A height adjustment assembly for a cutting deck (120), including: (a) a first adjustment plate (156) mounted on the cutting deck and defining a slot (158) therein, where the slot has a first end (158a) and a second end (158b), the first end being disposed forward of the second end； (b) a crossbar (176) having a first end (176a) rotatably mounted on the cutting deck (120)； and (c) a control rod (162) including a first projection (164) extending outwardly therefrom, the first projection being slidably received in the slot (158) of the first adjustment plate (156), and a first end (162a) of the control rod being pivotably mounted on the crossbar (176), where (d) in response to the first projection (164) of the control rod (162) being slid within the slot (158) from a first position to a second position, the control rod (162) rotates the crossbar (176) to vertically adjust a portion of the cutting deck (120).
