ZT1 42” and I bought it new a few months ago. I am having an issue with it cutting uneven and it is irritating. I have changed the blades put a mulching kit on it. That’s all I have done to it. So is there anyway to adjust anything with the deck or what do y’all suggest I do to get this addressed and fixed? View attachment 56772
Click to expand...
I too went through the same issues with a new Simplicity after installing a mulching kit about a year ago. Everything that has been stated needs to be checked. The after the tires, the most critical is using a level concrete drive or garage floor and measure from the cutting edge of the blade to the floor. Check one side of the cutting edge and then rotate the blade and check again... this will tell you if anything is out of sorts. Then go to the other side and repeat. Luckily, mine has simple side to side adjusters right there. I later found a tool that really helps in this job.... From Amazon and other dealers... really makes rechecking easier without crawling on the floor.
Stens 750-442 Deck Leveling Gauge John Deere AM130907 MTD 490-900-0041 Cub Cadet 490-900-0041

Stens 750-442 Deck Leveling Gauge John Deere AM130907 MTD 490-900-0041 Cub Cadet 490-900-0041​


$8.17$8.17


#17

M

Monty72

INSTRUCTIONS​

Step 1
Be sure the mower is on a flat level surface and engage the parking break. Turn the engine off and make sure it is cool. Remove the ignition key. Remove the spark plug ignition wire.

Step 2
To level the deck from the front to rear, place the deck lift lever in the middle position.

Step 3
Wearing gloves, rotate the blade closest to the discharge chute parallel to the lawn mower.

Step 4
Measure the height of the front blade tip to the ground. Next, measure the height of the rear blade tip to the ground. Refer to your operator's manual for proper height differences between front and rear.

Step 5
Adjust the deck by loosening the hex lock nut on the deck hanger rod.

Step 6
Raise the front of the deck by tightening the inner hex nut.

Step 7
Loosen the inner hex nut to lower the front of the deck.

Step 8
Once the deck is at the proper level, tighten the lock nut to secure.

Step 9
Wearing gloves for protection, level the deck from side to side by rotating the blades perpendicular to the lawn mower.

Step 10
Measure the height of the blade tips on each side of the deck from the ground.

Step 11
Adjust the deck by loosening the hex bolt on the left hangar bracket.

Step 12
Raise or lower the deck by loosening the hex bolt on the left hangar bracket.

Step 13
When both blade tips have the same measurement from the ground, tighten the hex bolt.

Step 14
Reconnect the spark plug's ignition wire.


#18

R

Rivets

Decks should be leveled side to side first, then front to back.


#19

M

mmoffitt

Yea get a push mower and some exercise cause that does look like SH_ T you'll feel better and so will your lawn!
Good luck...or make the kid or wife do it!


#20

A

avguytx

I just created a post about this myself. I know this is an older thread but curious what happened in the end. I've got a Cub Cadet ZT1 42 that I know the deck or blade took a hit on something and they apparently aren't that tough. Mine mows off kilter and looks like crap as the blades don't line up as the spindle mounting area is warped now. Last summer (2022) I beat the ever living heck out of it with various mallets with various types of wood (and watched Teryl's video of course) with minimal luck. I believe I tried to shim it too but can't remember now as I was pissed. lol. I priced a new deck this morning from CC which is in stock for the low price of $1,161 shipped. Ugh. Part of me wants to just sell the mower and buy something else.

But I'll take any ideas that anyone has to offer!


#21

StarTech

StarTech

avguytx said:
I just created a post about this myself. I know this is an older thread but curious what happened in the end. I've got a Cub Cadet ZT1 42 that I know the deck or blade took a hit on something and they apparently aren't that tough. Mine mows off kilter and looks like crap as the blades don't line up as the spindle mounting area is warped now. Last summer (2022) I beat the ever living heck out of it with various mallets with various types of wood (and watched Teryl's video of course) with minimal luck. I believe I tried to shim it too but can't remember now as I was pissed. lol. I priced a new deck this morning from CC which is in stock for the low price of $1,161 shipped. Ugh. Part of me wants to just sell the mower and buy something else.

But I'll take any ideas that anyone has to offer!
Click to expand...
If you are unable to fix it yourself then it time for a professional to take a run at it. I see a lot of unlevel blades from spindle mounts being bent and it is an art to get the deck blades level again. Most of the here are damaged from hitting Bradford tree roots.


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