Cub Cadet Z-Force 48 Operator's Manual page 28

3. Measure blade-to-ground height at the front tip of the
right blade. To obtain an accurate measure, align blades in
parallel with mower centerline, (i.e. front to back).
4. Measure blade-to-ground height at the front tip of the left
blade. Be sure to measure at the blade tip with the blades
arranged in proper position.
5. With a 3⁄4" wrench loosen the lower jam nut of the left side
of the lift link. To adjust the side of the deck up or down
turn the upper jam nut clockwise (to raise) or counter
clockwise (to lower) a few turns. See Figure 1-6.
Outer Jam Nuts
Trailing Link
Left Side
Jam
Nut
Adjustable
Lift Link
6. Measure the blade-to-ground height at the right rear blade
tip. Again be sure to measure at the blade tip at the rear of
the right blade when aligned along the mower centerline.
The blade-to-ground height at the rear of the blade tip
should be approximately 1⁄4" higher than the front tip. This
is referred to as blade pitch. The same height difference
should be true for the left blade, measured front and back.
7. To change the pitch (front to rear), loosen the lower nuts on
the rear Lift Links. With a few turns, adjust clockwise (to raise)
or counter clockwise (to lower) the upper nuts of the rear Lift
Links. Once the deck is adjusted, retighten lower nuts.
8. The final adjustment would be to set the Trailing Link by
adjusting the jam nuts on the threaded link. Loosen the
jam nuts and tighten the inner nut to achieve the correct
length and belt tension. See Figure 1-6.
9. In many cases it will be necessary to adjust deck height using
both eyebolt adjustments and pitch adjustment to achieve
the correct blade-to-ground heights. If you remember that
the front right blade tip adjustment is fixed and you level to
that height, adjusting the decks will be simplified.
Adjusting the Belt Tension
To tighten or loosen the tension on the belt, tighten or loosen
the jam nuts on the U-rod, see Figure 1-6, until a ten-pound pull
with a spring scale deflects the belt about 1⁄2".
28 S 6— M
ection aintenance
Front of
Inner Jam
Nuts
Right Side
Figure 1-6
& a
djuStMentS
Brakes
NOTE: The parking brakes normally do not need to be adjusted.
To adjust either brake individually, loosen the jam nuts on the
cable near the brake arm on the transaxle. Adjust the nuts so
that the brake cable becomes shorter.
Repair: The mower is equipped with internal gear/pawl brakes
and will not normally require maintenance. If they are not
working properly, please contact your service center.
Adjusting the Gauge Wheels
WARNING!
discharge opening of the cutting deck.
Unit
NOTE: The deck gauge wheels are an anti-scalp feature of the deck
and are not designed to support the weight of the cutting deck.
The mower deck cutting height can be set using the tractor's
deck lift pedal. The deck heights range from 1" to 4". The deck
gauge wheel position should be approximately 1⁄4 to 1⁄2" above
the ground when the deck is set in the desired height setting.
Using the lift pedal, set the deck in the desired height setting,
then check the gauge wheel distance from the ground below. If
necessary, adjust as follows:
1. Visually check the distance between the front gauge
wheels and the ground. If the gauge wheels are near or
touching the ground, they should be raised. If more than
1⁄2" above the ground, they should be lowered.
2. Remove the lock nut securing one of the front gauge wheel
shoulder screws to the deck. Remove the gauge wheel and
hex screw. Refer to Figure 1-7.
Lock Nut
Deck Wheel
3. Insert the hex screw into the one of three index holes in the
front gauge wheel bracket that will give the gauge wheel a
1⁄4" to 1⁄2" clearance with the ground.
4. Note the index hole of the just adjusted wheel, and adjust
the other gauge wheels into the respective index holes of
the other gauge wheel brackets on the deck.
Keep hands and feet away from the
Washer
Hex Screw
Wheel Spacer
Figure 1-7