Hi Max,

Firstly, thank you as always for your efforts - you always bust your backside - and it's never NOT appreciated, so thank you.

Not sure why the quote function on the forums isn't working properly (atleast for me) but I will respond:

- I'm 99% sure everything on the Deutscher is where it's meant to be, it showed no signs of being modded etc nor any significant damage. But I am happy to take pix if you wish. Not exactly sure what you mean by the 'plate that hold the spindle bearings', as I cannot see how this could be mounted anywhere other than where it is. But if you think some pix would help, let me know happy to take. :-)

- the blades and disc carrier plate are all not the root cause, checked and the blade height inside the skirt is even for both blades, no bending in them (they're the HD 3mm thick ones, would be mighty effort to bend!) and the disc carrier is also at equal heights on both sides and also on the correct way (the central bolt on part is higher than the outside blade mounting points).

- RE: Stepped blades - as mentioned earlier those ones that are specifically for the Deutscher, I heard back from GA Spares a few days ago - theyve only got a very small 2-3mm step in them.

- Points taken RE: the speed issues, is manageable by working the 'clutch'(well the belt tensioner) - and I cannot see this causing any issues with the gearbox so likely fine.

- RE: slope angle - oh yes noted, and this is common across all rideons, ZTRs etc but in rural places - everyone goes beyond this with due amount of care, or we'd all needthose specialist slope mowers that cost a fortune. The slopes I'm on are pretty tame but all noted.

- RE: RPMs yes noted, I did do this on first usage but is something I do.

Thank you for the manual excerts, I do have the physical manaual here but appreciate the effort.

I've just been down and while it's far from ideal, I've added two thick washers to each of the 3 blade carrier bolts between the blade carrier plate and the central hub/spindle's plate. This gives ~5mm of differential between the blades' cutting height and the skirt height. This still just slightly keeps the centremost RAISED head just slightly inside the carrier plate, so the force of it is not entirely on the 3 bolts.

I'll give it a brief test later, worst case I'll remove completely or pull back to just one thick washer each. Was super simple to do and every few mm is handy, but if there's any vibration or loosening of the bolts I'll just put it back to OEM setup.

I think making up the two part spacer setup might be the best approach to getting ~20mm of a step, for whatever reason Deutscher really have the skirt very low compared to the blades, with ~30-40mm difference lower on the skirt at every point other than the front where it's still ~20mm lower.