How to Level Your Cub Cadet Lawn Mower Deck | XT1 Enduro Series
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Check out deck leveling gauges here: amzn.to/2wRjc9N
This video will show you how to level the deck on your Cub Cadet riding lawn mower. I demonstrate on my Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro LT 46 Lawn Tractor.
How to Change the Blades: • Change Your Riding Law...
How to Remove the Deck and Put it Back On: • Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro |...
How to Level Your Deck: • How to Level Your Cub ...
How to Change the Oil: • Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro |...
Lubrication Points on a Cub Cadet: • Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro -...
Adjust Your Deck Wheels: • How to Set the DECK WH...
2 HACKS to help level your mower deck: • 2 DECK LEVELING HACKS ...
Cleaning Under Deck Belt Covers - Rust Prevention
• Riding Lawn Mower Main...
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Videos produced by Fix It Flip are provided for informational purposes only. All material provided within this video is for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only. Some of these projects, materials, and techniques may not be appropriate for all ages or skill levels. Please use all safety precautions while following any instructions or concepts provided by this video. Viewers must be aware that by doing projects on their homes they are doing it at their own risk and Fix It Flip cannot be held liable if they cause any damage to their homes, property or person. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to educate themselves on their local codes and regulations before undertaking any sort of project. Always have safety in mind and have fun!
Stop right here and look no further! Exceptional level of instruction. Clear, concise, and very helpful.
Wow, thanks for the kind words, Rick!
Simple and straightforward instructions. Thank you very much.
Very helpful. Mine comes in on the Aug 12th and I am doing research to ensure I do all the right things with this major purchase I've just made. Appreciate this. :)
Glad I could help. I hope you enjoy your purchase. I've loved mine so far. Doing the correct maintenance will help it last a lot longer. I've got lots more videos planned for it, so stay tuned!
This was the easiest way I’ve ever leveled the deck! Thank you for posting, this!
No problem, glad I could help.
I like your video very much. Helped me adjust my deck, and I ended up adjusting it to full height to give my grass a break from cutting it too close. Noted that when you run the adjustments all the way in for max height, your deck lever will only go to 3.5, no longer able to get to 4 or even 3.75. The blade height is now right at about 4-1/8 on my XT1 LT46. I had never adjusted the tilt and now the front edge of the blade is right at 5/16" lower than the back edge. My cutting test, after sharpening the blades, came out beautiful. Thank you "Fix it Flip"!
Very interesting. I try to cut mine pretty long as well. Longer, fuller grass equals less weeds. Glad I could help!
Mirroring other comments: Your camera angles, explanations, and cadence of talking (without unnecessary info) was just on point. This video is definitely a niche "you don't need to know until you need to know" type of information, but I'm subbing incase I need other spots of info that aren't normally obvious. FWIW, Cub Cadet's instructions are all textual and sorta garbage to someone who hasn't read the manual recently.
Thank you very much for the kind words. It means a lot. I have links to all my other videos on this mower copied and pasted in the description below the video if you ever need to check them out.
I just bought a new Cub LT-1 46 KOHLER 23, love it, a powerful lawn tractor. Didn’t even think of leveling the deck, but like to keep my tools organized so used your technique. All dimensions were spot on. Also, of all the Cub cadet videos, you were the first video that mentioned tire pressures. Mine were 20 front and 16 rear. I made corrections to 14 and 10 and adjusted my cutting height. Thanks, Glenn, Florida
No problem, Glenn. Glad you got it all squared away and got the tires where they should be. Happy mowing.
G'day from Australia and many thanks for your user friendly video and advice. I also appreciate your advice on tyre pressures. Cheers mate.
You got it. Check under the video in the description. I have links to all my videos on this mower if needed. Cheers 👍🏻
The front to back height difference was 4.5”, no amount of blade leveling fixed the problem but after watching your video and adjusting, It’s like having a brand new mower, no more scalping or wildly uneven cuts. Thank you!!!
Great, glad I could help!
