How to Jack Up a Zero Turn Mower

Owning a zero-turn mower comes with a lot of perks. However, when it comes time to change the blades or work on the underside, you may face a challenge. Do you know how to lift a zero-turn mower?

If not, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Jacking them up, working on them, and changing the blades is actually quite a lot easier than it may seem. Keep reading for your step-by-step guide on jacking up your zero-turn mower.

How to Lift a Zero Turn Mower: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Are you ready to dive in? If so, follow these steps to lift your zero-turn mower.

Step 1: Park It

Park your zero-turn mower on a level, hard surface. Set the parking brake and turn the key to the “off” position.

Pro-Tip: Never try to work on your mower while the key is still turned to an engaged position (duh!).

Step 2: Raise the Mower Deck

Once parked, raise the height of the mower deck to the highest setting. This can be done by pulling back on the deck lift lever as far as it will go.

After the mower deck is raised, slide your zero-turn jack under the front portion of the mower deck. Make sure to position it as close to the middle as you can.

Step 3: Raise the Jack

Increase the height of the jack until your mower is about two feet off the ground. At this point, you need to slide your jack stands under each side of your mower deck and then lower the jack until your mower is resting (securely) on the jack stands.

Pro Tip: Some people try to use a traditional car jack to raise their zero-turn mower. Avoid doing this, as it’s not the right tool for the job.

Step 4: Work on Your Mower

While the process isn’t difficult, it’s important to do this carefully and safely to avoid damaging your mower or causing an injury to you or someone who may be helping you. With these steps, you can feel confident your mower is secure and ready to have the blades changed or whatever other work you need to do.

Using Your Zero-Turn Jack

To ensure the jack-up of your zero-turn mower is safe, you need to ensure it is the right size and weight capacity. Be sure to choose the right tool for the job by checking the jack’s weight capacity. To get the right size, you need to know the weight of your mower, which should be listed in your owner’s manual.

It’s also important to check the wheel span capacity of the lifting tool you use. It’s essential that the wheels are perfectly centered when the mower is lifted, or it may slide to one side or the other, possibly causing an injury.

Also, there’s a possibility the mower will begin to roll when you are using your jack. Place wooden blocks or chocks behind and in front of the tires to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Before you lift the front of your zero-mower too high, make sure to check a few things. For example, check the fuel tank and carb to see if there is a possibility that fuel will leak. Remove the spark plug connector too so that your mower can’t accidentally start up while you’re underneath it.

Types of Jacks or Lifts to Use for Your Zero-Turn Mower

Chances are you don’t want to lift your expensive, zero-turn lawnmower using primitive methods, such as concrete blocks or logs. If you want to take care of your machine, it’s essential to have the right equipment.

There are four basic lift options to consider. These include:

1. Pneumatic Lift: This lift uses an air powerlifting system and air compressor. It provides an easy and smooth action to lift your mower with minimal effort required. It is one of the most expensive options.
2. Hydraulic Lift: With a hydraulic lift, you use a foot pedal to engage it. This also provides a smooth operation and helps you control the load as you lower it.
3. Drill-Turned Lift: With this lifting tool, you use a drill to lift the mower load. If you do not own a drill, it can be operated with levers.
4. Scissor-Action Lift: The most affordable and simplest lifting mechanism, the scissor-action lift, is operated using a hand lever. This may not be suitable for zero-turn mowers because it does not have very high lifting capacities.

Take some time to consider the weight of your mower to find the zero-turn jack or lift that best suits it.

Consider the Lifting Capacity of the Zero-Turn Mower Jack

Before choosing a zero-turn mower jack, be sure to check the capacity. You need to find an option that can handle the weight of your mower.

The weight capacity for the tool only needs to be considered for the front of your mower since that is the only part being lifted. For example, if your machine weighs 700 pounds, you can lift it easily with a jack that has a capacity of 350 pounds.

For most modern zero-turn mowers, having a jack with a 300 to 500 pounds weight capacity should be sufficient. However, for commercial-grade mowers, using tools that have a capacity of over 500 pounds is recommended.

Keep in mind, if the jack does not have the capacity for your mower, it could break, which could cause damage to your mower or cause serious injuries.