Sears Craftsman LT1000 mower deck shabby again! Prep for spring?

[Don2222]

Hello
Did this 3 years ago so a little easier this time. See

Craftsman LT1000 Mower deck prep update 1 year later!

Hello The arguish long over due task I had last year of prepping the mower deck came out nice. See pics here. Prep the mower / deck for the season? What do u do? | Hearth.com Forums Home Therefore it made the job much easier this year! First of all there were no layers of matted caked on grass...

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First try 5 years ago

Prep the mower / deck for the season? What do u do?

Hello This is a 15 year old Sears Craftman LT1000 lawn tractor. Besides changing the oil, oil filter, gas filter and general cleaning, This year I changed the carb https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/craftsman-lt1000-tractor-not-starting-up-quick-putrid-gas-smell.175286/ And the mower blades...

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I started getting ready for spring by removing the snow blower attachment and get ready to put the mower deck on the tractor but the 20-1/2 year old hunk of metal mower deck was shabby again! So I removed the cutter blades and wire wheeled the dry hunks of grass away on the bottom. Cleaned it with Acetone and sprayed it with Dry Moly to keep the new grass from sticking. Then wire wheeled the top, cleaned with Acetone and sprayed it with Satin Black high temp enamel spray paint. When the new blades come in, I will throw them on. Blades from SearsDirect only $13.64 each. Not bad?

Lawn Tractor 42-in Deck Mulching Blade (replaces 594892701) 532134149 parts | Sears PartsDirect

Lawn Tractor 42-in Deck Mulching Blade (replaces 594892701) 532134149 parts - manufacturer-approved parts for a proper fit every time! We also have installation guides, diagrams and manuals to help you along the way!

www.searspartsdirect.com

Is your mower ready for this season?

 

[zrock]

i do the cleaning and main at the end of the season instead of letting all the dirt and crap sit their all winter causing more rust.. Give it a good soaking of wd40 and its ready for the next season..
Actually had to cut my grass yesterday about 1-2 months ahead of schedule

 

[begreen]

i do the cleaning and main at the end of the season instead of letting all the dirt and crap sit their all winter causing more rust.. Give it a good soaking of wd40 and its ready for the next season..
Actually had to cut my grass yesterday about 1-2 months ahead of schedule

That's the best time. We're on our 3d mowing here and the mower only wishes it got this good treatment.

 

[mellow]

I just weld more plates on to the top every year

 

[wahoowad]

LT1000 owner here and I must applaud your effort at maintaining yours! That is very impressive. Sadly I've never done any of that. My current issues - actually for several years now - is uneven cutting. I'm sure I've caused most of it from bending a blade here and there from contacting stumps. But I can't help but think there is some additional kind of leveling that I can check assuming I straighten or replace the bent blade. But when I look at the way it hangs there simply seems to be those rods that fit in certain holes and mine all are using the same hole. Any suggestions?

By the way - maybe a better blade deal (w/ free shipping too) https://www.ebay.com/itm/392332454532

 

[30WCF]

@wahoowad Not sure about that mower, but you are probably out of level front to back. If so, you’ll have two narrow strips of uncut grass on a three blade mower, or one narrow strip of uncut grass on a two blade mower. There should be one rod the will adjust the pitch.

 

[Don2222]

LT1000 owner here and I must applaud your effort at maintaining yours! That is very impressive. Sadly I've never done any of that. My current issues - actually for several years now - is uneven cutting. I'm sure I've caused most of it from bending a blade here and there from contacting stumps. But I can't help but think there is some additional kind of leveling that I can check assuming I straighten or replace the bent blade. But when I look at the way it hangs there simply seems to be those rods that fit in certain holes and mine all are using the same hole. Any suggestions?

By the way - maybe a better blade deal (w/ free shipping too) https://www.ebay.com/itm/392332454532

Hello
I found I have the same problem! The blade that was bent is on the lower side. I tried in vane to adjust the bolt on the rod up to level it but the bolt is frozen solid. Even my impact could not break it loose! Therefore I ordered a new set of “Lift Links” on Amazon. There is a left and a right so I just ordered a new pair for about $18 and they should arrive today. I also had a front wheel on the same side with a slow leak! That surely made it worse! So I had a tube installed and will replace the lift links before I use the mower for sure!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CD767VBG?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

 

[Don2222]

Got the new set of lift link rods but the vibration can really make it loose and get uneven again so this time I will add some stainless steel lock washers!!
Also I am spraying the threads with dry moly so the nuts will not get frozen again!!
So sitting in the drivers seat, the silver lift link rod is the LH side and the black lift link rod is the RH side.

 

[Don2222]

It is all installed and it is easy peasy to level the deck up now with a 9/16” ratchet wrench.
Pic 1 is the old lift link rods with the frozen solid nuts.

 

[wahoowad]

I'll have to go look at things again. I just didn't recognize that as the adjustment. In my case I know I have a bent blade and just haven't had time to go remove it and try to bend it back into shape (or replace). It's close enough and the uneven cut on my grass goes away quickly with the spring rains and grass growing so quick.

 

[Don2222]

Hello
Yes, those small nuts are the height adjustment but mine froze up so bad even the impact wrench could not budge them. The new lift links are made better and stronger so easy to turn them now.
I could see one side of the deck was low when I put the tractor on the flat garage floor.