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Yes! The Van Wamel offset mower is the same as I built. Woods did it years ago too with their D080 offset version. It just didn't exist sized for a small, low powered tractor.

My oldest son is 40 today too... happy birthday! I burn 8 cords/yr. Running a hot saw with a sharp chain brings me back to when I was a kid and could handle a screaming 2 stroke motocross bike. I'd kill myself on a moto bike now but feeling those big chips smack my legs make me  feel like a...

Yup...  everything is running bearings in aluminum housings anymore: automotive, motorcycles, ATV, utv, snowmobile, watercraft, etc. They run in oil; if designed right it's a non-issue. My 2000 series runs an aluminum trans housing AND a cooler. It even called for an initial 50hr service...

Yes, for transaxles! Retired JD engineer here... had transaxle responsibility too. Aluminum is used because it rejects heat much better than cast iron; this is the number one killer of the transmission (that and not changing fluid). Strength is not an issue as it is easy to add adequate...

Clippings often "snag" on cut quality issues going on underneath causing the windrow. Rake a little of the windrow off and inspect the cut underneath. You may find the root cause there. Know that 'forward sweep' (region where the blades are going forward) is the weakest part of the cut. The...

With the center of the rear axle being the origin (0,0,0) of the tractor model, the SLR determines the "ground plane".... all the lift systems relate to ground. Pretty big deal getting a good SLR number. "Grown tire" is another number the tire manufacturers used to provide... not so much in...

When I designed tractors at Deere... we'd use SLR: static loaded radius. In later years it got more difficult to get precise numbers from the manufacturers on their tires. Suppliers moving out of the segment? Production moving to low cost countries?

It's common to overdrive the front wheels 3% over the rears.... less it won't turn... more = front tire wear.

Ha... I've been retired 9 years. I dont remember. What does the owners manual say? I grease the spindles on my GX335 once every Spring (but I only mow about 25hrs/yr).

"I want to see a$$holes and elbows!"

Faster than corn through a goose!

"I don't care if you talk just keep your hands working..." "Wish I had that and he had a pencil in his butt..." "She was a shy girl but all-the-horsemen-knew-her"

I'm sorry, I don't know what "it" is. I also dont see the "black tick marks" and what they represent. Here's all we'll need: A pic (or your visual description) of the tractor/mower (shot from the rear) with a stripe coming out. How stripe aligns with LH tractor tire (full width? Starts at...

"Back-sweep" is the portion of the blade going backward as the deck moves forward. This is typically the best cutting region on each blade. The deck (and tractor) is pushing the material forward as the deck moves through it. Easy for the blade to then "go against the grain" and cut cleanly...

I'd shift the mower... if mower tongue is fixed, could you prepare a crossbar and bolt it to the tractor hitch? Hook up the mower shifted left? It will be the most impactful thing to do.

Oh yeah: if deck cant shift... shift the LH rear tractor tire inward. See if the stripe disappears/improves.

Yes, the 'stake test'. Part of the ANSI battery of tests. A solid (1"?) steel stake is fired up into each blade at a specified location. To pass, NOTHING can fall on the floor... including ANY deck part. Sometimes, adjacent blade(s) will unscrew themselves and fall on the ground: fail...

Woods knows what they're doing. With 3 lifts already available, I would assume their high lift would be as good as you could get. I wouldn't weld on them. First thing I would try is to shift the mower left to put the tire track to the back-sweep of the blade. The mower tongue is probably...

Yes, I had wings welded on. The stock Fred Cain 3' blades I started with were very low lift... just a small 'tip up' for a wing. Initial testing proved the concept very quickly as the tire tracks were back-swept nicely. The forward-sweep region (usually the weakest part of the cut) was...

Cost. Pull-type mowers require at least 2 rear wheels and external hydraulics to operate the lift. Since their driveshafts operate in 3d space, expensive CV joints must replace the cheaper cardan joints found in 3pt mounted mower driveshafts.

1. Axially: in the direction of the fan axis. Bring the height of the rings just into the blade wing height to create maximum lift... more is not better (leaves more blade exposed for cutting too). Note the ring heights on my initial post. 2. Most blades are made of either 10B38 or 5150...

Smart. But I'm an old rotary guy who's not smart! Would not trade the 72" WOC with 1 foot right side trim for 48" flail. Yes, the windrows after cutting 24" are there... after a week or so they are not. I can live with it. Remember, this is a first shot. If I was at Deere, I would have...

Lol... you always have an opinion Flip! Disagree... similar build costs as 3pt finish mower. One less spindle / blade set, less 4 gauge wheels / mounting. Add: more steel / weld time. Had this discussion with Woods. Target BIG volume 1000/BX tractor owners.... sell mowers. You know what...

Ok, looked up Woods C114-1: 3 spindle, CW conventional rotation, staggered spindles. From videos I see on YT, the LH tire track hits the left spindle at about 10:00-11:00.... that's the forward sweep on this CW blade. Anytime a tire track aligns with forward sweep it spells trouble! So...

Yes! Would love more tractor AND a flail! If new tractors weren't choked with emissions, I'd probably have one. Like most here though, you have more and more attachments that do a great job and money invested. Soooo, this is what a retired mower guy does. Also, I have 3 friends with 1000...