I just got one with 133 hours for $800. Is that a good deal
Yeah that's not a bad deal. As long as the deck isn't all beat up or something. They are going for about $2400 now and hold their value pretty decent.
I just read the instructions to do this on the Cub Cadet page, but it makes so much more sense when you see it done.
Thanks for posting!
No problem, glad I could help.
Loved the simplicity of your instructions. Since my right deck has both wheels off the ground should I assume I have a bent rod? I didn't see the front rod of the deck is bent but didn't know about the rods under the seat. Thank you for that point. If it is the problem can I get these rods on Amazon and what do I ask for?
Not necessarily. First make sure your deck wheels are set correctly using my video on that topic here: ua-cam.com/video/1dIJrqF9VYs/v-deo.html
Make sure you're more is on flat surface before you adjust and when you tighten the adjusting nuts hold the back nut with a wrench and tighten the top nut against the back not like jamming the nuts together
Yep.
Thanks for the awesome instructional video I have the lt46 and I'm off five different yards with it I banged it on some tree roots several times on the left side and it started mowing very unevenly. This great video of yours put it right!!
No problem, glad I could help!
Wife bought The same mower. 150 feet and folded a blade. I beat it back in shape. Little while later
Same thing..
I replaced both blades with heavy duty blades.
@@barrythomas529 Just replaced my blades as well after nailing a pry bar I forgot out in the yard. Doh. Just did a video on that...
Best to rotate the blades 180° and remeasure to be sure they aren't bent before making adjustments. Blades today are cheap, thin and bend easy. A bent blade will give a false measurement. Also, the rear links that adjust side-to-side height MUST be able to easily slip up and down in the tubes or if the deck wheels lift the deck (as they're supposed to) they can hang up and not drop the deck back down on one or both sides, making the deck crooked and making a mess of your yard. Lift the deck up a bit so the nuts aren't touching the top of the tubes and oil them lightly - excessive, thick oil will attract and hold dirt. When lubing remember that WD40, etc. are solvents, not lubricants. Use light machine oil or, my favorite, Superzilla. It's a bit pricey but even as a mechanic of fifty years I haven't even used half of the bottle in the past six years, it's that good.
Great tips, thanks for the input! Always welcome!
Great video and that wood ruler you made is the balls! I had the issue figuring out how to measure the blade on the opposite side of the discharge Shute and this was great! BUT how do you adjust the scalping wheels?
Just did a video on adjusting the scalp wheels! : ua-cam.com/video/1dIJrqF9VYs/v-deo.html
Also, check out the links in the video description. I put all the links to my videos on this mower down there.
These instructions are great! The nut on mine will not budge, even when securing the rod. It’s the same on both sides. Feel like I’m losing my mind. Any ideas on why that might be??
Could be rusted in place. I would try a pipe on the end of your wrench for extra leverage and if that doesn’t work, hit it with some WD-40 or some PB blaster.
I you level the blade at 3” left and right and then drop the front 1/4”-3/8” what is the correct HOC?.
The HOC will be the lower side of the blade tips in the front because that's what it will cut down to.
Can I do this to make the deck higher? I like my grass cut high.
Sure, you can adjust all three adjustment points up and raise the whole thing.
@@fixitFlip Thanks will try tomorrow!
clever little tool for $.04 total cost. Like your thinking....
Thanks. Gotta save where you can these days!
Thank you for your guidance. I feel confident in being able to manage this task.
Great, glad I could help! Good luck with the project.
I just received my mower,the front adjustment bar ,what hole should the rode be in on front of the deck? Thanks
Check out the video at about the 9:00 mark. You can see where it attaches.
Your how-to video was perfectly shot, and explained in detail. It also saved me $200. The store wanted to charge for doing this service before delivery. Wouldn't budge. So I bought the mower elsewhere. Your video helps any guy who's willing and able to do it themselves, and not willing to get robbed for such an easy task. Thank You!
$200, that's ridiculous. Not to mention half the time the guys at the store won't actually do it correctly. Glad I could help. Always feels good to get a job down right yourself!
