Setting height on 60" mmm

[farmerdad46]

I own a BX2380 and have a question about properly adjusting the 60" mmm. This deck has the self leveling system. There is a bit of play in that system that will allow me to move the left or right side of the mower deck up and down about a 1/2 or so before the springs engage on the self leveler system. I have those springs adjusted as per the manual (H = 2.17").

how do you properly level and set the deck height when it has a 1/2 wobble? I have a tool to measure the blade height to make it as precise as possible but the wobble makes precision impossible. What are some suggestions to leveling the deck when on the 60" mmm with the self leveler. I have read the manual and it doesn't mention a possible wobble.

 

[WhatnxtBX]

Are you talking about “ float”? The design for the deck is to move up and down during mowing to allow for ground height changes. That along with the scalp wheel adjustment. For mine, I adjusted the deck to level on both sides and call it good. My lawn is not level and the adjusted scalp wheels take care of the rest.

 

[farmerdad46]

Are you talking about “ float”? The design for the deck is to move up and down during mowing to allow for ground height changes. That along with the scalp wheel adjustment. For mine, I adjusted the deck to level on both sides and call it good. My lawn is not level and the adjusted scalp wheels take care of the rest.

The float is with the springs on the float arm; my deck has a 1/2 of movement up and down on the left or right side before those springs engage. It makes it hard to level the deck left to right due to this tolerance issue with the float system. If the springs were always engaged, this would solve the issue. I'm unsure if this is correct or a issue with my new mower deck.

 

[Speed25]

The float is with the springs on the float arm; my deck has a 1/2 of movement up and down on the left or right side before those springs engage. It makes it hard to level the deck left to right due to this tolerance issue with the float system. If the springs were always engaged, this would solve the issue. I'm unsure if this is correct or a issue with my new mower deck.

There are lock nuts above the springs that you can tighten/loosen to adjust the free play in the self-balancer.

 

[Henro]

I may misunderstand the situation, but after having a BX 2200 for years I finally got around to adjusting the level of the deck. Then I adjusted the anti-scalp wheels as appropriate.

Everything I did was in the static mode. The tractor was sitting on a level surface, and I could make a measurement between the edge of the deck, and the surface the tractor was sitting on to adjust deck height.

So I’m kind of missing what you’re trying to accomplish, or maybe I’m missing what you’re doing to accomplish what you want. I made adjustments to the deck and used a spacer block to measure how high the deck changed when I adjusted one side and then the other.

Are you doing something differently? For example, are you putting a spacer block under the side that you want to adjust and finding that causes the other side to move? Never occurred to me to try to do it that way, and if I had it probably would’ve turned out sort of like your experience.

Might be helpful if you explain exactly what you’re doing. Or if you already did that, and I’m one of the thick ones that don’t see the obvious when they read the OP, I can live with that.

 

[farmerdad46]

I may misunderstand the situation, but after having a BX 2200 for years I finally got around to adjusting the level of the deck. Then I adjusted the anti-scalp wheels as appropriate.

Everything I did was in the static mode. The tractor was sitting on a level surface, and I could make a measurement between the edge of the deck, and the surface the tractor was sitting on to adjust deck height.

So I’m kind of missing what you’re trying to accomplish, or maybe I’m missing what you’re doing to accomplish what you want. I made adjustments to the deck and used a spacer block to measure how high the deck changed when I adjusted one side and then the other.

Are you doing something differently? For example, are you putting a spacer block under the side that you want to adjust and finding that causes the other side to move? Never occurred to me to try to do it that way, and if I had it probably would’ve turned out sort of like your experience.

Might be helpful if you explain exactly what you’re doing. Or if you already did that, and I’m one of the thick ones that don’t see the obvious when they read the OP, I can live with that.

The spring adjustment on the leveler will not take up the slack from the bolt head to the leveler system. See the attached photos.

I've adjusted the spring to the correct setting (2.17") adjusting it more does not remove the slack in this bold assembly. The pin through the bolt prevents that from happening.

The mower deck moves easily up and down with just a finger tip, I can adjust the wheels to the same level and then move the deck down on one side so they hit the ground, and the same on the other (opposite side raises up). This movement all happens without compressing the springs on either side. The end result is that while I'm trying to level the deck / blade height, it is impossible to get a consistent measurement due to the 1/2 gap from bolt head to the leveler bar.