Yes, dead on. Also, the higher you cut, the harder it is to cut well. Most manufacturers follow the ANSI guidelines for mowers: B71.1 for residential, B71.4 for commercial. The standards allow for a "raised front skirt"; the limits are clearly set in the standard. You're right... it does...

Thx so much! A few questions: It appears to be a 2 spindle, CCW rotation? Does the LH stripe align with the LH tractor tire? Where does the LH mower spindle align with the stripe? Dead center? Right? Left? Just curious. Your mower looks symmetrical (not staggered). How do the 2 blade paths...

Absolutely! Been done before. Woods sold the D80 in two offset versions: mounted and pull type too. None of these versions back-sweep tire tracks though. ;<)

It is a similar  intent for sure. For the RD990X, they took their finish mower, mounted swing blades, and called it a hybrid. It still has all the finish mower traits though: shallow deck, high tip speed, designed to cut 1/3rd of the plant. I considered one... dont have enough tractor...

Flail mowers are wonderful if you have the power.

I remember new engineers at Deere commenting "I went through 4 years of engineering school to play with cardboard???" Yup. I used to laugh and tell them "This is all covered in chapter 6 of my duct tape book. You'll be expected to read it." They'd just stare 8<[ Yes, ugly. Wish I had a...

I saw that too! It was the first time actually  using the cutter (other than 20' test passes). This year I'm getting better at cutting full width. One thing I want to point out to everyone: many times a cut is masked by the discharge laying on top. This mower leaves 2 windrows behind. After...

Great comments! This is what a retired mower guy does.... ;<) Great point! Not easily done with just one tractor. It really cuts better (I think). Here is a little area I cut last year with my 5 foot single spindle (first Spring cutting so  wimpy grass). This was cutting 20" to 4" with...

Certainly considered it. I designed several finish mowers for Euro market with counter rotating blades... both directions (wax on/wax off). Has some advantages. Typically though, cut quality goes down. Air speed under the housing goes way up and lift is lost in the between blade region...

Hi, Background: Here is a project I started about 2 years ago. Since I retired (2016) I've wanted to build a rotary cutter that addressed the issues I find in the typical single spindle cutter. For years now I mow about 4 acres of field and the ditches to my lane. I mow about 3x year...

Not at all... it just helps you adjust the deck hangers. Here's how it works: You lower the deck to a predetermined cut height (marked on the HOC scale) The check gage is removed from its storage (center of the HOC knob) 3 leveling points are provided for every deck. The gage should just slip...

The yellow blade height gage? That's what I use. Honda made a nice gage too. Most years I have to tweak the linkage on the GX to get it perfect.

Yep... that's how HOC is still set. The deck leveling proceedure, however, levels the deck AND correlates it to the knob setting. Some users may not care but being dead-on is important in countries like UK that routinely mow at 1.5". There, being off 1/2" matters! I have to pay extra...

Inside JD, we call the Select Series "Common Platform" because every model shares the same mainframe. Different rear hitch plates are bolted on which change the wheelbase. The X5 hitchplates accept the K72 transaxle and are massive. I seriously doubt you will have structural issues! Their...

From memory, the X370 has a K57. A "tweener". It has the final drive of a K46 (3/4" axle / 20" rear tires) with the charge pump of the K58. It has external hydraulics! The X370 is a lawn tractor with power steering / power lift for super low effort inputs. The internal charge pump really...

Focus on the transaxle, not the engine. The transaxle sets the duty cycle on these machines. I'm a retired JD engineer and worked on these products. The tractors you are looking at have K46 transaxles. As soon as you stated "hilly and rough"... it was clear: bump up to the K58 (engine...

Before retirement I was an engineer on this product. The Select Series premium spec'd decks have 20mm spindles with open bearings (NTN probably) with separate seals. Greasing the spindles DOES reach the bearings. The spindles are certainly rebuildable. Don't confuse this with the 100 Series...

Wood moisture content is a function of both relative humidity AND temperature of the space.

I read a paper years back from a professor at University of Wisconsin. In it he said that dried wood left in a "conditioned" space (not a basement) climatizes to about 10% MC if left long enough. He also said it is surprisingly consistent across the country from the rainy NW to the desert SW...

Nice Fuddy! 60" deck? I worked on that machine. JD Ecoats & powders everything since the '80's.

Some pro cutters have the bottom of their mower decks sprayed with bed-liner material. The first coat is smooth and then they splatter coat the 2nd... you request the smooth finish be left of course. The reports were that it provides an incredible non-stick surface. More importantly though...

My shed is heated and used for shop space. The interior panels are steel and electrical was all surface mounted in conduit for just the reason you mentioned. I used my dad's old bender and went to town! Conduit is cheap and easy to add to. MY township board was clear: they didn't want to take...

OP- There is no product sold with more Marketing wonk than motor oil.... and criticizing ones choice is akin to calling your sister ugly. LOOK UP OIL PERFORMANCE DATA. It's out there. This site is bit of an echo chamber; many here are enamored with Rotella. Know that T5 consistantly...

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) was the township for us. Don't make too many plans until you have a discussion. Our township president said "should be no problem" at our initial conversation. At the township meeting with the full board present: problems.

