Operating

Raising and Lowering Mower

The mower may be raised or lowered using tractor rockshaft control lever or dual selective control valve (SCV) lever, depending on your installation. Mower lift kits are either mechanical (no hydraulic cylinder) or independent (has hydraulic cylinder).

Mowers With Mechanical Lift Kits

1. Review Using the Rockshaft Control Lever and Using Speed of Drop/Lock Valve instructions in your tractor operator’s manual.

2. Push the rockshaft control lever forward to lower the mower, or pull the lever rearward to raise the mower.

Mowers With Independent Lift Kits

1. Review Using Hydraulic Dual SCV and Using Dual SCV Lock Lever instructions in your tractor operator’s manual.

2. Follow the instructions in your tractor operator’s manual to lock out the dual SCV regen function.

3. Pull the dual SCV lever to the right to lower the mower, or push the lever to the left to raise the mower.

Adjusting Cutting Height

Mower cutting height can be adjusted from approximately 3-15cm (1-6 in.), depending on the tractor. When mower is in highest (transport) position, cutting height is approximately 15cm (6 in.), depending on the tractor.

Cutting height may be adjusted using tractor controls or mower lift kit controls, depending on your installation. Mower lift kits are either mechanical (no hydraulic cylinder) or independent (has hydraulic cylinder).

1. Park machine on a level surface.

2. Disengage mower blades.

3. Fully raise the mower.

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Stop the engine.

6. Set cutting height by method described below for your installation. Mower will be at that cutting height when it is lowered.

7. Lower the mower.

2320 Tractor With Any Lift Kit

1. Review Using Mower Height Control Knob instructions in your tractor operator’s manual.

2. Set cutting height with the knob.

2520, 2720 Tractor With Independent Lift Kit

Use the height gauge knob on the lift kit to set cutting height.

4115, 2520, 2720 Tractor With Mechanical Lift Kit

1. Review Using the Rockshaft Control Lever and Using Speed of Drop/Lock Valve instructions in your tractor operator’s manual.

2. Set cutting height with the rockshaft control lever.

Adjusting Mower Wheels

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Before adjusting or servicing mower:

• Disconnect spark plug wire(s) or battery negative (-) cable to prevent engine from starting accidently.

• Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! The mower deck can be damaged if mower wheels are adjusted wrong: • Wheels must not ride on ground supporting mower weight. • Check wheel adjustment each time cutting height is changed.

1. Set cutting height. (See Adjusting Cutting Height in OPERATING.)

2. Disengage mower blades.

3. Fully raise the mower.

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Stop the engine.

6. Remove the key.

7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat.

NOTE: Bottom of wheels should be approximately 6-13mm (1/4-1/2 in.) from the ground.

8. Block the mower.

MX22546

9. Turn quick release pins (A) to open position, move wheels to desired operating position and lock in place with quick release pins.

10. Install pins (B) in lowest shaft hole above wheel bracket to keep same height setting for later mower installations.

11. Remove mower blocks.

12. Lower mower to operating position.

Adjusting Mower Level Front-to-Rear (All Tractor Models)

1. Park machine on a level surface.

2. Disengage mower blades.

NOTE: Mower wheels should not contact the ground during leveling.

3. Lower the mower to desired cutting height.

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Stop the engine.

6. Remove the key.

7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat.

Checking Blade Height

1. Lift mower discharge chute.

2. Turn the right blade so the tip points straight forward.

M40137a

3. Measure the distance (A) from blade tip to level surface, on both ends of the blade, with a ruler or a leveling gauge available at your John Deere dealer.

4. The difference between measurements on both ends of the blade should not be more than 3-6mm (1/8-1/4 in.).

5. If the difference is not within the range, level the mower.

6. Lower the discharge chute.

Leveling the Mower

MX11040a

1. Loosen two rear nuts (B) on front hanger.

2. Adjust two front nuts:

• Turn two front nuts (C) clockwise to raise front of mower.

• Turn two front nuts (C) counterclockwise to lower front of mower.

3. Measure distance (D) from end of nut to end of bolt. This measurement should be the same on each side of the front hanger.

4. Tighten rear nuts after making adjustment.

5. Measure blade tips again and adjust front hanger if necessary.

Adjusting Mower Level Side-to-Side (2320)

1. Park machine on a level surface.

2. Disengage mower blades.

NOTE: Mower wheels should not contact the ground during leveling.

3. Lower the mower to desired cutting height.

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Stop the engine.

6. Remove the key.

7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat.

