A zero-turn mower will give you a lot of advantages that you won't get with other riding-type mowers either. However, when you need to get work done on the lower part of the mower, you may hit an obstacle. For this reason, it’s vital to learn how to jack up a zero-turn mower.
Jacking up a zero-turn mower isn't as hard as you might think. Once you thoroughly read this guide, this job will be just minutes for you. Along with our tutorial on jacking this vehicle, we will also be going over the types of jacks for this particular mower.
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6 Steps To Jack Up A Zero Turn Mower
We have managed to put the entire process of jacking up zero-turn mowers into 6 easily comprehensive steps you can follow. Let’s take a look at all the steps below:
Step 1: Park the Zero-Turn Mower
You will have to find the right spot to park your mower before you start lifting it off the ground. Find a hard and level surface to park the mower on so you can work more comfortably without any safety risks.
If you park it on soft ground, the jacks or even the tires could sink into the ground because of the weight. Moreover, the mower wouldn't be stable once you would elevate it.
Never forget to switch the ignition key off before you start working on lifting the mower; this could lead to a disastrous situation.
Step 2: Place Wheel Chocks Around the Tires
If you have parked the mower on level ground, you may skip this step, but you can never be too safe, so you might as well just do it.
Place wheel chocks on the front and rear of each tire to prevent it from rolling as you’re trying to elevate it off the ground.
Step 3: Lift the Mower Deck Using the Lift Lever
Once you have placed wheel chocks or wooden blocks on the front and rear of your tires, you should move on to raising the mower deck. You will pull the deck lift lever as much as possible, so the mower deck is set at the highest possible setting.
Step 4: Slide the Jack in
Right after raising the mower deck, you will have to slide in the jack of the zero-turn mower from the front part of the vehicle. Although it can be a bit difficult, try your best to push the jack to a position close to the middle of the mower.
Step 5: Lift the Jack
The lifting method of the jack will differ depending on what type of jack you are using to lift your mower.
Since hydraulic jacks are most commonly used, we will be describing how to operate and raise them.
At first, you will have to turn the jack handle which will engage the hydraulic valve and shift the position of the hydraulic fluids.
After that, you will have to use the crank or lever to lift the jack. It is recommended for you to raise your jacks till the mower is at least at the height of two feet. This is so that you won't feel uneasy working on the parts on the underside of the mower.
Step 6: Put the Jack Stands in Place
Don't skip on using jack stands, or you might find yourself in a very tough and dangerous spot. Insert the jack stands after the jack has lifted the mower to an appropriate height. The position of these jack stands will be below both sides of the zero-turn mower's deck.
These stands should be pulled up to their highest position, and once that has been done, they should be locked. You will have to lock the jack stands using the lock handles.
Before getting under the mower to fix some parts, you must ensure that the entire setup is stable. So, do a full check to see whether the stands are locked, the ignition is off, the parking ground is hard and level, etc.
Which Jack Should You Choose for Your Zero-Turn Mower?
There are plenty of options for jacks when you're choosing one for your zero-turn mower. But amongst all of them, four are the most popular. These options include a hydraulic jack, scissor action jack, drill turned jack, and pneumatic jack.
Whichever jack you choose, don't forget to cross-check the weight rating with the weight of your mower. Remember, the capacity of the jack must be greater than the load of the mower.
1. Hydraulic Jack
We would undoubtedly suggest a hydraulic jack to anyone because they aren’t costly and function pretty smoothly.
This jack calls for the operator to press down on the foot pedal, so the mower is lifted, and as you can tell from its name, it uses a hydraulic mechanism.
2. Scissor Action Jack
This has to be the most budget-friendly option of all the jacks mentioned here, and it also has a straightforward mechanism. However, you will only be able to use this jack for lightweight mowers, and using it can be a bit of a hassle.
3. Drill Turned Jack
This type of jack is quite unique. With this jack, you use a power drill to elevate the mower. This jack is excellent for mowers with moderate weight, so it can be a decent choice for your zero-turn mower.
4. Pneumatic Jack
Pneumatic jacks are pretty fancy, and they are very effective when it comes to lifting mowers.
It has no problems raising very heavy mowers either, which is just absolutely fantastic, our only complaint is that this product can get quite expensive.
EndNote
Hopefully, you can comprehend all the steps to learn how to jack up a zero-turn mower. As you can see, this job is much easier than what many of you presume. So that your job is made more manageable, you can ask a friend or family member to help you out a little bit.
You are probably better off with a hydraulic jack, but you can use any suitable jack for your mower. Always put your safety first, so don't skip any of the steps that we discussed in this article. Keep your lawn looking beautiful and stay safe!
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