JD 72in mmm is noisy

Ronaldjaye · Apr 20, 2015

Is it normal for the John Deere 72 inch belly mower to be very noisy with a loud rumble? Do I have to Remove it from the JD 855 in order to lube it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

beenthere · Apr 20, 2015

Can't interpret what you mean by loud rumble, so it may or may not be normal. Noise could be from belts, or spindle bearings, or bent blade. After running, the spindles should not be hot to the touch. Just mildly warm if ok.

As to the lube zerks, they should be at the top of each spindle, and there should be zerks at each wheel.
Do you have a manual for it?

Gator6x4 · Apr 21, 2015

Ronaldjaye said:
Is it normal for the John Deere 72 inch belly mower to be very noisy with a loud rumble? Do I have to Remove it from the JD 855 in order to lube it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The large decks are noisy. The rumbling is created from the three large blades creating fan noise at PTO speed.

TCSavage · Apr 21, 2015

A grease gun is your friend.

CinderSchnauzer · Apr 21, 2015

Mine is not quiet, but, would not use "rumble" to describe noise. I have never tried to lube while installed, but, suspect it would be very difficult to access the mid spindle zerk and the drive shaft zerks while on the tractor.

logankelly · Apr 21, 2015

If bearing is out the blade will wiggle if no wiggle pull blades off and run if rubble stops you know

zzvyb6 · Apr 21, 2015

Mine has a nice pleasant whine, but used to rumble, too. Belt had minor flat spots on it and the belt tensioner was way too loose, causing the belt to flap and rub the deck housing. Try adding more tension. Also, don't engage the pto with high engine rpm. That's how pulleys can get warped and belts flat spotted.

Its better to work on it if you drive the front wheels up onto ramps. Then its easier to remove the covers and get to the grease fittings underneath. Don't forget the zerk in the belt tensioner. And check the pto shaft joints at the mower and tractor. If one is loose, it will rumble and soon cause some major wear on that input shaft.

swines · Apr 22, 2015

Take the blades off and check them to see if they're balanced and haven't been bent. If one blade is bent slightly or out of balance, you will get noise from the deck.

Ronaldjaye · May 28, 2015

well I figured it out, Last saturday I was mowing the grass when suddenly the mower got quiet it , had finished chewing up the cogs on th end of the drive shaft $$$$$$$$. The tractor is in the John Deere Hospital for a transplant.. I hope she comes back home tomorrow... No more Steaks for a while!

techwrtr2 · May 28, 2015

swines said:
Take the blades off and check them to see if they're balanced and haven't been bent. If one blade is bent slightly or out of balance, you will get noise from the deck.

I know that's a problem I have. But then I also have issues with rocks still working their way to the surface via freeze/thaw cycles. At least I assume so, unless they are growing.

Each year I pick several FEL buckets full and each year i find new rocks in places I've mowed for years. Go figure.