If possible, could someone take a photo of their leveler assembly on their 60" mower deck and see if that gap between the bolt head and the bar is there? I'm guessing it is not there. Either my bolt is too long or the bar is bent on the deck. I don't think it should be able to move with just my finger tip. Again, the spring is not compressing, the bolt moves up and down a 1/2" with very light pressure on the deck.


Or.... everything is working as expected and I have to deal with one side of my deck being 1/2" lower then the other side depending on how it tips while mowing. Not a huge deal but it could make a line between mowing stripes. I tried taking a video but the forum won't let me upload it.

I bet I could fix it by adding some washers to the assembly to take up the slack, I'm worried about taking the nut off the spring and never being able to get it back on.

 

[farmerdad46]

I stopped by the Kubota dealer today where I bought my bx2380, great dealer and very helpful. I looked at a different bx2380 on the lot while I was there. The deck had a small left to right wobble, but not as much as mine.

I spoke with the service crew and they told me the wobble was not normal. They said the leveling bar that attaches to the bolt must be slightly bent.

This mower is brand new, I only had the deck on it a few hours and mowed the lawn once. I am extremely confident this was not caused by user error. Seems like a manufacturer issue.

Has anyone else checked their 60" (non drive over) mmm for this left to right wobble in the leveler system?

I think I can fix it by bending the leveler bar or sorting out some kind of shim for the bolt.

I can look into a warranty claim but I need to bring the mower deck back in and it's hard to prove it wasn't bent after delivery (I guess)

 

[farmerdad46]

I stopped by the Kubota dealer today where I bought my bx2380, great dealer and very helpful. I looked at a different bx2380 on the lot while I was there. The deck had a small left to right wobble, but not as much as mine.

I spoke with the service crew and they told me the wobble was not normal. They said the leveling bar that attaches to the bolt must be slightly bent.

This mower is brand new, I only had the deck on it a few hours and mowed the lawn once. I am extremely confident this was not caused by user error. Seems like a manufacturer issue.

Has anyone else checked their 60" (non drive over) mmm for this left to right wobble in the leveler system?

I think I can fix it by bending the leveler bar or sorting out some kind of shim for the bolt.

I can look into a warranty claim but I need to bring the mower deck back in and it's hard to prove it wasn't bent after delivery (I guess)

I took the mower deck off the tractor. It looks like the wobble in the leveler arm is caused by the weight of the mower deck.

There is no gap between the bolt and the assembly when the mower deck is on the ground; only when it's hanging from the tractor. I guess it is what it is!

 

[PaulL]

I took the mower deck off the tractor. It looks like the wobble in the leveler arm is caused by the weight of the mower deck.

There is no gap between the bolt and the assembly when the mower deck is on the ground; only when it's hanging from the tractor. I guess it is what it is!

It's not a ground contact deck. The wheels only touch when the ground is uneven (hence are called anti-scalp). The deck is supposed to just hang. I'm really unclear why the deck would rock side to side. I don't have a BX any more, but my deck was quite heavy hanging on the arms, it wouldn't tilt without having contacted the ground. And when it contacts the ground it's supposed to tilt.

I feel like there's something unsaid here, or something misunderstood, because what you're describing doesn't sound like how the deck is supposed to work.

 

[farmerdad46]

It's not a ground contact deck. The wheels only touch when the ground is uneven (hence are called anti-scalp). The deck is supposed to just hang. I'm really unclear why the deck would rock side to side. I don't have a BX any more, but my deck was quite heavy hanging on the arms, it wouldn't tilt without having contacted the ground. And when it contacts the ground it's supposed to tilt.

I feel like there's something unsaid here, or something misunderstood, because what you're describing doesn't sound like how the deck is supposed to work.

The deck is not supposed to sit on the wheels; unless you remove it from the tractor for maintenance or other reasons.

While the deck is hanging from the tractor, the weight of the deck along with the design of the leveler arm causes the arm to flex. The leveler arm
connects to the deck with a central pivoting point. The arm hangs from the tractor at two points to the left and right of this pivot point on the lever arm. The weight of the deck causes the leveler bar to flex, this flex allows for a 1/2 gap between the bolt head and the leveler arm where the spring system controls the deck movement. This gap causes the deck to have movement that is not controlled by the leveler springs.

I have looked at other bx2380s on the dealer lot and saw the same thing. It seems like a design flaw with the leveler arm; the small flex in the arm from the weight of the deck is the cause of this issue.