Deck Cutting Uneven with Vacuum Bagger

[MalMac 1,332]

From what I can aquire from looking at parts diagrams is the 260 series share nothing in common with the 300,400 and 500 series. There lifting mechanisms are totally different, thus the leveling bar you aquired is unfortunately of no use. If I get time here, I will try and download the manual from Toro and see if I can come up with some help. I know nothing about the 260 series. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will step in here and offer some insight to your dilima. If you can't get satisfaction from a Toro dealer call Toro tech direct. I have had to in the past because some Toro dealers just don't want mess with Wheel Horse anymore.  I am curious as to did this start mowing uneven the first time you put the blower on? Toro was famous for offering attachments that did not work the greatest with certain tractors and never really did anything about it or sent a service bulletin to their dealers on it. Then the dealer just forgot about or did not want to deal with it. Also check to make sure nothing has been bent or broke or come loose from hitting something hard.

[Mtn.Brook Hillbilly 0]

MalMac,
As to your observations on Deck config's from referenced Parts Diagrams;      Yes, it would seem that installation of the leveling bar on a 260 series is fraught with conundrums.  While installing new blades, gauge wheels & making final repairs and fab's for the rebuilt blower I realized this actuator arm hunch was bogus. I'm going to check-out whether some unused mounting holes on the deck's rear slope hold the key to this idea being realistic.  If the deck hanger points for the link arms on this leveler system are bolt-on I may have somewhere to go yet.  But I've got to take the blower back to the work bench; I've still got some sort of housing-to-impeller contact.  So this issue is "back-burner" so-to-speak.
AS TO THE OTHER Ques.:  YEP; near as the wife & I remember, that damn deck has ALWAYS had a side-to-side bias towards the blower's end {wore-out the ABS gauge wheel @ it's end ~> nearly an inch gone & totally FLAT across the rolling surface}.  As I had shared earlier, it vexed her dad during his entire initial ownership of the unit; NEVER got satisfaction from TORO dealer or otherwise. He fussed so much about it    that my mother-in-law [fearing for the undue stress created by the issue] was instrumental in shipping it off to my wife.  He went back to his old J. Deere that the TORO had been meant to replace. Interesting side note to this, my neighbor friend has a J.Deere with a leveling bar system in the deck suspension {     H-m-m-mm maybe I ought go look that over}.

Ran across an adjustment for Side-to-Side in this Deck's Owners Man. that may have merit in running-down. (I had just recently down-loaded it and hadn't checked it out thoroughly) I believe everything else is ship-shape.     Wish me luck on the Blower reset !

Steve

[RMCIII 838]

I wonder how other deck/vac-bagger manufacturers like John Deere overcome this problem???

 

I think a bigger tire might solve part of the problem but I still suspect the deck to lean to the right. I think adding weight to the left side of the deck may be the best idea. Does anyone know how much the vacuum assembly weighs?

 

I'm also thinking about making adjustable anti-scalp wheels in the front like the newer Toro or JD decks. This will add extra ground support.

i can chime in on that question. I just picked up a Simplicity Sovereign 18hp ch, 48" deck with the rear collection system. Great unit, but i noticed the droop right away, so rear collection system will only be used in the fall. I removed it and parked it in the rear of my garage until the leaves fall.

RMC