My rider craftsman model 917280083 the deck sits too low it drags the ground even at the highest settting

left to right, there is a nut on each side between the deck and floor where your feet sit. front to back is the drag links attached to the front of the deck. adjust left/right first, then front to back. make sure tires are aired up before you do it.

1 and 2 are ok to drag on the ground. I use this to clear weeds from my overgrown gravel driveway.

There are two bolts that raise and lower the deck for adjustment on either side of the mower.

Dear Jim, First thing that I would look at is: make sure that ALL of the tires have the correct inflation. It would surprise you how much lower to the ground the deck is when the tire pressures are low. Sincerely, Larry Springer

look under unit for either lifting arm--level--cable --mount pin loose damaged or missing

I could not look up by model number. You have the right number of digits, but the sears craftsman parts site would not recognize it. So I am guessing that you have a knob that the operator can reach under the steering wheel and lower and a little left. If you have one of these knobs, it is a deck lower limiter. It is easy to turn if the deck is fully up. If the deck is lowered to bottom and the deck does not go to bottom and you turn this knob you will feel significant resistance. This resistance is caused by the weight of the deck on the limiter. With the deck fully up, turn this knob to fully lower the limiter and then lower the deck. Should go to ground or just a hair higher.

If any questions, please send reply and I will get back to you.

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The deck is either badly out of level or has been twisted by dragging on something. Most riders have rather thin metal used in the deck and it can be damaged much easier than one might think. Re-level the deck and use a small block as a gauge or eye reference point and you may find the deck is bent.

Check your tire pressure first, uneven tore pressure will cause this problem.On the rear of cutting deck on both sides there are height adjustments, if your deck has a rear roller this also can be adjusted to compensate,If your a stout person sitting on tractor can cause unevenes.

When you put it in the highest setting can you see the deck actually moving in an upward direction? If not the linkage might be broken or damaged. When you raise the deck up or down with the lever it should move, a deck setting in the full up position is a pretty high setting you have to have some long grass to be cutting in the full up position and still think its to short. You might be able to reposition the deck, if when you look under the unit you see a bracket that controls the deck height setting that has a number of holes in it(maybe even 2 brackets), there should be a pin(s) in one of the holes this could be set in a low position and therefore you can change position to change height of deck.

Park the tractor on a firm, level surface. . .
At the lower end of the lift/lower travel slot, there should be a plastic cover which you pop up so that your blade lift handle goes all the way down (it should say something about blade level on there somewhere. . . . .
After you have the handle in this position, look at the front lift arms of the mower deck and find the 2 large wing nuts, one on each side. . . . .
Loosen these while the deck is down and then retighten them Your deck is now level and will lift to its highest recommended position when you raise the lever