Regarding dual voltage welders: My B-I-L's friend visited him and we chatted over beers. He owns and runs a 2nd generation welder repair shop. I mentioned I had a Miller 211. "Great welder!" He went on to say though, that he often repairs dual voltage welders when they get run on 110V and...

Just like you, I had always taken my welding work to someone else. Now retired I wanted to tackle bigger jobs (I designed and built my own rotary cutter). I talked to the weld engineers and manufacturing guys I used to work with. They all said to get a 220V MIG wire welder. Every one of...

I didn't use a dealer. My guy said the fluid looked good coming out and didn't give any indications of a problem. I might have gone full flush if it did... or if I towed a lot.

Mowing grass can pull more  steady power than just about anything. A couple things come to mind: Use a longer bolt that moves the threaded portion away from the shear path. Do you store the cutter outside? Even if the clutch is properly adjusted, rust can "stick" the plates together. I'd...

I'm keeping my truck too. Just had my '17 serviced at 60k (fluid/filter).... it has the 6 speed though. No issues. The shop I use said to service at 50-70k (50k if I tow). IMHO, the manufacturers push the services out to make the cost of ownership numbers look better. I'd do the service on...

Try wooden wedge pairs around the stump jumper periphery.

Ha, you can't compare mowers unless they are set to the same HOC, run at the same ground speed, and cut in the same grass side-by-side. I'm done here... good luck.

They counter-rotate the blades to mechanically "back-sweep" the tire tracks. In a turn though, the tire tracks can run out of the back sweep and move into the forward sweep portion of the cut. The tire tracks arent cut well and stand back up in a few days. No amount of tip speed can fix it...

I retired from John Deere... put many tractors and mowers into production over the years. It's ok to disagree. ;<) I'm not saying tip speed doesn't make a difference. I'm saying it's not the whole story and "faster is not always better".... you pay a big price in power concumption to swing...

Retired mower engineer here... to your point: absolutely not. Impact cutting starts at about 11000fpm. Below that, it "combs" the material. As you spin faster however, the power requirement to run the mower goes up exponentially. ANSI standards limit the upper end of finish mowers at...

I've pulled stump jumpers successfully by using a pair of wedges between the underside of the deck and the outer lip of the SJ at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 position. First, measure the deck-to-rim gap around your stump jumper (usually around 2"). Layout and saw/sand 4 pair of wedges cut from...

From memory, RH side doesn't get a cover. Far enough under the machine that the foot rest provides shielding.

I've considered a lift to elevate the rounds but they always have to be moved to the splitter anyway. Wife and I use the tractor. Its fast and easy to load a heaping bucket full of rounds then lift it level with the splitter. I can roll 24" on down right onto the beam without strain. Bigger...

A year or two back I read on an Arborist discussion forum that most of the pros (when they hand file) prefer to use the Husqvarna roller guide more than any other. This peaked my interest. What surprised me was that a few of these guys even use them on their Stihl saws. They mentioned that...

Let me elaborate. First, there is no 'wasted heat' with an outdoor woodburner. It makes so much energy that you point it where you want and use what you can. My point was this: putting coils in concrete is cheap compared to securing under/into the first floor. We have hardwood floors on the...

We built in 2016 and designed for an outdoor woodburner. I'm retired and still fit so the decision was pretty easy. We have woods, trees go down anyway that need to be removed. I used to give them to friends and coordinated that work; now we just process them ourselves. The insurance company...

I also find it's worth the time to retension the chain before sharpening. If left slack, the tooth will slant from the file force and impart a weird tooth profile. JMHO

Thank you... I don't think green chain sucks at all. I run both and they can really chooch. For cut speed, I don't think I can tell a difference. I keep green chain on a saw because I can plunge cut with it.

I worked at a shop where "chooching" was said by everybody. "Chooching" is a verb but is often used as a noun: "that new file tool Jim Bob bought is a skookum choocher".

I'd be changing transaxle fluids 1st thing!

I served a wood patternmaker apprenticeship at Caterpillar in another life. Sometimes wondering over to the metal side of the shop, the journeymen would really watch a wood guy ;<) and offer help! "Everyone strokes a hack saw and file too fast!" they'd say. I think of those guys all the time...

I hand file chains. For ME, the biggest improvement came when I began swapping out the flat file a little more often for the limiters. I thought I was filing them all to the gage and even.... I wasn't. Keeping a sharp flat file makes a big difference in getting limiters even and back...

IDK... with all the shuffling I still got engineering friends at Deere that are supporting legacy parts just like they always have. They tell me the formula for parts hasn't changed one bit. Wouldn't worry too much. I read posts here about the high cost of service parts and that...

Engines is a brutal business. All makers can build a wonderful, high life, good performing engine but customers won't buy it. They buy HP, width of cut, and price... period. In Deere's customer questionnaires they ask "what engine brand is in your mower?" In more than half the responses...

JD Horicon was full on Kohler customer until the late 80's when the Japanese engines start appearing. BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED FOR THE CONSUMER! Those new engines forced everyone to get their crap together and build a better product. Service life skyrocketed and warranties...

^^^^this^^^^ I'm a retired tractor engineer. Grease is pumped into spindle housings to displace water that often finds it's way inside due to condensation and/or power washing. Pretty common on big box store level mowers.

