Quick Answer: Why Is My Craftsman Riding Mower Cutting Uneven

If your riding lawn mower is cutting the grass unevenly, start by checking the pattern of the cut Blade vibration also causes an uneven cut To eliminate vibration, replace unbalanced blades and worn mandrels Replace a worn blade belt because a worn belt won’t spin the blades correctly

Why does my riding mower cut unevenly?

Uneven cutting is usually caused by mower deck damage or misadjustmentUneven Cutting CAUSE SOLUTION Deck is not leveled correctly Level the deck correctly Blades are dull or worn Sharpen or replace the blades Blades are damaged Replace the blades Deck is clogged with grass clippings Clean out the deck

Why is my mower cutting lower on one side?

If the deck on your lawn tractor is lower on one side than the other, the result is an uneven cut Leveling your tractor’s deck periodically smooths out your lawn It only takes a few minutes and just a couple of common tools to level your lawn tractor deck

Why does my Craftsman riding mower leave a strip of grass?

A strip of uncut grass left in the middle of mowing rows could signal that your lawnmower’s blades are unbalanced or that one or both of them was installed the wrong way Ensure that your mower’s blades are on correctly, that both are secured tightly to the mower deck and that both are balanced

Why is my riding mower scalping?

Lawn scalping could be caused by going on vacation and missing mowing days, a week of rain that makes mowing impossible while the grass shoots up quickly, or possibly just uneven spots in your lawn Scalping is mowing the grass so low that you cut the blade off at the growing point or crown

How do you level a mower deck?

To level the deck from the front to rear, place the deck lift lever in the middle position Wearing gloves, rotate the blade closest to the discharge chute parallel to the lawn mower Measure the height of the front blade tip to the ground Next, measure the height of the rear blade tip to the ground

How do you align lawn mower blades?

Turn the mower blades slowly until one points forward and one points backward Leave this as is and place a wood block inside the deck next to the edge of a blade that has to be aligned Turn this blade just a bit to wedge it tight Using an adjustable wrench, remove the blade’s screw, spline washer and spring washer

Do mower blades need to be timed?

Premium Member The blades are not timed and if you try to “time” them, they will move around on their own the tips miss each other no matter how you orient them, so there is no need to worry about it

How often should mower blades be sharpened?

This keeps your mower in good shape and helps to maintain a healthy lawn However, if you mow more often, the blades will need more attention On average, a mower blade should be sharpened after every 20 to 25 hours of use time

Do mower blades have to be lined up?

Do mower blades have to be lined up? Blades are lined up when they are fitted to the new machine and held in place by the spindles and the pins so you should not have to touch them The way they are set up when they leave the factory is the setting needed to give the best possible cut

How do I know if my lawn mower shaft is bent?

How To Tell If A Lawnmower Shaft Is Bent? Excessive vibrations: If your mower is making grinding sounds and vibrating excessively, your shaft may have been bent The noise can come on just a few sounds before running fine Transmission issues: Like a car, your lawnmower might also have problems running and starting up

How often should you grease mower spindles?

The spindles and caster wheels are generally the most often greased The spindles and castor wheels should be done around once a month because of the moving interior parts Commercial mowers that put hundreds of hours on their Ferris mower would be looking at greasing the mower everyday depending on usage

How do I know if my lawnmower pulley is bad?

If a pulley is badly worn, it can cause a bad vibration from the cutting deck on your lawn tractor To check all your pulleys, start by removing the mower deck Next, remove the mandrel covers and belt, then check all the pulleys for play and roughness when spinning

How do I stop my lawn from clumping?

Three Simple Tips To Prevent Grass Clumps Step One: Don’t Mow A Wet Lawn This is probably the best way to avoid getting grass clumps all over your lawn; never mow when the grass is wet Step Two: Mow More Often Step Three: Sharpen Your Blades

What is a mandrel on a lawn mower?

The mandrel assembly attaches to the deck and spins the blade The bearings in the mandrel assembly wear down through normal use An unbalanced blade speeds the wear on the bearings, as does hitting rocks while mowing The mandrel assembly in this repair guide includes the blade shaft and bearings

How much is too much grass clippings?

You should never cut off more than a third of the height of your grass If your grass has grown long enough that cutting it to your desired length will cut more than a third, consider mowing in two passes

Should a mower deck be level?

Level the mower deck to ensure grass cutting height is even across the width of the deck This will help ensure a smooth and seamless side-by-side blend between each row of freshly cut grass

How do you fix the scalping on a riding lawn mower?

There are a few steps you can try to remedy the problem Step 1 – Slow Down It is possible you are simply going too fast Step 2 – Raise Mower Deck Cutting Height Step 3 – Check Your Tire Pressure Step 4 – Inflate Your Tires Step 5 – Level Your Deck Step 6 – Level Your Lawn

How do you adjust the height on a Craftsman lawn mower?

For self-propelled Craftsman mowers, the height can be changed by raising or lowering the tire’s level using adjustable levers These levers are located on the inside of each tire, which is attached to the notches Shift the lever forward or backward to raise or lower the height of the particular wheel

Should mower deck wheels touch the ground?

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