Adjust your mower deck wheels » Your Backyard Tips (2024)

FAQs

Adjust your mower deck wheels » Your Backyard Tips? ›

Mower deck gauge wheels should be properly adjusted to prevent scalping grass on uneven terrain. The bottom of the wheels should sit approximately 1/8-1/2 of an inch from the ground, depending on your cutting height.

Measure the height of the blade tips on each side of the deck from the ground. Adjust the deck by loosening the hex bolt on the left hangar bracket. Raise or lower the deck by turning the adjustment gear. When both blade tips have the same measurement from the ground, tighten the hex bolt.

Our mow gauges show 3-4 inch height as ideal for lawns. Another common mow height problem is the front mower wheel setting is different than the back wheel height which will give you uneven cuts. If 5 is your highest setting both front and back wheels need to be set to 5.

Naturally, this makes the sweet spot about 1/4-inch of pitch, depending on the mower model. In any case, the front of the deck should be pitched lower than the deck rear. Be careful not to pitch too much that you start scalping lawns.

Mower deck gauge wheels should be properly adjusted to prevent scalping grass on uneven terrain. The bottom of the wheels should sit approximately 1/8-1/2 of an inch from the ground, depending on your cutting height.

Mowing to the recommended height of 2.5 to 3 inches means having longer blades of grass that provide several benefits, including: More shade, which keeps the soil cooler and allows moisture to remain longer and not dry out as fast.

This design results in an appealing cut quality and an even grass clipping discharge that's free of clumps. For most effective results, a lawn mower deck should have a pitch of 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the height of the deck rear to the height of the deck front.

One of the main reasons your lawn mower might be cutting unevenly is due to deck misalignment, which can happen over time from regular use. This misalignment may occur if your mower suffers from hard knocks or tampering with the deck's adjustment. Misalignment can cause the deck to tilt, resulting in an uneven cut.

If your soil is sandy like ours in Florida they can just wear over time. Otherwise this would normally happen if you hit a large rock or hang it on a tree root or stump.

For the healthiest and most sustainable approach, 3.5 to 4 inches is most desirable. Lawns mowed at 3.5 or 4 inches out-compete weeds, tolerate grubs and look just as good as lawns mowed at 2.5 inches. Photo by Dave Smitley, MSU Entomology.

What is the benefit of larger back wheels on a lawn mower? ›

Large rear wheels can be used to make a walk behind mower easier to maneuver. Typical rear wheel sizes can range from 7″ to 12″, and typical front wheel size ranges between 6″ to 9″.

Raise the front of the deck by tightening the inner hex nut. Loosen the inner hex nut to lower the front of the deck. Once the deck is at the proper level, tighten the lock nut to secure. Wearing gloves for protection, level the deck from side to side by rotating the blades perpendicular to the lawn mower.

The average recommended height for most lawns is around 2.5 to 3 inches. However, this may vary depending on where you live and the type of grass in your yard.

This design results in an appealing cut quality and an even grass clipping discharge that's free of clumps. For most effective results, a lawn mower deck should have a pitch of 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the height of the deck rear to the height of the deck front.

For the healthiest and most sustainable approach, 3.5 to 4 inches is most desirable. Lawns mowed at 3.5 or 4 inches out-compete weeds, tolerate grubs and look just as good as lawns mowed at 2.5 inches.