I was thinking the same. Even a whole deck would be useful. I see used ones for sale in the $2500 range. Cutting the deck down to a 2-spindle design and using it would really be a great place to start and prolly save money. I've got an inkling it's beyond OP's budget though and the added...

A couple more thoughts come to mind: members here have shared their designs on swapping chain for blades PRIMARILY on single spindle rotary cutters... know that tip clearance is kept fairly tight on multi-spindle mowers to prevent between-blade-striping (.100" typical). Two chains whipping AT...

Oh yeah.... instead of sourcing my parts to a laser house (which I've done as well), I bought a plasma cutter for my mower project. I made 1/4" plywood templates, clamped to the steel, and followed them just like a router follows a template in wood!

I'm a retired tractor engineer. I did NOT work on Z's but designed many decks and drives. Several things you mention jump out: 18000 fpm Chain backing for rock clearance Rugged brush mower Steep slopes and rocky ground I recently designed and built a custom rotary cutter. I commend you for...

My rear forks are Rankin. 3-Point Fork Heavy made, good welds, and nicely finished... handles my 32 wood pods well. Quik-tach ready. Prolly not the cheapest.

For years I believe JD Horicon drawings were typically using 3 sigma tolerancing (99.7% in control). Geometric Tolerancing is now fully embedded in Engineering and does have its advantages: bonus tolerances. For example, a true position callout controls location, orientation, and form on a...

Yes! They all make really nice hd mowers as well as light duty lines. One thing about multi-spindle mowers: their design often allows spindle placements aligned to better back-sweep tire tracks. This equals better cut quality. When you start mechanically lifting the material, you don't have...

Before I built this 2-spindle rotary cutter, I looked long and hard for a used 3pt finish mower (cheap, because I was going to fab on it). This cutter is a hybrid drive (gear over belt) so starting with a finish mower made sense. After years of engineering tractors/mowers at Deere and tearing...

It's not just Land Pride. That has happened to me too on my Frontier... twice. I have noticed that the vertical rear quarter (just behind the straight sides) of many cutters is just vertical wall and has no bottom lip for support. My first Frontier caved in (and got cut up) when backing up to...

It always takes new engineers a few years to learn to tolerance parts based on what they  need and not what Manufacturing can hold. Sometimes, it just isn't critical so "give them a garage door to ride the bike through". Then Manufacturing has options, costs go down, and (best of all) your...

Lol Yeah... it depends on the supplier. Deere's production parts come in and go to the CMM room (coordinate measuring machine), GD&T programmed, and 30 pc studies run to show capability. This is repeated if any change occurs in the process. We calm the tolerancing way down for prototype parts...

Wow! That's quite an engineering problem. I used to teach GD&T at Deere but haven't thought about it in 10 years! So you only want to call out the timing (clocking) of the 8x pattern with the 16x pattern? You don't want it to control location, orientation, and form of either pattern? A...

Wow... you're maintaining alot of land! You also mention cutting numerous passes to get decent cut quality. A rotary cutter makes sense to handle the saplings and high grass. I would consider a 2 spindle rotary: a BH 2107 for example. I designed mowers at JD for years. The weak link of a...

I'll probably try wheel bearing grease next time... that should stay awhile!

Wow... practically neighbors! The line uses JD green polyurea grease. I use that because it's what I have in the gun. I wish there was a better solution. I talked with Tuff Torq about them changing to something like a tapered input shaft (eliminate the micro-motion that creates the...

I was senior engineer at JD and had responsibility for transaxle before retirement. The K72 was bought complete with overflow bottle and came pre-filled. Tuff Torque owned that design. The K71 before it came without. JD owned the bottle design, installed, and filled the system on the JD...

Use Low Viscosity Hygard for the HST. One important step in the re-assembly is greasing the input shaft splines! (prolly too late for OP being Sept) The input sheave/shaft joint will 'fret' (micro-motions that create the characteristic red oxides that erode the joint). The factory applies...

OP said 3/4-10 acme I checked my Delta drill: 3/4-10 acme.

Ha... it looks like an acme to me! I'm on Vintage Machinery alot too. Way more people looking for cheap parts than offering them. So many tire kickers. If you think $35 is too much, try making one. I have a metal lathe. Cost out an acme tap, straight knurling tool, getting parts plated...

Mill-n-Kiln Lumber

My Delta stop rod has an acme thread... See my post above. Someone on Ebay is offering that very part.

Delta Rockwell 402-12-068-5001 Knurled Depth Stop Nut for 15" & 17" Drill Press* | eBay

Yes, HST is the weak link in almost every tractor design life. Transaxle oil changes are the single most important service your machine gets. it was mentioned the center region of the outrigger's path is where the wear is. Without seeing pictures, another strategy could be to weld up the wear...

Your OM probably details how to correctly read the level for your tractor. The HST is also the reservoir for my tractor's hydraulic system. The oil level varies a lot based on which attachments are on and position of the cylinders.

Yeah, that's why it sniffs of an airlock to me. An airlock will allow local areas in the head to get hot (near the sensor) while the remaining regions are properly cooled. The gage/light will scream "overheat" way before the rest of the engine is barely warm. Regardless of the OM procedure...

