Craftsman Craftsman R105 30" 10.5 HP Gear-Drive Rear Engine Riding Mower MECH-UNEVEN-CUT Error Fix: Uneven Cutting Height — Scalping, Streaks, or Missed Patches

Error code MECH-UNEVEN-CUT on the Craftsman Craftsman R105 30" 10.5 HP Gear-Drive Rear Engine Riding Mower means: Uneven Cutting Height — Scalping, Streaks, or Missed Patches. The mower produces an uneven cut with visible differences in grass height across the mowing path. This can appear as scalping (cutting too low in spots), streaks of uncut grass, or a stepped/tiered appearance. Causes: (1) Mower deck not level — the deck must be leveled both side-to-side and front-to-back. Use the deck adjustment procedure in the owner manual: measure blade tip height at all four corners and adjust the deck links/hangers until level. Front should typically be 1/8" to 1/4" lower than the rear for proper cut. (2) Dull or damaged blade — a dull blade tears grass instead of cutting it, leaving ragged brown tips. Sharpen or replace the blades every 25 hours of mowing, or sooner if you hit rocks or debris. (3) Uneven tire pressure — all four tires must be at the same PSI (check the sidewall for recommended pressure, typically 10-14 PSI). Even a 2 PSI difference can cause the deck to tilt. (4) Bent blade — check by rotating each blade to see if it wobbles. A bent blade must be replaced, not straightened. (5) Clogged deck underside — built-up grass clippings reduce airflow and discharge, leaving clumps and uncut areas. Scrape the deck underside clean after every few uses. (6) Driving too fast — the blades cannot cut effectively if the mower is driven too fast for the grass conditions. Slow down in thick or tall grass.

The most successful fix is "Replace Dull or Bent Blades and Clean Deck Underside" (medium difficulty, ~45 minutes). Estimated DIY cost: $25-$40. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

This error is rated low severity. It is generally not urgent and can often be resolved with a simple DIY fix.

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Replace Dull or Bent Blades and Clean Deck Underside") is rated medium difficulty and takes about 45 minutes. Tools needed: Socket wrench, Blade removal tool, File or blade sharpener, Plastic scraper, Blade balancer.

DIY cost: $25-$40. Professional repair typically costs $150-$250. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

The Craftsman Craftsman R105 30" 10.5 HP Gear-Drive Rear Engine Riding Mower has 8 other known error codes, including: MECH-BATTERY-CHARGING (Battery Will Not Charge or Hold Charge), MECH-BELT-WEAR (Drive or Deck Belt Premature Wear, Breakage, or Slipping), MECH-BLADES-WONT-ENGAGE (Mower Blades Will Not Engage When PTO is Activated), MECH-ELECTRICAL (Blown Fuse or Complete Electrical Failure), MECH-FLAT-TIRE (Flat Tire or Tire Will Not Hold Air), and 3 more.

Error code MECH-UNEVEN-CUT also appears on 3 other Craftsman models: Craftsman T110 42" 17.5 HP Briggs & Stratton Single-Cylinder Riding Lawn Tractor, T210 46" Turn Tight, Z560 54 in 24 HP V-Twin Zero-Turn Riding Mower. The fix may vary by model, so check each model's specific page for tailored repair steps.