Cub Cadet RZT 42 Operator's Manual page 28

LEVELING THE MOWER DECK
When leveled correctly the mower deck should be
level side to side, and should be approximately a 1/8
to 1/4 inch lower in the front of the deck.
Side to Side Leveling
If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly, a
side to side adjustment can be performed. Adjust if
necessary as follows:
• With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface,
place the deck lift handle in the top notch (highest
position) and rotate both blades so that they are
perpendicular to the tractor frame.
• Measure the distance from the outside left blade
tip to the ground and the distance from the
outside right blade tip to the ground. The
measurements should be equal. If they're not,
proceed to the next step.
• Comparing the two measurements, determine
whether the right side of the deck must be raised
or lowered.
• Loosen, but do not remove, the hex cap screw on
the right deck hanger bracket. Refer to Figure 33.
• Level the deck by using a wrench to turn the
adjustment gear (found immediately behind the
hex cap screw just loosened) clockwise to lower
the right side of the deck, or counterclockwise to
raise the right side of the deck. See Figure 33.
Raise RT.
Side of Deck
Adjustment
Gear
Figure 33
• The deck is properly leveled when both blade tip
measurements taken earlier are equal.
• Retighten the hex cap screw on the right deck
hanger bracket when proper adjustment is
achieved.
Front to Back Leveling.
The front of the deck should be approximately 1/8 to
1/4 inch lower than the rear of the deck. Adjust if nec-
essary as follows:
Lower RT.
Side of Deck
Hex Cap
Screw
28
• With the deck raised off of the ground, rotate the
blades so that they are parallel to the frame of the
tractor.
• If the side to side leveling was done correctly,
measuring just the right blade should be
acceptable to attain the correct back to front pitch
of the deck.
• Measure the distance from the front tip of the
blade to the ground and the distance from the
rear tip to the ground. The front distance should
be 1/8 to 1/4 inch less than the rear. If it is not,
proceed to the next step.
• From the front of the tractor, loosen the outer
nuts on the deck front hanger rod, and turn them
away from the inner nuts. See Figure 34.
Front
Hanger
Rod
Figure 34
• If the front of the deck was too low, turn the inner
hex nuts clockwise against the hanger bracket to
shorten the front hanger rod and raise the front of
the deck. See Figure 34.
• If the front of the deck was too high, turn the hex
nuts counterclockwise to lengthen the front
hanger rod and lower the front of the deck.
IMPORTANT: The deck front hanger rod should
be at the front of the slots of the front deck
bracket. If one side of the rod is not at the front of
its slot, turn the inner hex nut on that side until
rod just touches the front of the slot. Then re-
measure and re-adjust the front hanger rod as
necessary.
• When the correct pitch of the deck is acquired,
secure the inner hex nuts with a wrench and
tighten the outer hex nuts against the inner hex
nuts to lock them in the adjusted position.
Hex Nuts
Front Hanger
Rod Bracket