Riding Mower--leveling the mowing deck?

[legion]

I borrow the riding lawnmower from the 80-year old widow next door and mow both of our yards.

Lately, it seems that the deck on the mower is tilted to one side. How do I go about leveling the deck?

This is a 10-year old Craftsman mower with a 42" deck, but I assume (possibly wrongly) that most riding mowers are the same in this respect.

[MotoSook]

Check the tire pressure. Also, if a wheel on the deck are pushed up (bent bracket) it may cause your problem. That's all I can think off.

My old Craftman isn't level, and I've tried (not very hard) to fix it. It's not a priority, so I just cut in a checker pattern or go over the lawn a second time at top speed. My yard looks like the outfield of a baseball field with the checkered pattern...and I get to use top speed on the mower while pretenting I'm at the race track

[Talewinds]

I don't have a Craftsman but they are mostly similar. Mine has an adjustable bracket on both sides toward the rear of the deck. It takes a 15mm socket and there are two plates with slots that slide against each other. While parked on a flat surface measure from the blades to the ground to get it level. ***Also, make sure the it is adjusted so the deck sits slightly lower in the front so that the blades of grass are only being cut once per pass.

[Seahawk]

I had an old Craftsman with a 42" deck that you could level.

Try this place to find the manual: Free Craftsman Lawn Mower owners manuals, user guides & how to instructions | ManualsOnline

Can you adjust the wheel height?

[strupgolf]

I've got the same mower. Above the blade deck there are two bolts on each side. To raise one side, just turn the bolt up or down to lower. I can't keep mine level and it bugs me. Its about a 1/2 inch open end.

[sailchef]

Mine has the brackets on either side as well.

I throw a piece of plywood under the deck and let it all the way down with the selector handle in the lowest position, then tighten it up.

The hardest part about keeping a mower deck level is remembering not to use it as a step when getting on the mower.