106 Deck Doesn't Lift Very Much

[Maxwelhse]

If you have the resources, put the tractor up and jack stands (safely) and just start checking things over. It shouldn't take too long to find the problem if you can get a good view of the situation. Then take some pictures of the trouble and people can help you out with repair approaches or parts that you may need. I would do it with the deck off to start.

[ironman]

You may want to check that the fork on the lift mechanism is actually
"forking" (pardon my French) the rockshaft and not above or below it.

[mattoney]

Last year, I noticed this exact same problem too on my 107. I actually was trying to diagnose why one edge of my deck was so much higher than the other. Come to find out, there are two arms on the rockshaft (the part that rotates when you pull the handle) that are supposed to be the same height as each other. Over time, and stress, either the welds had given, or the rockshaft itself had twisted, and allowed the deck to droop chute side down. When I put a tape measure on the bottom of the frame, I figured out there was about 1" difference in height between the two. Yikes! Now I look for this on other lift handles, and I'm noticing it a lot. Even on wide frame models.

It was also during this time that I noticed the lift lever would hit the back side of the frame, in the exact same way as your's did. When I took this info to a welding shop (don't trust my own work), he measured the angles everything was mounted before he cut it all loose and welded it to a new 1018 steel rod. He also made sure to adjust things here and there so that I would get more lift. What I ended up finding out was the handle STILL hit the frame where your's is, and it didn't allow any more deck lift anyway.

I ended up having to have the thing cut apart and re-welded to tweak things, but never could get the lift out of it that I wanted. I just have a feeling that unless you grind on the frame, or on the bracket welded to that lift arm to gain more clearance, you'll never get to that last tooth on the ratchet.

I've checked this on my 122, which I know has been well taken care of, and it has the exact same situation. I haven't checked any wide-frame Cubs yet. As far as I can tell (haven't looked it up on parts diagrams yet), that ratchet is the same as what was on the Original. They've changed a few things since then (including the frame), and it's making me wonder if its just a slight mis-match between parts.

If I'm wrong and somebody has found a way, please let me know. I'd like to get to that last notch too!

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by mattoney

Over time, and stress, either the welds had given, or the rockshaft itself had twisted, and allowed the deck to droop chute side down. Now I look for this on other lift handles, and I'm noticing it a lot. Even on wide frame models.

I believe that this a fairly common problem on the Narrow Frame models, with each having different amounts (or none at all) of twist depending on the abuse they have taken over the years.

However the Wide Frame models are somewhat different, the lift arms have collars welded to them and are held in place with spiral pins. The spiral pins will wear out over time and cause one side or the other (or both sides) to "droop". The general cure for this (unless something else is terribly wrong) is to drive the old pins out and put new ones in. When I got my very first Cub (a 109) I was amazed at how high the deck would raise. After some investigating, I discovered that the "L" shape on the bottom of the rod inside the handle would actually go low enough to clear the "stop" on the last notch in the ratchet and let the handle come way back. I don't know if this is how it is supposed to be or not as I have never checked another manual lift Wide Frame tractor. I have noticed that the hydraulic lift Wide Frame tractors don't have anywhere near the same amount of lift that my 109 had. (I still have the 109, it just has a hydraulic lift now)

Originally Posted by mattoney

STILL hit the frame where your's is, and it didn't allow any more deck lift anyway.

I just have a feeling that unless you grind on the frame, or on the bracket welded to that lift arm to gain more clearance, you'll never get to that last tooth on the ratchet.

If I'm wrong and somebody has found a way, please let me know. I'd like to get to that last notch too!

Please understand that I haven't checked each and every tractor that I've owned, but as far as I know, none of the Narrow Frames will allow the handle to come back far enough to get to the last notch (the handle always hits the frame first). So I believe your feeling is correct.

[db4570]

Originally Posted by mattoney

Over time, and stress, either the welds had given, or the rockshaft itself had twisted, and allowed the deck to droop chute side down...

It was also during this time that I noticed the lift lever would hit the back side of the frame, in the exact same way as your's did...

I ended up having to have the thing cut apart and re-welded to tweak things, but never could get the lift out of it that I wanted. I just have a feeling that unless you grind on the frame, or on the bracket welded to that lift arm to gain more clearance, you'll never get to that last tooth on the ratchet.

Good information, Mattoney, even if it's not good news.

It seems I have two issues.

First, the lift lever doesn't go into the highest notch. Not a big deal, as long as I can get the deck high enough.

Second, though, is that the deck just is too low. The second-top notch is about right for mowing, the one below that is scalp city, and the three or four below that good for nothing.

I haven't had a chance to pull it out and really inspect the welds and shaft, but am curious what I will find when I do. It seems like there should be some sort of fairly straightforward fabrication or fix.

I'm curious if anyone else has found a solution. This sounds like a common problem that could effect a zillion cubs.

David

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by db4570

I'm curious if anyone else has found a solution. This sounds like a common problem that could effect a zillion cubs.

David

I don't really think it is a "problem". They were only designed to lift so high, they are not broken. I agree, yours is..... The pics are obvious, your rockshaft does not lift all the way. It's common for them not to go into all positions on the rooster comb, like in the top hole. Some will, some won't. When the mower is on, you won't need to go to the bottom half. That is meant for other attachments. This is also normal. I don't know if you saw my comment or not, it was post #20..... I'll say it again, your tractor may have had the rockshaft replaced with one from another model. They are not all the same, some interchange, some don't.

[mattoney]

db4570, I know exactly what you're talking about. I have a 122 with an older style 42" deck that will scalp the ground like none other. I have a 107 with a newer style 42" deck with a roller on the front. When it's properly adjusted from front to back, I don't have very much of a scalping problem with it. What I've ended up doing is setting my depth stop on my handle to just below the second notch on the lever, and then running with my mower with the float engaged. Seems to work pretty well, and I can cut a little lower with the anti-scalp roller on the front saving me from the high spots.

[db4570]

I finally got a chance to spend a little quality time with it today, going through some of its troubles.

The lifting arm and other linkages seem like they are not bent or broken. All that stuff looks pretty true and correct.

With some filing of the frame, grinding the head of a bolt for clearance, and careful pounding with a hammer, I was able to get the lever into the highest notch. This helps a lot. It's still a clumsy amount of clearance. It seems like if the lifting linkages all started a bit higher it would make more sense. Maybe I'll get creative with a welder over the winter...

Thanks for the help, everyone.

David