This is something they should do automatically with the delivery of a new unit. BTW I bought my XT1 L50 with the fabricated deck from a dealer. The tire pressure was crazy high and the ride was harsh. I adjusted it to 14/10.
Problem is: I do not have any firm, level ground on my entire property.
Is there any other way to do this?
That's a tricky one. Let me think about that a bit.
I was just wondering normal for the deck weels hit the ground before you have in the 2 slot
Nope. Check out my video on setting the deck wheels correctly: ua-cam.com/video/1dIJrqF9VYs/v-deo.htmlsi=OxZkglhe184O11P-
I raised the right side a lot from the facility height to get the blade to 4 inches, once I raised the left side so the deck was level both side the blade was at 3 and 3/4 inches so idk
Yeah, sometimes it takes going back and forth a several times to get it at the right height AND level. Sometimes it takes more than several times.
You're a rideing mowis the same thing as mine but mine's a Craftsman t240
Oh yeah. A lot of them are VERY similar. Made by MTD, which is now Stanley Black and Decker.
I deck feels wobbly, havent used yet its a 2019 same model
Check out my video on how to remove the deck and put it back on and check if all 3 attachment points are in order.
ua-cam.com/video/WW5Ia5hhnuw/v-deo.html
Did your deck come with the rear wheels or did you add them and if so any recommendations on a kit?
Mine came with them.
I literally just got done doing this thank you for the help wasn't sure what to do with my mower cutting unevenly. Good as new now. Thank you.
Awesome, glad I could help.
Brother ,THANK YOU!!...I just bought this XT2 GX50, and it was cutting like crap...This thing is out of whack...2 3/4 and 3 1/8 the other..The Pitch forward over 1/2...Thank you for explaining this so well..Just adjusted, waiting for the grass to dry from rain..Im sure this has to help..Thank you
You're welcome and glad I could help! This should get it cutting better!
Hello, i was wondering if I j
Have to raise the right side higher than the left if I have a bagger on my tractor
I do not believe so, but did the bagger come with a manual? It should say in there if it did.
Thanks! Is there a reason you do side to side first?
Nope, you can do either direction first
Hi.
I always been wrong .
I setup front blade ,a 1/4-3/8 of the inch higher then rear one.
Thanks for tutor.
What is metod to ajust deck wheels?
No problem. Here's my video on how to set the deck wheels: ua-cam.com/video/1dIJrqF9VYs/v-deo.html
Okay, I've got a question about the LT, GT, and SLT markings on the front deck roller. What do those mean?
off the top of my head I know LT is lawn tractor, GT is probably garden tractor, not sure about SLT.
@@fixitFlip ooo That makes sense! Thanks!!
@@normajdennis No problem.
Thanks this helped a lot. Mine was scalping the lawn and now it is perfect. For left to right it was way easier to adjust the left because there is less in the way.
Great, glad you got it squared away!
I’m about to buy a cub tractor and you sir do a great job on all your videos! Thank you
Thanks for the kind words. Hope you love the new tractor.
What causes a strip of (what looks like) uncut grass right in the middles of the deck? Usually about an inch or two wide.
Normally just worn or uneven blades. I would try sharpening blades or replacing them. I'll have a video on this soon.
@@fixitFlip I used your vids to drop the deck and replace the blades yesterday. Seems to have rectified the issue. One of the old blades was severely worn on one end, while the others were worn "normal". Must have hit something at some point.
@@ghettostreamlabs5724 Yep, that will definitely do it. Glad you got it figured out.
If I may say, this was one informative video! Great job!
Thank you, Darryl!
What is the pitch of the thread on the adjust rods? How many turns per inch? If you know that (use a ruler) you can easily figure out how many turns you need to get to your adjustment height.
I do not know the exact numbers, but lately I just hold the deck weight a little with my hand, and then the nut spins freely. I give it a couple spins and measure, until I get it where I want.
Great video! The instructions are poorly written and poorly illustrated! I also really like your suggestion of making the improvised ruler. Great idea!!
