3160 scalping the lawn

[Raftguide]

Ok. Need a little bit of help. I need to figure out how to limit the extent of the mower deck being lowered. I have increased the mower skids to the maximum. However, it still scalps like no other. It mows well when I bump the hydraulics up just a little. But I need a way for the deck to stay in that spot.

Any suggestions?

[Eugene]

Operator's Manual, under the section titled "Hydraulic Lift". There is an adjusting screw located on the left rock shaft. By adjusting the screw you can set and maintain the mower deck's cut height.

[Raftguide]

Thanks Eugene. I do have a follow up question. The center blade is cutting lower than the outside blades. Anything I should look for to troubleshoot and adjust? I can honestly say I am embarrassed of my lawn at the moment.

[Raftguide]

Last dumb question. Where can one obtain the operators manual for a 185? Would love to find a digital download if possible.

[Bill Hudson]

You have come to the right place, you will find the 185 operators manual here: http://farmallcub.com/[ Sorry, direct links to manual section is not allowed. ]/index.php?dirpath=./files/IH%20LoBoy%20Series%20-%20154,%20184,%20185/Cub-185%20Lo-Boy&order=0

A plethora of manuals is available on this site. Go to the quick links, upper left this page. Scroll down to the PDF Manuals link to open Pandora's box of manuals galore.

Bill

[Raftguide]

Omg. Where has this been for the passed few months. So many questions answered. Thank you all.

[Bill Hudson]

As for the uneven cutting you describe, a bent blade would be my first guess.

For a really great time learning about Cubs from really great, knowledgeable people, consider attending the Buckeye Cub Tug in Somerset (practically around the corner from Hebron). Here is a link to get you all the information http://www.cubtug.com/. You will be glad you did.

Bill

[Eugene]

Follow up question. The center blade is cutting lower than the outside blades.

I don't know the answer. You will need to slide the mower deck from under the tractor and investigate.

My guess is the center spindle has been replaced at some time in the past. Perhaps a spindle from another IH mower deck.

If the center spindle is the problem, it can be replaced. Hold your breath, $150- or so. Another alternative is to research the correct part number. There is a good chance the spindle was also used on a Cub Cadet mower deck. Not that a new Cub Cadet spindle will be cheaper, perhaps you can find a used deck.

[Steve-N-Tn]

Raftguide, I had both the problems you had with yours only mine was on a Farmall C with a Woods L306. I solved the leveling problem by using a chain and turnbuckle on each side up to the rockshaft rather than just one chain. I had a bent blade (like Bill suggested) AND a different spindle too (as Eugene suggested). I lowered the deck skids onto wooden blocks making sure the deck was level and then measured from the tip of the blade in the front to the ground. Used washers between the blade and the spindle to level the high blade, then measured each blade both front and back to make sure I had a 1/2 inch lower in the front so it wouldn't double cut--adjusting boards under the skids. Set the turnbuckles and added an extra nut to "lock" them and they haven't moved in 12 years! May not work on yours, but its a way!! Hope that helps! Steve

[seahaul]

The center blade cutting lower may be due to the deck being unlevel, with the rear of the mower much lower than the front. Park on a level concrete surface, lower the mower, and reach under the mower and measure how far from the ground all three blades are. Check all three with the blades turned front-to-back (like at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock) and side-to-side (like 3 and 9 o'clock). This will tell a lot about bent blades, bent decks, etc. Kind of hard to reach under the mower to measure but well worth the effort.
Ideally the front of the deck should be a little bit higher than the rear, but not much (maybe 1/2 inch or so). You can move the trailing arms of the mower to a higher hole in the mount at the rear if needed to raise the rear.

[Jim Becker]

When measuring for level, measure one tip of the blade then rotate 180 degrees and take the second measurement with the same blade tip. That way you will be measuring level, not including the end-to-end difference of a (possibly) bent blade. The front should be LOWER than the rear.

[Urbish]

The front should be LOWER than the rear.

[outdoors4evr]

Perhaps someone put a spacer (washer) between the blade and the spindle?
Also, make sure that the blades aren't on upside down. The rise in the blade should be upward (away from the ground).

[seahaul]

Oops, I goofed. Of course the front of the mower should be LOWER than the rear. Thanks, Jim, for catching my mistake.
Charlie

[Raftguide]

Thank you all for the help. It seems like it was a little bit of everything. Needed to adjust the lowering limit. Raise the skid plates. Making sure the mower is slightly tilted forward makes a huge difference. Thanks again.