855 60" deck

[99S10]

Hoping for a quick answer. I'm heading out to pick up an 855 in an hour. The guy has a 60" deck that needs work, pulleys are rusted for one. He claims that's all it needs and some paint. I didn't really want it but he says he'll leave it on for $100. Is it worth rebuilding?
Thanks for all the answers I've been getting here.

 

[beenthere]

If the deck steel isn't rusted through, then it is worth rebuilding.

Or if you don't want it, then don't pay $100 for it.

 

[techwrtr2]

I'd certainly take it. Assuming the actual deck is solid, you can resell it for more.

 

[99S10]

I ended up taking it. It's rust pitted pretty bad on a top section where grass probably laid and it sat outside. That's what also rusted the pulleys. The underside actually looks pretty good. I beat on it with a pick hammer and it still seems solid. I don't know if I'll try to save it or not. The belt gaurds are missing. But it has all the mounting brackets/links, PTO shaft etc so I hated not to take it for 100 bucks. I figure I could always re-sell it, part it or maybe I run across a deck missing the mounting stuff.

 

[beenthere]

I leave the belt guards off on purpose so after each mowing any grass can be blown off with the air hose before putting the rig away.
With the guards on, no way to keep the area clean around the pulley's (sheaves) and belts.
Hope you get some use out of the deck, or fix it up and get some money for it.

 

[99S10]

I was talking to my buddy this morning and he said the exact same thing. I'm going to price the stuff to fix it up. Any source for pulleys other than JD? I'm guessing they are much the same for different decks.

 

[roush9799]

I leave mine off too. I started a fire under there once with them on. If you got off the mower the deck stops anyways.

 

[beenthere]

Any source for pulleys other than JD?

About $50 each for the sheaves. Think you can beat that?

 

[techwrtr2]

I leave mine off too. I started a fire under there once with them on. If you got off the mower the deck stops anyways.

That is, of course, unless the switches don't work. Previous owner of my machine apparently bypassed them or something and the trading dealer didn't bother to fix the matter before selling it to me. I don't really care, I automatically shut off the deck prior to dismount anyway. Then again, I use a 3pt dismount method too.

 

[roush9799]

I'm used to the deck shut off, I'm still not used to the neutral shutoff these 2520's have. If you don't put it in neutral it will die when you jump off. My 855 didn't do that.

 

[techwrtr2]

I'm used to the deck shut off, I'm still not used to the neutral shutoff these 2520's have. If you don't put it in neutral it will die when you jump off. My 855 didn't do that.

it's things such as this that have me hesitant to buy a newer tractor. The best safety mechanism rides between your ears, not some switch on the tractor.

 

[99S10]

About $50 each for the sheaves. Think you can beat that?

I was trying to look them up online but there seems to be a multitude of different numbers. I'll have to see if the serial # is still there and see what I actually would need. I do bodywork for a living and was figuring on having a local place sandblast the deck then epoxy it. That's if I don't need a fortune in parts. I just saw a post what a gearbox is listed on ebay for. So whatever I do, I feel OK about buying it.

 

[Cherokee140]

I was trying to look them up online but there seems to be a multitude of different numbers. I'll have to see if the serial # is still there and see what I actually would need. I do bodywork for a living and was figuring on having a local place sandblast the deck then epoxy it. That's if I don't need a fortune in parts. I just saw a post what a gearbox is listed on ebay for. So whatever I do, I feel OK about buying it.

I don't know about your machine but I have a 650, also a JD/Yanmar machine. Deck parts seems to be hard for JD to look up for some reason, have the serial number of the deck handy...that will help. Also you talked about some pulley needing to be replaced....again I don't know on your machine but mine has a mule drive that has some bearings that you will need to look at, but if the actual spindles are what is bad hold on to your wallet...they are a couple hundred a pop at JD.

 

[99S10]

The spindles themselves are fine. The pulleys are ruined from rust. Apparently grass laid in the valley and it must have set out in the weather.