Thank you!
Thanks!! Much appreciated ❤
You're welcome, glad to help!
Just so you know, those rods are loose in the sleeve. You can simply push up on the deck, set the small nut by hand where you want it and then snug up the outer nut. Of course lowering the deck would require backing the outer nut out to start.
Yep. Good catch. I included this in a video I did recently called 2 Deck Leveling Hacks ua-cam.com/video/ax2yU_KajhY/v-deo.html
Very much appreciated!
Glad I could help!
Very important also, so when you cut your leg off with the mower as you did with your rt leg, the blade will cut it off evenly.
Exactly. Don't want one nub shorter than the other.
Nice video! I've haven't messed with mine yet because it still cuts fine, but nice to know. One thing I would suggest is not use the scalp wheels for even a ball park figure. The flimsy wheel brackets on mine have bent several times and knocked back with a hammer so if these are a little bent, not a good reading. I plan to weld some gussets on them but haven't got around to it.
Good point on the wheel brackets. Thanks for the input!
Well said time saved thank you.
Thanks and no problem.
Here’s a tip. you can lift up the mower deck by hand and spin the botton nut on the leveling rods by hand after you loosen the top nut.
Ha ha, yep I go over that EXACT thing in my video I did recently about deck leveling hacks:
ua-cam.com/video/ax2yU_KajhY/v-deo.html
Very well done sir. This video and instructions are so exact and well presented. Thanks!!
Thank you for the kind words and glad I could help!
I purchased a XT 1 last summer. I had put about 20 hours on the tractor. I inadvertently left the key in the "on" position over the winter. Of course this Spring I found two problems. 1. Dead battery. 2. About thirty hours was added to the operating hours meter. The first problem was easily resolve. However, the 2nd issue is a concern. Is there any way to temporarily disconnect the hour meter to eventually reflect the approximate true hours?
I THINK that you can not reset it. Just like a car. Your best bet is probably just documenting how far ahead it is so you can keep track for maintenance, etc.
@@fixitFlip My solution was to attempt to temporarily disconnect the hour meter until I put the 30 hours on it and then reconnect it. I just can't figure out how to get to it thru the panel? But you're probably right! I'll just subtract 30 hours from the readout.
That would drive me nuts that extra 30 hours I'd have a Ferris Bueller's day off happening.
That’s a good looking mower 😍
Thanks!
Great Video as usual, very helpful thanks 😊
No problem! Got one coming on how to change the oil soon.
Noticed mine was out on the RHS didnt know how to level it always put it off now i know how to do it thanks for the vid
No problem, good luck with it. Happy mowing.
Thank you, sir. My cub cadet needed a major level and height adjustment!
No problem.
Great video! However shouldn't you also set the anti-scalp wheels at the same time? Do you have a video on the proper way to set these wheels?
I do not have a video on that yet but that is a good idea for a spring video.
Just posted a video on the anti-scalp wheels this weekend: ua-cam.com/video/1dIJrqF9VYs/v-deo.html
Another question for you regarding my cadet. When do I consider getting new belts for it. Both belts are very tight and show no sign of shredding. However, the cadet is running slower and slower, even after putting new plugs in it last summer. The cadet is about 9 yrs. old and has done me well if I can fix it I like to because I don't think I will be leaving her much longer since I am 76, and need to down size. Hope you understand my reasoning?
If anything, the belts typically stretch out and get looser. I’d say if you don’t see any dry rot or cracking, they are probably fine.
I bought a new XT2, and the measurement at the front of the deck is about 2-3/8” when set to the 3 position. Would you agree that I should raise my entire deck? I guess I thought the 3 position was supposed to mean 3”, but I’m not even close.
What's it measure at the tip of the blade? Front should sit a little lower. 3 should mean 3", correct.
@@fixitFlip when set to 3, it measures 2-3/8" at the tip of the blade at the front when the blade is parallel with the mower. I bought it from a dealer, you'd think they would have set and leveled the deck correctly, but it appears really low.
