20
Side to Side
If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly, a 
side to side adjustment can be performed. Adjust if 
necessary as follows:
1. With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface, 
place the deck lift lever in the top notch (highest 
position) and rotate both blades so that they are 
perpendicular with the tractor.
2. Measure the distance from the outside of the left 
blade tip to the ground and the distance from the 
outside of the right blade tip to the ground. Both 
measurements taken should be equal. If they’re 
not, proceed to the next step.
3. Loosen, but do NOT remove, the hex bolt on the left 
deck hanger bracket. See Figure 13.
Figure 13
4. Balance the deck by using a wrench to turn the 
adjustment gear (See Figure 13) up or down.
5. The deck is properly balanced when both blade tip 
measurements taken earlier are equal.
6. Retighten the hex bolt on the left deck hanger 
bracket when proper adjustment is achieved.
Steering Adjustment
If the tractor turns tighter in one direction than the other, 
or if the ball joints are being replaced due to damage or 
wear, the steering drag links may need to be adjusted.
Adjust the drag links so that equal lengths are threaded 
into the ball joint on the left side and the ball joint on the 
right side:
1. Loosen the jam nut found on the drag link at the 
rear of the ball joint. See Figure 14.
Figure 14
2. Remove the hex nut on the top of ball joint. See 
Figure 14.
3. Thread the ball joint toward the jam nut to shorten 
the drag link. Thread the ball joint away from the 
jam nut to lengthen the drag link.
4. Replace hex nut and retighten the jam nut after 
proper adjustment is achieved.
NOTE: Threading the ball joints too far onto the drag
links will cause the front tires to "toe-in" too far. Proper
toe-in is between 1/16" and 5/16".
Front tire toe-in can be measured as follows:
1. Place the steering wheel in position for straight 
ahead travel.
2. In front of the axle, measure the distance 
horizontally from the inside of the left rim to the 
inside of the right rim. Note the distance.
3. Behind the axle, measure the distance horizontally 
from the inside of the left rim to the inside of the 
right rim. Note the distance.
4. The measurement taken in front of the axle should 
be between 1/16" and 5/16" less than the 
measurement taken behind the axle.
5. Adjust if necessary.
!DJUSTMENT'EAR
(EX"OLT
Drag Link
Hex Nut
Jam
Nut
Ball
Joint