There’s nothing quite as satisfying as the look of a freshly mowed lawn, with crisp, even lines and a uniform carpet of green. But that feeling can quickly turn to frustration when you look back and see rows of tall grass, uneven patches, and a generally ragged appearance. If your lawn is starting to look more like a bad haircut than a manicured landscape, the culprit is likely your equipment. A common issue many homeowners face is a Craftsman riding lawn mower not cutting evenly.
Before you start worrying about a costly repair bill or considering a new mower, take a deep breath. An uneven cut is a common problem, and it’s often caused by a few simple issues that you can diagnose and fix yourself. From tire pressure to blade sharpness, let’s walk through the most likely reasons your Craftsman riding lawn mower is not cutting evenly and how you can get your lawn looking pristine again.
Start With the Basics: Tire Pressure and Mowing Speed
It might seem too simple, but uneven tire pressure is one of the top causes of an uneven cut. If one tire is low on air, that side of the mower deck will sit lower, cutting the grass shorter on that side and leaving the opposite side taller. Before you do anything else, check all four tires with a reliable gauge and inflate them to the PSI recommended in your owner’s manual. This simple step can often solve the problem immediately.
Another common operator error is mowing too fast. When you rush, the mower deck doesn’t have enough time to properly suck the grass up for a clean cut, leading to missed patches and a ragged finish. Slow down, especially in thicker or damp grass, for a much more consistent result.
Inspecting and Balancing Your Mower Blades
Your mower’s blades are the heart of the cutting system. Dull, bent, or unbalanced blades are a primary reason for a Craftsman riding lawn mower not cutting evenly. A dull blade will tear the grass instead of slicing it cleanly, leaving a brown, ragged tip. A bent blade will create an uneven cutting plane, causing one side to cut lower than the other.
Safety first! Disconnect the spark plug wire before you do anything. Carefully tip the mower on its side (check your manual for the correct way to do this to avoid oil or fuel leaks) and inspect the blades. Look for obvious nicks, bends, or a worn cutting edge. You can sharpen them yourself with a file or grinder, but if they are badly damaged, replacement is the best option. Crucially, you must balance the blade after sharpening. An unbalanced blade will cause damaging vibrations. Rest the blade on a nail or a dedicated balancer; it should sit level. If one end dips, file a little metal off the heavy end until it balances.
Checking the Mower Deck Level and Height
If your tires are properly inflated and your blades are sharp, the next step is to check the level of your mower deck. Over time, the deck can get knocked out of level from hitting bumps or curbs. Park your mower on a flat, hard surface like a driveway. Set the cutting height to a medium setting.
Measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the deck blade tip on the left and right sides. Adjust the deck lift linkage according to your manual until both sides are equal. Then, check the front-to-back level. Typically, you want the front of the deck to be about 1/4-inch lower than the back. This slight pitch helps create better suction, lifting the grass for a cleaner cut and improving grass dispersal.
A Clean Deck is a Happy Deck
Grass clippings, moisture, and dirt can build up into a hard-packed layer on the underside of your mower deck. This buildup disrupts the critical airflow that lifts the grass and evacuates clippings. This leads to an uneven cut, poor dispersal, and can even contribute to rust. Make it a habit to scrape the deck clean after every few mows, and always give it a thorough cleaning at the end of the season.
By methodically checking these areas—tire pressure, blade condition, deck level, and cleanliness—you can almost always pinpoint the cause of an uneven cut. With a little bit of routine maintenance, you can restore your Craftsman mower’s performance and get back to enjoying a beautifully even lawn every time you mow.