You've never had an issue because you know how to correctly refill the system. My adult kids didn't know until they were shown. I could be way off-base but the OP's machine sure is acting like an airlock. The temp sensor is in the head. If air pockets are present, no heat exchanging is...

At a minimum, the HST needs a certain oil level to maintain a pressure head to the pump. The transaxle case volume is fixed so on the high side, you don't want it to flow out when hot (expanded) and tilted on a slope. It is probably just fine. BTW- the transaxle oil change is the most...

It feels like it may simply have an airlock. If air is trapped in the head passages, cooling is greatly hindered and it will bubble at the bottle. Some engines are tougher than others to purge air out while filling the coolant system. The solution is to idle the machine with the radiator cap...

It was designed to be a 1500 hr tractor (equivalent to 100k miles on a car). We all know they can live  well beyond that though. The 455 used 'snubbed bolts' for outriggers. The axle had machined pads that contact the axle saddle reducing wear. The snubbers have large heads that engage the...

Yes, 23 & 24 look like outriggers that rub the axle saddle in the frame... adjust out the slack and you'll be good!

Both of my sons drive manuals. My oldest son's car has been broken into twice in the city. They started it both times but didn't steal it.... they couldn't drive a manual!

The only difference between a 'collector' and a 'horder' is the illusion of organization.... ;<)

I worked on the 430 when I first transferred to JD Lawn & Garden in '93. It was already in production then and my group was just launching it's replacement: the 455. The 420/430 still required engineering support though. From memory, it had a Sundstand 90 transaxle and Yanmar 3TN72 diesel...

I started my engineering career at JD in '90. They put me in backhoe structures. I remember Deere was coming out with a new tooth at that time and had samples out around the country to various dealers for trials. They, in turn, would give them to their best customers. I was sent to Missouri...

My SIL bought a 1890's house in Idaho... about 2008. She hired a contractor to build a breezeway/roof between the house and garage. Up in the attic tucked behind a framed wall they found a manilla envelope containing $14000. All the bills were pre-2000. Someone pulling money from the bank...

YKYO when your most exciting tool purchase is a lighted magnifier.

I wonder too. I assume buying the tractor from Yanmar then installing wheels at Augusta has something to do with it. Maybe the R4 take-rate is small enough it was cheaper to correct at the dealer? Don't know... should have been fixed though.

My 2011 2520 had the same issue. They swapped the arms and threw in an i-Match hitch for the trouble. A good dealer makes all the difference. I can't remember why they said the updated arms were not made production (availability at Yanmar?) Every 2520 with R4's had the issue though.

Just before I retired from JD, i was at the local hardware store at night buying hardware for a project when a retired manager came in looking for metric carriage bolts (not common). He said he had just bought a new JD snowblower and the hardware supplied wasn't right. After making sure the...

I used to be able to park my truck pretty well.... I could sock that baby right between the lines anywhere. Since getting my 2017 f150... I stink at parking! It's crooked, on the lines, or both. I get out and think "Wow, you're getting old". Lately though I'm wondering if the highly...

We moved to Wisconsin in 1993. I went to the local hardware for something back then; an old family run place. At checkout I asked for a sack. The little girl looked at me blankly. "A sack?" I asked again. ""I don't know what that is" she said. "I know 'sack the quarterback' ". I have...

My wife used to go to auctions when the kids were babies! She'd buy the 1st box of junk they'd hold up (usually for a quarter) just to let the kids dig through it... good for an hour or so. Then she'd dumpster it on the way out. Occassionally there would be something good she'd keep...

Yup... I agree. My brother wanted us to get a Harley and cruise the interstates with him. I rented one; it was not for us. We talked about it and decided what would really be fun would be an older car where we could sit next to each other and talk in more comfort... maybe an old Camaro like I...

My son's 1922 duplex had lead water line feeders coming from the street. Milwaukee has been slowly replacing them by neighborhood. His started leaking this year right at the basement floor (multiple pin holes) so he got bumped to the top of the list. Glad they are gone.

Our new house is copper mains with PEX runners.... it's just got to last to the next husband.

The local Ace hardware (town of 4k) had been a Hardware Hank for 50 years. They carry building materials, full equipment rental, green house, Stihl... The owner went Ace this year because he said the support from Ace is unmatched. They have sales/margin data on every item in the store. Hank...

I hear ya! There is ONE thing I get that's a steal: pickup targets from the trap club. We go after league night and can usually snag 4 cases (then she doesn't make me go walk at the gym!) The MEC has a radio so we can quickly setup presentations in the pasture and practice.

My wife shoots sporting clays with me every week. I buy 10 flats of shells for her at a time (2500 rds). We take our target shotguns on road trips and explore, eat bbq, and shoot. She's getting so good (beats me sometimes... love it!) I'm the luckiest sob alive.

I was in the trades back in the late '70's when cordless tools were pretty new. As you know, professional corded drills and drivers were 'in-line' gripped then (vs T-handle). At first PC and others were making in-line cordless drills (80's)... but then T-handled drills started taking over...

Any belt will slip and burn if the tension starts out low. If you can resolve the tension issue and the stock belts still slip, installing raw edge belts will be a noticeable improvement without reworking your mower... they really hook up.

