How to Level a Husqvarna Lawnmower Deck, step by step

Multiple factors affect the cutting quality and efficiency of a riding lawnmower. One of these factors is the correct level of the mower deck. You can level your riding lawnmower’s deck by adjusting its height. An adequately leveled deck is essential because an uneven mower deck causes the cutting blades to cut the grass by mowing too close to the ground, especially on the low side, damaging the grass. An uneven mower deck results in “stepping,” a term used for a lawn that looks like the grass was cut at an angle. Adjusting the Husqvarna riding lawnmower deck ensures that its deck is level front to back and side to side.

A Husqvarna riding mower’s deck should generally be lower in the front than at the back for the best results. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to adjust or level the cutting deck of your Husqvarna riding mower. The procedure is not too complicated, and the user can easily perform it at home.

How to level a Husqvarna lawnmower deck, step by step:

Step 1: Start by rerouting the belt according to the routing diagram at the mower’s deck’s front.
Step 2: Reinstall the spring connecting the idler arm to the mower deck. Stretch the spring to connect it to the spring at the bracket edge.
Step 3: Remove the cotter pin at your mower’s deck’s left side and lower the deck.
Step 4: Adjust the height control lever’s washer and raise the deck’s height.
Step 5: Adjust the safety pin and ensure that the belt is routed correctly and is not twisted.

How to adjust the height of a Husqvarna Deck:

Step 1: Gather the necessary tools: An air pressure gauge, an air compressor or a tire pump, a measuring tape, two adjustable wrenches, and a pair of work gloves.
Step 2: Remove the blades
Step 3: Measure the air pressure in all the tires and adjust each tire’s pressure to make it equal to the standard tire pressure for a Husqvarna riding mower.
Step 4: Measure the blade distance from the ground for both blades using a measuring tape.
Step 5: Adjust the blade distance to level the deck height from side to side and front to back.
Step 6: Adjust the deck by turning the jam nut at the front to get the desired deck leveling.
Step 7: Tighten the jam nut to finish the procedure.

Contents

1 The Step by Step Husqvarna Riding Mower’s Deck Levelling Procedure:
2 Step by step Husqvarna Riding Mower’s Deck Height Adjustment Procedure:
3 Things to Remember:
4 Final Remarks:

The Step by Step Husqvarna Riding Mower’s Deck Levelling Procedure:

Step 1: Reroute the Belt:

Start by finding the routing diagram at the front of your Husqvarna mower deck. Then use a Torx T30 screwdriver to loosen the holding screws of the plastic shrouds. Loosening the screw will provide enough room to slide the belt down behind the pulley. Repeat the same for the deck’s other side.

Locate the metal tabs around the idler pulley. Remove the metal tabs temporarily and finish the belt routing.

Step 2: Reinstall and Stretch the spring:

This step involves reinstalling the spring that connects the idler arm to the Husqvarna mower deck. This idler arm is there to provide necessary tension to the idler pulley. Position the spring on the hole in the idler arm so that the spring’s maximum portion remains beneath the arm and only its top face pops out upward.

Stretch out the string and attach it to the end of the spring at the bracket edge. The brackets on both sides should be hanging forward.

Step 3: Remove the Pin and Lower the Deck:

Locate the cotter pin on the left side of your Husqvarna riding mower’s deck. Remove this cotter pin and bring the brackets up on both sides of the deck. With this done, slide the deck slightly forward. Remove the safety and reinstall the cotter pin after you have slid the deck slightly forward.

At this point, you should make sure that the Husqvarna mower deck is getting down equally everywhere. Also, ensure that the mower deck is lowered to its lowest height.

Step 4: Adjust the Washer:

There is a lever that is connected with the deck height controller. The bent end of the rod works with this lever.

Remove the washer and lift your riding mower’s deck. Apply gel the pin on the pin you see here, which will make it considerably easier to adjust the deck’s height. Reinstall the washer in its previous position, reinstall the safety pain again.

Step 5: Adjust the Safety Pin and Ensure the Belt is Routed Properly:

Remove the safety pin, bring the bracket up on the other side of the deck too. You’ll need to turn the bent end to get the Husqvarna mower’s perfect side. To do this, remove the safety pin from the rod and slide the bent end through the hole in the bracket.

