Yet another height question

17 years ago

I want to make sure I got the height setting correct on my gasoline powered walk behind mower.

I set my mower on a level surface & measured 3-inches from the sidewalk to the bottom of the metal side, on both sides.

Is this the right way to do it?

Or am I supposed to somehow measure from the blade to the bottom of the wheel (unless this makes for the same height measurement as my method)?

*CONFUSED*

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Comments (15)

rdaystrom
17 years ago
Level (concrete if possible) surface, mower turned off, plug wire disconnected. Measure from the ground surface to the bottom of the blade tip at the front portion of the mower.
tomplum
17 years ago
Why you are at it -try an experiment. Lower the rear adjusters 1 notch below the front and see if it improves your quality of cut.
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rollerzeke
17 years ago
Hello all.

rdaystrom is right on target.

Good day.
bill_kapaun
17 years ago
Doesn't it show what the height settings equal in the owners manual?
LibbyLiz
Original Author
17 years ago
bill,

The book that came with the mower gives this information:

HOW TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF CUT

To change the height of cut, move the position of the adjuster arm at each wheel. Make sure each adjuster arm is in the same position so that the mower will cut level.
1. Disengage the adjuster arm.
2. Move the adjuster arm to another position.

And the only figure given is a corner of the mower with one wheel, Adjuster Arm & notches. What's shown has to be the front left because it's a small wheel. The back wheels are large.
Last fall late all I did was lower it a couple of notches to mow low, without measuring then. I didn't make note of where the Adjuster Arm was from mowing "high" that summer. I do this inconsistently (one year but not the next...) & you'd think I'd learn by now to find the correct high & low positions & mark them! I should get some dollar store bright red nail polish to do so. By the way, I live in military housing & the housing authority rules state the mowing height will not exceed 3", though I don't know what is allowed for the lowest setting. I've been wanting to challenge authority by raising the mower to the highest setting, if beyond 3", & tell them to bug off if they ticket us for a shaggy lawn!
ray,

I'm guessing I'll need a tape measure that bends rather than a stiff ruler. ;-) LOL

I'll do as you suggested when I go to mow next week.

Thanks!
bill_kapaun
17 years ago
Start off high, mow & measure. Go down a notch, repeat......
LibbyLiz
Original Author
17 years ago
I mowed yesterday evening & measured the grass today. It's at 4". I guess the blade sits an inch higher than the bottom or the mower then.

Oh well. I think that should be fine. =)
1saxman
17 years ago
Well, maybe it's 4" and maybe it's not. You see, the mower will sit higher on the yard than the end of a ruler, which will go down to hard ground. Your comment about measuring the distance from the wheels to the blade was correct. Set all adjusters to the same setting. With the spark plug disconnected and the wire grounded, turn the mower up on it's side with the carburetor up. Hold a straightedge across the wheels (diagonal if needed) and measure the distance to the cutting edge. This is the number for that particular setting. Write the number on the mower at the adjuster positions with a bold Sharpie.
LibbyLiz
Original Author
17 years ago
saxman,

I remeasured the grass. I might have measured a low lying area before. This time I got 3".

I'll remeasure the height, but it'll have to wait until the next time I have to mow.
bill_kapaun
17 years ago
The deck should be somewhat lower than the blade for safety reasons. It helps catch flying objects!
LibbyLiz
Original Author
17 years ago
Does it matter that it's a mulching blade?

I swore they're higher on the ends, then kind of twist & become lower in the middle, but I haven't watched hubby change it out the last couple times so I may not be remembering correctly.
bill_kapaun
17 years ago
IF you measure the height after mowing, the blade could look like a pretzel and not matter!
LibbyLiz
Original Author
17 years ago
LOL

So just measure the tip or cutting edge of the blade then. Gotcha!
bill_kapaun
17 years ago
NO! Measure how tall the GRASS is after mowing. IF IT'S TOO TALL, LOWER THE MOWER!
1saxman
17 years ago
The object of measuring as I described is to be able to mark the mower at the adjusters with the actual cutting height for each position. This makes it easy to adjust in the future. If there is a legal requirement where you live for 3" max., you can easily show that you are adhering to the letter of the rule after having calibrated your mower.

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