Checking Blade Height

1. Lift mower discharge chute.

2. Turn the right blade sideways.

MX11181

3. Measure the distance (A) from blade edge on outer tip to level surface with a ruler or a leveling gauge available at your John Deere dealer.

4. On other side of mower, turn the left blade sideways. Measure the distance from blade edge on outer tip to level surface.

5. If the difference between measurements on the outer tips of both blades is more than 3mm (1/8 in.), level the mower.

6. Lower the discharge chute.

Leveling the Mower

1. Fully raise the mower.

MX34032

2. Remove spring locking pin (A) and drilled pin (B) from each lift arm.

3. Turn each yoke (C) clockwise to raise the lift arm or counterclockwise to lower the lift arm.

4. Attach each yoke to lift arm with drilled pin and spring locking pin.

5. Lower the mower.

Adjusting Mower Level Side-to-Side (4115, 2520, 2720 With Mechanical Lift Kit)

1. Park machine on a level surface.

2. Disengage mower blades.

NOTE: Mower wheels should not contact the ground during leveling.

3. Lower the mower to desired cutting height.

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Stop the engine.

6. Remove the key.

7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat.

Checking Blade Height

1. Lift mower discharge chute.

2. Turn the right blade sideways.

MX11181

3. Measure the distance (A) from blade edge on outer tip to level surface with a ruler or a leveling gauge available at your John Deere dealer.

4. On other side of mower, turn the left blade sideways. Measure the distance from blade edge on outer tip to level surface.

5. If the difference between measurements on the outer tips of both blades is more than 3mm (1/8 in.), level the mower.

6. Lower the discharge chute.

Leveling the Mower

1. Lower mower to ground.

MX35348

2. Remove drilled pin (A), washer (B) and cotter pin (C) from each lift arm.

3. Turn rod lift link (D) left (counterclockwise) to lower the mower, or turn rod lift link right (clockwise) to raise the mower.

4. Install lift arms with drilled pins, washers and cotter pins.

5. Start engine and raise mower to cutting height.

Adjusting Mower Level Side-to-Side (2520, 2720 with Independent Lift Kit)

1. Park machine on a level surface.

2. Disengage mower blades.

NOTE: Mower wheels should not contact the ground during leveling.

3. Lower the mower to desired cutting height.

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Stop the engine.

6. Remove the key.

7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat.

Checking Blade Height

1. Lift mower discharge chute.

2. Turn the right blade sideways.

MX11181

3. Measure the distance (A) from blade edge on outer tip to level surface with a ruler or a leveling gauge available at your John Deere dealer.

4. On other side of mower, turn the left blade sideways. Measure the distance from blade edge on outer tip to level surface.

5. If the difference between measurements on the outer tips of both blades is more than 3mm (1/8 in.), level the mower.

6. Lower the discharge chute.

Leveling the Mower

1. Fully raise the mower.

MX35405

2. Remove cotter pin (A) and drilled pin (B) from each lift arm.

3. Turn each yoke (C) clockwise to raise the lift arm, or counterclockwise to lower the lift arm.

4. Attach each yoke to lift arm with drilled pin and cotter pin.

5. Lower the mower.

Engaging Mower

1. Review instructions on using mid-PTO included in your machine operator’s manual.

2. Follow machine operator’s manual instructions to engage mid-PTO and mower.

Unplugging Mower or Optional Bagger

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Do not attempt to unplug attachment with machine running.

• Rotating blades are dangerous. Shut off the engine and remove the key before getting off the seat to inspect the machine and attachment.

• Thrown objects can cause serious injury. Make sure all machine parts are stopped before raising hopper top or removing chutes.

Before getting off of seat:

1. Park machine safely. Wait for all moving parts to stop before getting off to inspect machine.

2. Check under mower deck and discharge chute for debris.

3. Check bagger and bagger chute for debris.

4. Clear all debris before using mower.

Transporting Mower on Machine

Mower can be locked in raised position for transport. Remove mower from transport position before operating.

Transport Position (2320 Tractor)

1. Fully raise the mower.

2. Turn the mower height control knob on the tractor to transport position (highest setting).

Transport Position (2520, 2720 With Independent Lift Kit)

1. Fully raise the mower.

MX35403

2. Pull the pin (A) in the height gauge assembly and turn the knob (B) completely counterclockwise.

Transport Position (4115, 2520, 2720 With Mechanical Lift Kit)

1. Fully raise the mower.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Do not use the rockshaft drop/lock valve for holding an attachment in raised position for service work. Loss of hydraulic pressure could result in sudden drop of attachment. Lower attachment onto blocks or remove from machine before servicing.

2. Use the drop/lock valve to lock the rockshaft in fully raised position for transport only.