You could have multiple issues going on here.... low belt tension for sure. If the belt tension seems too low, don't mow with it until you get things figured out.... you'll just smoke belts. The belts are tensioned by raising the gear box (and I assume an outboard carrier bearing) to raise...

Yes! An idler increases the belt wrap both driver and driven sheaves see. In addition, a 'sprung' idler maintains the minimum tension required for hookup regardless of load so is easier on bearings than a fixed/adjustable idler. The drive above (with large diameter sheaves, sprung idler, etc)...

Retired tractor engineer here... I've designed countless belt drives. Maybe I can help. A twin A-belt drive seems marginal for this application. It is slipping, getting hot, and delaminating. Scary stuff... slipping makes heat and heat can make fire on a mower. A belt drive needs 3 things...

The yellow deck machines are awesome. Then a certain manager took over and cost reduced them into the black deck machines.... they are the absolute worst.

Don't know about the build in place version.... can't help there. I apprenticed under my father in the cabinet shop years ago and was a trim carpenter in the 70's. A couple tips: When installing the trim around your pocket door opening, secure the casing and jamb (on one side) with finish...

Yes, I knew exactly what you were referring to. None of us got to vote on it either.... but at least we can vote in/out the politicians that get us involved (note that the biggest polluters in the world don't partake do they...) Regarding recycling: it's not even financially feasible to...

Really??? When was  that vote? I too want clean air but won't sacrifice our economy to carry the rest of the world. The fact is that unelected bureaucrats are slowly outlawing my gas car to be replaced by EV's. A machine that requires nasty rare earth metals, which are mined in far away...

I will  never be in favor of mandates that come from beaurocrates I can't vote in/out. Never. Would probably trade up if I could get a pre-emission tractor. Keeping what I got now.

That AND you got a smok'in deal @ $500!

Funny you mention slopes... in general, ZTR's are not ideal on slopes because they are tractively steered. Break traction and it's a roller coaster to the bottom! Definitely a learning curve and more tailored to a pro cutter. It's been well documented for years, consumer mowers are sold on...

I don't think they sell the small deck though (30-37")? Maybe Mr Big was right all along.... a lawn tractor is not the greatest platform to replace a rider in a small yard though.

For years at Deere, another staff engineer and myself always pushed to develop a small yard mower like this. My mom and my MIL both wanted to keep active outside later in life (alone) and mow themselves. Riders were mainly gone and replaced by lawn tractors... not the right machine for their...

You're right... no small riders in the US anymore. There are in Europe though! Check out the Husqvarna R 213C: https://www.husqvarna.com/in/ride-on-front-mowers/r213c/ 37" articulated rider. I've seen these at dealerships in France. They look like fabulous mowers for a small yard.

Lots of good info here and discussion. I'm a retired tractor engineer and used to regularly read accident reports. Two other scenarios come to mind that lead to tractor rollovers that operators should be aware of: trailer loading/unloading and downhill runaway/loss of control. These show up...

Fascinating thread!!! We have a tub/shower in the guest bath upstairs in our new home. Regarding tubs... one word: grandbabies. It gets used! Would be lost without it. Wife loves her granite tops and was her #1 favorite surface to choose in building. Surprised to read the discussion on...

I grew up trail riding and got into hill climbing pretty heavy. Had all kinds of bikes in the '70's: Honda, Suzuki, Bultaco, and others. The most memorable being a bored, stroked, ported Honda XL125. She really climbed! Now I ride the woods most days with my Honda CRF230F. Quiet and super...

Back in '77 when my dad built his new shop building out in the country, the power company offered to run 3ph to it for free! 3ph was there at the black top. He said "no" because he didn't have any 3ph equipment then. He always regretted THAT decision!

In the late 70's my dad got a deal on a 5hp 3ph Powermatic planer. We looked into making a RPC even running down a 15hp 3ph motor but dad ended up buying a new Ronk RPC. We had an electrician install the unit. Upon testing, the planer wouldn't run instead making a loud grinding noise with the...

Scary stuff! Have you contacted your dealer? Kubota will employ a fire investigator and he/she will want to look at it (I know JD does). They may want to ship it to their facility as well. The dealer will contact the factory and get things rolling.

Just curious: what do you do to 'baby it'?

Ah!... the video helped! I remember now (it's been 20 years). The GX255 uses a GT steering axle and applies steering assist... not full power steering. Here is the correct breakdown of your steering (still an Ackermann system driven by drag link "H" though): So, NO front support pads...

A female engineer transferred from our New Jersey turbine engine plant to Dubuque IA... they sat her right across from me. Talk about complaining! She was world class. I ignored her. The second day, though, she stands up and explained that she is going to put change in her drawer... and...

Wow, reading about these bad house building stories is quite unsettling. We built our dream house in 2016 when I retired. My wife found the contractor. The project went great! He did fantastic design work and showed her upfront wonderful CAD images with fly-throughs. He was responsive to...

I have that shirt too!

I hear you. I don't prefer plastics but they're here so.... in the right application they aren't that bad. I bought my JD mower used and the hood was dull. A buff down with this stuff and a drill w/ buff pad made it look like new. This year I accidentally slid down a slope on wet grass...

