US Patent 7540134 Riding mower with deck height adjustment

A riding mower includes an apparatus for adjusting the height of a mowing deck. The mowing deck is supported relative to a frame of the riding mower by a deck lift system. The deck lift system is actuated by a foot activated lever, with an arm linking the lever to the deck lift system. A cam wheel having an outer radial edge of varying radius is rotationally mounted near an operator seating area of the mower. A shoulder is disposed on the arm to contact the outer radial edge of the cam wheel when the mowing deck is in a lowered position. The height of the mowing deck relative to a ground surface is a function of the outer radial edge oriented for contact with the shoulder of the arm.