Lawn tractor deck lid is not level when lowererd from highest point. What part could it be?

Question

When the deck lid(blade housing) is lowered from its highest point one side is much lower than the other.

Sears Craftsman 42 inch 11 years old

Answer 1

Bent deck hangars, you probably snagged something and bent a couple or could be elongated bolt holes...I'd put money on bent hangars though.

One other thought, check you deck brackets and be sure they are properly welded or bolted and check for rust which could weaken the deck bracket.

Answer 2

The deck needs to be leveled, I assume you don't have a Sears manual for the mower that shows this procedure. Some mower decks are simple to do, some more difficult and can be tedious. If you're comfortable doing it yourself, contact Sears for instructions.