Stumped! Hustler cutting issues.

[Rutwad01]

Well my Hustler Super Z Hyperdrive with the 72" rear discharge isn't cutting even. It seems the center blade is cutting lower than the outside blades. So it shouldn't be an issue of the deck being not level I wouldn't think. I pulled a string from edges of deck and all 3 blades are the same distance from it. The blade ends meet at the same height when rotated to each other. I cannot figure it out.

Even though I don't see how the deck not being level would cause this, I tried leveling it with no success. I set the deck on blocks as per the service manual, yet I cannot even get all 4 chains that hold the deck to have slack in them. Seems one is always tight. So I'm wondering if my deck may be bent or warped. How can I measure or check the deck to see if it is? Any other ideas or suggestions?

 

[Cujet]

It sure sounds like there is a bend or tweak somewhere.

On my now ancient JD GT235's deck, I've damaged it many times by running it into the canal, stumps and rocks, not to mention trying to mulch up cut branches that would jam the thing instantly and wedge themselves in there so firmly it took an act of God to get them out. The blades were no longer even. I shimmed the spindles to get the blades to produce an even cut.

In my case the deck was not warped, but the spindle mounting areas certainly were not true.

 

[millerbl00]

I had the same problem but I used the "deck on blocks" method and it worked. However one of my hangers was bent and I had to bend it back so for Hustlers the "deck on blocks" method does work

 

[zzyzzx]

Well my Hustler Super Z Hyperdrive with the 72" rear discharge isn't cutting even.

Someone named a lawn mower after a porn magazine!

 

[Rand]

Try a new set of blades first then move on to where the blade mounts such as a bent deck or spindle issue?

 

[millerbl00]

Move the center blade and see if the problem moves. Do you have flex forks on it?

 

[AZjeff]

If one side of the center blade was bent down it would cut lower. Is that possible?

 

[Rutwad01]

I have swapped blades and no change. I just jacked up the mower until the outer 2 blades were level front to back and the center blade was lower in the front. Maybe the deck is bent where the center spindle bolts up causing it to lean forward. How could I go about correcting this issue?

 

[millerbl00]

Thats going to be tough to straighten the center portion of the deck

 

[millerbl00]

Maybe somehow you could loosen the spindle and shim it with washers to level it?

 

[Rand]

I have swapped blades and no change. I just jacked up the mower until the outer 2 blades were level front to back and the center blade was lower in the front. Maybe the deck is bent where the center spindle bolts up causing it to lean forward. How could I go about correcting this issue?

My beat 40 year old mower 50" deck looks like 3 passes with a push mower.. but my lawn doesn't have to be a golf course so I live with it.

I see 2 options either somehow shimming the spindle if it has a front bolt that might be possible.
or bending it back.

 

[fantastic]

I had similar issue on my lawn tractor. It was a low tire psi on left side.