Greasing the Main Drive Shaft on 2018 1025R

[Squidbait]

Hello Gentleman,

I was going to try to grease the zerks on the main drive shaft of my 2018 1025R (50 hours service stuff). I was able to grease the back one with no problem, but studied the underside of my machine trying to figure out the best way to grease the front zerk (next to the flywheel and engine). I searched on youtube and found a couple of videos of people greasing the zerk from underneath the tractor (through the hole in the steel plate); which seems to be a little bit of a pain. I also watched a video by Tractor Time With Tim where he pulls the panel underneath the steering wheel/column off and greases his drive shaft zerk from the topside instead of underneath his 2014? model 1025R. Well I started loosening bolts on mine yesterday in the same spot and realized that I don't (appear to) have that removable panel underneath the steering wheel/column that allows access to the front drive shaft zerk. So, I guess my question is: Can greasing the main drive shaft only be done from underneath the machine?

Thanks for your input. I'm sure I can't be alone in this maintenance adventure.

 

[dodge man]

No personal experience, I have just bought a 2025r and will find out for myself how to do it. I understand some people have cut a hole in the panel down near the floorboards to get to it. I think someone, maybe even JD, makes a plug or panel for the hole.

 

[Squidbait]

dodge man,

Thanks for the response. I haven't crawled underneath the new version of the 2025R, but if it is built like my 1025R you will see what I'm talking about. I don't really want to start cutting holes anywhere in my machine if I can help it. I can grease it from underneath I was just hoping there was an easier way to grease that one zerk. It isn't a big deal.

 

[dodge man]

I'm not sure, but I think maybe my 2025 has an access door already cut into the side by your feet. I'll have to check it out. I've done some reading on GTT and its my understanding its a ***** on a 2025 also.

 

[dodge man]

Mine does look like it has an access panel. I probably won’t mess with it until I get some more hours, I have 10 now.

 

[KennyG]

The first time you do this maintenance, you will have many bad words to say about John Deere, so make sure no kids are around. After you figure it out, you will wonder why it was so difficult the first time. My advice - make sure you have a needle tip for your grease gun (and use a one hand grease gun). I grease my 2320 U-joints twice a year and it's now a minor part of the maintenance.

 

[Squidbait]

Mine does look like it has an access panel. I probably won稚 mess with it until I get some more hours, I have 10 now.

dodge man: Yes there is a small access panel on the bottom right hand side of the panel below the steering wheel. That just gives you access to an two electrical connectors and part of the parking break mechanism. That's about all. There isn't access to the steering column or the main drive shaft though.

 

[Squidbait]

The first time you do this maintenance, you will have many bad words to say about John Deere, so make sure no kids are around. After you figure it out, you will wonder why it was so difficult the first time. My advice - make sure you have a needle tip for your grease gun (and use a one hand grease gun). I grease my 2320 U-joints twice a year and it's now a minor part of the maintenance.

Thanks for the info. I will keep this in mind.

 

[dodge man]

I’m going to try and do mine today, watched a video and it looks easiest to remove a panel down by your feet. You take the side panels off and then it comes off. There is a video of it.

 

[dodge man]

The video was of a 1025 and mine is a 2025 so it did not work like the video. It has a lot bigger panel under the steering wheel and more difficult to take apart. I was not able to grease it through the little access hole underneath either. That angle is not right. There is a slot near the hole with some hoses running through it and I was barely able to get the gun to lock on. I shot grease all over before I got it just right.

Took a little less than an hour to do the entire tractor and more than half of that on the one grease fitting. It will be easier next time.