@@ChrisTKelley You would think they would set it. But I'm actually not surprised when they are not. Hard to find good help these days. If you turn the lower nuts clockwise on both sides, you can raise the deck up to the proper height so it lines up with the measurements.
Best vid of this type and such a clean machine!
Yeah unfortunately mine isnt clean and there is no way for me to wash it that good
Thank you!
Great help awesome video
Thanks, glad I could help.
Real good video, I like your idea of making your small ruler.
Thank you.
Very good how-to video. Good camera shots, clear explanations, no extra fluff. I’ll be leveling my deck tomorrow, thanks! Subscribed
Thanks for the kind words, Turd. Loved your work on Celebrity Jeopardy.
@@fixitFlip hahah
@@turdferguson8412 "It's funny cuz it's bigger than a normal hat."
Thanks! I was concerned about ours (not a Cub) because the front was lower than the back. Never noticed before but we recently had to do some work on it, with the tremendous help of another of your videos, and I noticed it for the first time. Now I know it's supposed to be that way, duh. Makes sense, of course. Thanks, I really appreciate your videos!
No problem and that’s great to hear. Love hearing when my videos help somebody out!
Great video, keep them coming!!!
Thanks and I will!
Excellent. I leanrned at least three important things.
Awesome!
I just got a lt50 and I can’t raise it all the way up it’s 2 notches short is this typical or is something wrong ?
Check out my video about deck hacks and see if that helps. It should go up all the way: ua-cam.com/video/ax2yU_KajhY/v-deo.html
@@fixitFlip the deck is hitting the frame so it can’t go up anymore and it’s on 3 1/2
@@jerrybushey6654 That's definitely not normal. Have tried the adjustments in the video to see if it's sitting lopsided or something?
It’s straight and seems level cuts fine
@@fixitFlip I fixed it myself a local Cub cadet tech told me they ship them like that on the pallet and you have to adjust them I wish I knew that when it was delivered and don’t remember seeing that in the manual
Thanks, I was always afraid to do it. the shoot side was a bitch to break lose but the other side was easy Thanks again
No problem. Glad you got it done.
And my discharge sur rubbing right on the scalping wheel
Check my video on taking off the deck. See if it’s attached right.
Tx great video
Thanks and no problem 👊🏻
Nice job with both video and explanation!
Thank you!
Great video
Thanks!
Great video
Thank you!
Great video thanks
Thank you and no problem.
Just what I needed. Thanks!
You got it!
Great info Flip thanks
No problem Gary.
Hi, thank you for your video you're a very good teacher. So I'm wondering why don't you want the pitch two be perfectly even so that the grass would be perfectly even? If the pictures slender down wouldn't your grass be cut in lopsided?
LOL let's try this. If your pitch is slanted down wouldn't your grass be cut lopsided?
@@12jdevore Basically think of it this way. You want the blade to cut on the "forward swing" and not the "back swing" on the back of the arc. Only cutting through the grass once makes for a more even cut AND is way less work for the engine. Does that make sense?
Could I use the shroud as measuring points?
Great video.
Thank you. What do you mean by shroud?
Thank you! I can do this now. Nice dog.
No problem Dan.
The clamp on the deck was genius and probably the most helpful part of it.
Thanks for the kind words and glad it was helpful!@@DanEvans-yb6wk
Thank you.
No problem.
FANTASTIC JOB !!! 💪
Thank you! 👊🏻
Thank you
No problem.
I have that same mower and I'd say the quality of cut has a lot to be desired . the blades bend really easy their garbage.. , come on MTd get your s*** together😊
I think they are called Stanley Black and Decker now but I hear ya.
Great video. I need to adjust mine before I cut again.
Thanks. Good luck with it.
Use a simple cheap circle drawing compass, like an inside machinist compass. Set distance from blade to ground, remove and measure, static.turbosquid.com/Preview/2014/07/11__16_24_14/DraftingCompassWithPencil_147.jpga0c13048-325d-48a4-8460-87ce2dee818fDefaultHQ.jpg
Smart little trick there!