Locate the belt that is supposed to be mounted on the main engine pulley. Ensure that the belt on the deck is routed correctly and not twisted at any location.

Step by step Husqvarna Riding Mower’s Deck Height Adjustment Procedure:

Step 1: Gather the Necessary Tools:

You’ll need the following tools to adjust your Husqvarna riding mower’s height:

An air pressure gauge for the tires
A tire pump or an air compressor
A measuring tape
Adjustable wrenches
A pair of work gloves

Step 2: Remove the Blades:

Park your Husqvarna mower on a flat and smooth surface, let the engine cool, and remove the spark plug cables. Now remove the blades. Set the mower deck to its lowest position. You might need to lift the mower slightly to expose the blades. Use pieces of wood to balance your mower. Make sure that the gas tank is sealed when you lift the mower.

Step 3: Adjust the Tire Pressure:

The tire pressure directly affects the level of the cutting deck. Use an air pressure gauge to measure the air pressure in all the tires. If the Husqvarna tire air pressure is lower than it should be (consult the user manual for the standard tire pressure), pump air in the tire using an air bicycle pump or an air compressor. Ensure that each tire’s air pressure is at the standard level before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Measure the Blade Distance from the Ground:

The blade height measured from the ground can be used as a direct measure of the deck level. The blade distance from the ground should not be greater or smaller than the standard blade height, and the distance of both blade bottoms from the ground should be equal.

Please protect your hand with gloves for this step. Set each blade in a completely horizontal position and measure each blade’s distance from the ground surface using a measuring tape. If the distance between both blade bottoms from the ground surface is not equal, it needs to be adjusted.

Step 5: Adjust the Blade Distance:

There is an adjustable lift-link adjustment nut on each side of the Husqvarna mower. Use an adjustable wrench to rotate the lift-nuts clockwise or anti-clockwise to get a sharp adjustment. Turning the nut clockwise will lift your mower’s deck, whereas turning counter-clockwise will lower the deck.

By rotating the lift-nuts, level the two sides of the deck until both blade bottoms are at the same distance from the ground surface. With this done, the deck has been leveled from side to side.

We have also to make sure that the mower deck is level from front to back. For this purpose, turn one of the two blades by 90 degrees and measure the distance from this blade’s front bottom tip to the ground surface. Then measure the distance from the blade’s back bottom tip to the ground surface. The front distance should 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch smaller than the back distance for a Husqvarna riding lawnmower.

Step 6: Adjust the Riding Mower’s Deck by Turning the Jam Nut:

Go to the front of your Husqvarna riding lawnmower. Loosen the jam nut situated on the front link adjustment of the mower deck using an adjustable socket wrench. Keep rotating the jam nut anti-clockwise until you reach the inner adjustment nut of the deck. The adjustment nut is usually located at the front side of the deck between the two front wheels. You can adjust the deck level by rotating the inner adjustment nut. With the adjustable wrench, rotate the nut clockwise to lift the front of your mower deck. Turning the same nut counter-clockwise will lower the front of your mower deck. So, keep adjusting the deck level at the front until you achieve the correct or desirable front to rear deck adjustment (the front of the deck should be 1/8 inch to ½ inch lower than the deck’s rear).

Step 7: Tighten the Jam Nut:

Once the front-to-rear adjustments have been completed successfully, hold the front adjustment nut using one of the two adjustable wrenches. Use the second adjustable wrench to tighten the jam nut by turning it clockwise.

With the jam nut tightened, the level adjustment is complete, and your Husqvarna mower is ready to go. Reinstall the spark plug and start your mower for a test run.

Things to Remember:

Avoid over-inflation of tires: When pumping air into the tire, ensure that you don’t go over the standard tire pressure for your riding lawnmower.
Keep the blades safe: Remove the blades when crossing pathways or gravel etc., to keep the blades safe from damage.
Keep the blades sharp: Besides the deck level, the blade sharpness also affects the cutting quality and grass health. So, regularly sharpen the blades using a metal file or sandpaper.

Final Remarks:

With time, your Husqvarna lawnmower deck can become uneven, affecting the grass cutting quality and grass health. To get the best results from your machine, the deck has to be leveled. Deck leveling is not difficult, and you can accomplish it by following the procedure presented in this blog post. Make sure to follow the necessary safety precaution when working on your mower.