Used to bother me too... not any more. The tank, side covers, and fenders on my Honda woods motorbike are all plastic and hold up WAY better than the steel parts on the machines I grew up with. My neighbor's Kawasaki Mule.... plastic. Know these parts aren't just made from just any 'ole...

Wow... she's a drama queen. I'm a Deere retiree and have been hearing from friends about the layoffs. Many are company people too; it's over for them. The union guys can, at least, bump the lower seniority workers and keep going. It's too bad but it happens. Many of you probably got layed...

I didn't add the vent to my 1 gal No-Spill can used for pre-mix. That thing tops off chain saws pretty fast as is!

Another example of the EPA run-a-muck. All my cans are No-Spill. Then I drill a 1/2" hole and install a vent (Amazon) in the can. The combo work pretty well.

I was an engineer at JD for 30 years. In the 90's when I had compacts, I put some of the competitors in the hot room dyno for testing. Back then, the Kubota models would typically fail in 6-8 min... they tend to run hot. Running WOT really helps.

Yeah... I run my jd WOT when mowing. Higher rpm does not hurt a thing and lowers the torque load to the engine. All the time it is running the water pump and fan faster... does nothing but good.

Oh man... I'd be livid. My brother rides motorbikes and has told me nothing will put you down faster than coming around a corner and having grass clippings in your lane.

Pet peeve: people mowing grass discharging toward the street with the chute wired up.... gonna hurt somebody someday or worse. Then the same people leave grass spread out onto the street without blowing it back or picking it up.

Yeah, a boatload of issues can be avoided using fresh 91 octane NO ETHANOL fuel in your small engines.

Been thinking about it.... the new C mower decks came in with the GX tractors too if I'm not mistaken. Big upgrade. Ok, your tractor probably took a large impact to the LH wheel and was bent back. To test that the RH side is not bent, turn the steering wheel to the right with tractor...

From memory, GX has diff-lock is all. Steering should be the same. Does yours look like the exploded view I posted?

Same topic... perfectly acceptable! As asked to the OP: is there a gap between the axle pads and the frame saddle? If so, the axle is probably bent back. The axle can be straightened and the pivot bushings replaced.

You'll be good. That's what John Deere uses on the assembly line.... for just about everthing. They even apply it on the wiring harness connectors as a dielectric grease! Regarding grease for ball bearings, I chatted with the NTN bearing guy (on one of his visits to JD engineering) about a...

If the TM doesn't specifically call out the torque spec for the HST mounting hardware you are assembling , you'll need to measure the thread size/pitch and determine the bolt grade then reference the general torque spec page. Do you have the means to determine the thread size? If not, take one...

I've removed stump jumpers several times using home-made wood wedges. I initially measured the distance between the underside of the deck and outer lip of the SJ. 4 sets (2 each) of wedges (5" long) were cut from 3/4" scrap. A small notch was cut in the 4 wedges that contact the SJ.... so...

Diff-lock is one of those things you learn to use  before you need it. Use it going  down hills especially. Most "run-a-ways" actually occur when the machine breaks traction on one rear wheel allowing it to spin back-ward (the other spins forward). The net effect is a machine careening down...

Glad you like the GX! Inside Deere in Engineering, the GX is the 'go-to' machine; seems like everybody has one and won't let go of them. A smallish capable machine (can pull a plow), the k71 is bullet-proof, the decks cut good (and come off easily), good LEVER controlled hydraulics, and great...

It occurred to me... maybe a pic would help? There should be no gap between the axle pads and the frame saddle... both sides.

Hi smp22, Your GX uses an Achermann style steering system. LH/RH spindle coordination is controlled by a straight tie rod. The system is turned by a frame mounted cylinder pushing the steering arm forward/rearward (#23). So just normal steering imparts the same fwd/rev force into the axle...

All great comments.... dead on. Something is wrong if you're not seeing the deck raise much. It should get to 4.25" at lockup. I use the JD deck level gage to level the deck... makes it easy. John Deere AM130907 Deck Level Gauge 345 42 E130 E120 E170 D105 TY15272 https://a.co/d/ij89XYf...

That's very kind of you... but I do what every other designer does: steal good design and use it in my application! If you see something you like... heist it!

JD 2520 grill guard upgrade. A little 3/8" rod and 1/8×1" strip stock. A few close calls on the grill drove the change.

Europe has 'high grass' mower decks that mount under lawn tractors. Essentially, their front and back are open like a rotary cutter. Would be easy to fabricate.

Agreed. Sickle bars have an advantage of requiring VERY little power but have several big disadvantages: they require lots of maintenance and dont tolerate hitting things very well (rocks, wire,, etc). I would love to have a flail but dont have enough tractor.

Gravel... I too have a 5' cutter and get similar results. The weak cutting side is where the forward sweep of the blade (RH side on my CCW cutter) tries to lift the tire track (also mashed forward)... almost uncut. The worst is mowing spring pasture grass when it's juiced up, wimpy, and fast...

The dealers say it's hills. You have lots of hills?... get a tractor variant.

ZT's are tractively steered so conventional tractors accel on hilly terrain and don't 'break traction'. Depending on the operator, can be easier on the turf. Tractors usually has a shorter learning curve that is more inviting to us geezers.... ;<)

Nothing magical about mowing at 540 pto. That is where your published tip speed will be found. Most of my mow time is cutting thick lush 20" pasture grass to 4". It takes lots of power so I run WOT.... brushy, thinner stuff could be run slower. Legend has it that Yanmar cutters are forged...

