How to Adjust a Toro Mowing Deck

Toro, based in Minnesota, manufactures lawn-care equipment for customers ranging from golf course and landscaping professionals to home owners. Mowers for residential use range from hand-pushed models for small areas, to large riding mowers. The mowing deck of a Toro mower houses the cutting blade or blades for the mower. Made of steel and featuring a side- or rear-discharge chute, the deck of a Toro riding or walk-behind mower is designed to be adjusted so that grass, when cut, will appear even throughout the lawn. Adjusting a Toro mowing deck requires front-to-back and side-to-side levelling.

Toro riding mower

Adjustable wrench

Park the Toro riding lawn mower on a flat and level surface. Remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug to prevent the engine from accidentally starting while you're adjusting the deck.

Check the tire pressure of all four tires before making any mechanical adjustments to the Toro mower. Check the tire pressure with a tire-pressure gauge and add air as necessary so the tires are properly inflated.

Adjust the front-to-back level of the Toro mowing deck by first locating the stabilizer bar under the front end of the mower that supports the front of the mower deck. Locate the adjustment nuts on the bar.

Raise the mowing deck to the highest level. Measure the distance between the ground and the end of the cutting blade toward the front and rear of the mower.

Turn the adjustment nut on the stabilizer bar to adjust the front of the deck to within 1/4 to 3/8 inch below the rear of the mower deck. Loosen the lock nut first, make the adjustment and retighten the lock nut securely.

Locate the deck hanger bracket on either side of the mower to the rear of the mowing deck. Measure the distance between the ground and the blade tip on the right and left side of the mower.

Loosen the hex head bolt of the hanger bracket on the left side of the Toro mower. Adjust the deck up or down as necessary to level. Securely tighten the hex bolt to secure the deck in place.

Park the Toro walk-behind mower on a level surface. Allow the mower to cool if it has been running, and remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug before adjusting the height.

Adjust the cutting height of one wheel at a time. Begin, for example, with the front right wheel. Set the desired height and move to the opposite front wheel. Move to the rear of the mower and adjust one wheel at a time, setting all wheels to the same cutting height.

Locate the adjustment release lever on the back side of one of the front wheels. Pull the lever toward the wheel so it is disengaged from the height adjustment tabs.

Move the lever toward the front of the mower to raise the cutting height. Move the lever toward the rear of the mower to lower the height. The lowest possible setting is 1 1/4-inches and the highest setting is 4 1/4-inches. Adjust the opposite front wheel to the same height. Place the adjustment lever securely on a tab.

Move to the rear wheels of the Toro mower. Pull the adjustment lever forward and move toward the front of the mower to raise the cutting height or toward the rear of the mower to lower cutting height. Place the lever securely on a tab to lock in place. Once again, the lowest height setting is 1 1/4-inches and the highest is 4 1/4-inches. Repeat the process for the opposite rear wheel.