Questions from new Cadet owner

[Naz doc 123]

Hopefully it's in the right section. I kept searching but could not find where i could post this. New cadet 42" zt1, model 17areacsa10.
Received last week via tractor
Supply.
I owned several riding lawnmowers before as well as push ones.
Checked tire pressure first and adjusted it to the right amount: 10 rear 14 front.
Experienced with it on driveway to get the best out of it. Difficult and
Can be intimidating at first.
Started mowing but i have scalp spots all over the place.
Also, even when turning with both tires moving, one forward one backward there is damage to lawn.
Lines are uneven. Tried to adjust the deck level several times, no matter what i end up with the cut is not clean, not as clean as my craftsman lawn mower.
Rear tire marks are all over the place.
I am trying to find if this is a defect in the mower or an idiot user result.
I started with 4.5 height and now at 3.5, same crappy result. Called tractor supply was told to call cadet. Called cadet they said this is a maintenance issue, deck leveling has nothing to do with warranty unless its a shaft issue, etc.
Closest dealer to send it to is miles away and i have no trailer to haul it with. I even tried to post help locally to see if someone can come and check it out for a fee and maybe see what it is am doing wrong. Am so frustrated.
Even the lapbar handles when i installed them would not lign up. Then adjusted the piivet nuts and bolt and got it to lign up best i can, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the cut.[ATTACH]Attachment 111172[/ATTACH]

[Naz doc 123]

Pictures attached

[Ozcub]

At a guess I would say the anti-scalping wheels appear to be at different heights in the photos
Oz

[finsruskw]

You are in the correct section, congrats!

Check the manuals for your machine on proper deck setup and alignment and correct tire air pressure

[Farmall450]

Also, the wing nut allows almost infinite lap bar adjustment, and the ZTR comes with a nifty 1/2" wrench mounted on the tractor for adjustment of the max forward lap bar position.

There's a ton of grass on your deck -- was the grass super tall when you mowed, and we're seeing the result of that?

Regarding turning, simply don't turn so sharp if there is damage. You have infinite control of both transmissions.

[wheedwhacker]

I've got basically the same mower but with a 54" deck. Strongly recommend you check your blades, see what condition they're in. (Mine will give similar cut result if they're banged or chewed up.)

I mow about 4 full acres and sometime run through areas I should be brush hogging 1st so I chew through a set of blades almost every season. I would recommend keeping a spare set on hand.

As to the lap bar adjust, you should be able to get that with a simple knob on the back side of where the teeth meet in this pic. On mine, the left bar vibrates loose after about 10 hrs of mowing. Haven't bothered addressing that since it takes all of 10 seconds to set the bar back in the right position and snug it back down.

Oh, and yes, it is very easy to spin those rear tires while making turns. I used to use ag tires on a Craftsman mower and kinda miss them. I have to remember to take it easy and slow to keep from turfing with the ZT1.

[Oak]

When you turn a ZTR you have to use the 3 point type turn or they will tear the lawn up.

I use one of these to set my decks.
https://www.amazon.com/Oregon-42-095...20289990&psc=1


In your shop or on level concrete, set your deck at the height you mow at. Check your tire pressure and make sure they are all correct. Turn your blades so they are parallel with the frame rail. Then adjust the deck so that the blades are about 1/4" lower in the front. Then turn them perpendicular to the frame rails and check the height on the outer blades and make sure they are the same height. Once this is done then your deck should be set up properly.