I'm with you sir. It's just that toddlers can't be reasoned with. All I can do is explain the root cause of this scenario and hope that adults act accordingly. Accident investigators detail certain facts in these cases that are included in the reports: "The child had been given rides in the...

Those are cabbed ag tractors that operate in fields where toddlers won't be around to chase... I think you know this. I don't mean to be abrasive but these accidents are more common than you think. They are just horrific. I'm sure the parents and grandparents had all the best intentions...

Nonsense. My young grandkids have their own pedal tractor w/ wagon to play with. They've climbed on my larger tractors in the shed; they have never seen the mowers. They aren't missing out on anything. To those that have kids/grandkids that have had tractor rides... be  extra vigilant...

I'm sorry but this is the mother of bad ideas. I was an engineer in the tractor industry for 30 years and monitored accident reports regularly. Giving children rides is the root cause of a particular accident scenario most don't realize: CHILD BACK OVERS.... often with MOWER BLADE CONTACT...

Our house was built in '16; the plumber installed a Hellenbrand softener. Because of the known hard water in our area, he left room for additional mechanical. 1 year later we had him install a Hellenbrand "iron curtain" system. First stage removes the iron; the second stage aerates to remove...

Those yellow deck STX's are unbelieveable mowing machines.... very hard to kill. Did you call JD and see if it is still in service? Peerless is still making manual transaxles... maybe you could get service parts (or a.replacement) directly from them.

Ha! We're doing the exact same thing! Second load of dark brown oak mulch coming today. Wife and I are 65 and 66. Weeks like this still beat having to go to the gym and walk!

To answer that question, I would look at Europe. Because of sound regulations (can't mow during evening or weekends) Europe has very much adopted robotic mowing for residential use. In those applications, robots can 'wonder' continously and cover a property. A border wire installation...

Wow... the parts you mention DON'T KILL THE TRACTOR. I think you know that. We're NOT talking about a dyno pull at max power here... max engine curves have nothing to do with what is going on downstream. You can pick a high gear, pedal slow with high effort or you can pick a low gear, pedal...

Ha... it's done everyday. The MBAs that run the ag companies treat every product they make as an appliance. They ask engineering/marketing to set very defined capabilities and life goals so they can remain competitive. Remember the first microwaves? Brand new technology then. They were big...

The OP is asking about throttle position and doing the least harm to his tractor.... there is nothing to debate. A job needs a set amount of power to achieve. The transaxle is the weakest link (drives the life goal of the tractor) and what everybody should be trying to protect. Higher rpms...

That's OK... we can disagree. My comments come from a 30 year career as a tractor engineer. I know what drives high strain on gaged machines (both in the field and lab tests), failure modes at end of life, and exactly how it all relates to warranty. It's also basic engineering: Power =...

The weakest link on your tractor by far is the transaxle (especially if its HST). Engines almost always exceed the life of the tranny. High rpms do NOT hurt an engine at all but lowers the torque put on the engine and transaxle components. High torque is what wears and breaks tractors. So...

Your use of dowels is just fine. Also, what you were told regarding required jointery for end/side grain is spot on. One thing that may make doweling easier for you is sizing the dowel before use. I have a 1/4" thick steel plate with 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" reamed holes I made years ago. The dowel...

Matlax, It's a sign the soft nut is yielding. Replace it with the factory nut or grade 8 and torque to spec.

Yes but I had a pro weld it. The Fred Cain blades were VERY low lift and I wanted to see if more blade could help. As you probably know, welding blades is typically a no-no (the welders in the Deere prototype shop sure wouldn't do it). A local weld shop will knowing the material then...

Thanks so much Bubba! Here is the underside (front of mower to the right). All I'm doing is applying finish mower techniques to a rotary cutter. There is engineering going on but ALOT of mower development is "black art". Offset conventional rotation decks cut very well and are ALWAYS the...

Absolutely. The only issue I have with thread lock material is that it disturbs the friction factor in the bolted joint. You have to assume this bolted joint is engineered (not a generic erector set joint) and the published torque was developed with the hardware as delivered. Adding an agent...

It's got to be 700+lbs but being shorter w/ CG closer to the tractor, it handles  exactly like my 5' rotary. I'll have to weigh it. Here's a 20" section cut to 4" using full cut width. No slowing, no issues, done in no time. I cant go back.

When I started in engineering 30 years ago, an older engineer told me then "nothing will ring your phone in your career more than hardware and springs". He was right! In a properly designed joint, the energy spent tightening a bolt is stored by stretching it. So, the joint must be ridged and...

Absolutely right. I have a compact tractor with 20hp pto. NOTHING out there short of single spindle rotarys and finish mowers (I dont have the power for a flail). So what does a former tractor/mower engineer do in retirement? He builds a prototype mower! Built from an old beat-up used...

Actually, there is nothing new there to sell. All I did was weld in some added guarding. There are companies selling bolt-in lasered/press brake grill guards for various tractor models but couldn't find one for my machine (they aren't the most handsome solutions either....)