How to Set the Gauge Wheels on a Lawn Tractor

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Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure

  • Wrench

  • Socket wrench

Some lawn tractors use gauge wheels on the front of the mower deck to move the deck up and down over the contour of your lawn as you mow. The wheels ride in the thatch of your lawn and push the front of the deck up when you mow over slopes or other irregular areas of your yard. Whenever you adjust your normal cutting height, it is a good idea to adjust the gauge wheels. Setting the gauge wheels on your lawn tractor helps prevent accidentally scalping your lawn.

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Step 1

Park your lawn tractor on a level surface, and turn off the engine. Lower the deck to your desired cutting height.

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Step 2

Measure the distance between the ground and the bottom of the deck gauge wheels. The bottom of the wheels should be between 1/8 and 1/2 inch off the ground.

Step 3

Hold the head of the bolt that secures the wheel to the deck flange with a wrench, and loosen the nut with a socket wrench. Remove the bolt and wheel from the deck flange.

Step 4

Move the bolt to the hole on the flange that allows the bottom of the wheel to be at the correct level. Thread the nut onto the bolt and tighten with a socket wrench. Repeat for the deck wheel on the other side.

Tip

Some mowers use a gauge wheel that has a stem. Pull the pin out of the stem, and move the wheel up or down as necessary. Insert the pin back into the stem once you find the desired height.

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