JD 855 won't raise or lower belly mower

[edwardsss]

This morning I rented a three point core aerator from my local rental store. To keep the mower deck, on my JD 855, from raising/lowering, during the use of the aerator, I locked the mower in the "up" position using the adjustment wheel located on the seat deck. After using, and removing the aerator, I found that the adjustment wheel was locked up and would not move. I used a floor jack to lift the mower deck up a little, and that seemed to release the pressure on the adjustment wheel. I spun the adjustment wheel counter clockwise to lower the deck and found that deck would lower a little. Now the deck won't raise, or lower...although the three point hitch does raise and lower. I suspect something underneath is frozen up. What should I be looking for that would be causing this problem? Thanks for your help, Edward

 

[gstrom99]

Sounds like the linkage or driveshaft is bound up. Check for any linkage that is not "loose" and maybe disconnect the driveshaft and check that it is not bound up.

 

[edwardsss]

Sounds like the linkage or driveshaft is bound up. Check for any linkage that is not "loose" and maybe disconnect the driveshaft and check that it is not bound up.

Thanks for the response. I got it resolved this morning. You're in the right area. The linkage wasn't bound up, it was disconnected. I had the rear transaxle serviced last summer at my local JD dealer. Turns out that the technician put in the attachment link pins but not the safety pins to keep them in place. So one of the link pins finally giggled loose and fell out. This caused the lift arm pivot to disconnect from the rockshaft. That same technician also failed to replace four of the bolts that lock the sheet metal fenders to the frame. I'm not a happy camper. That tech cost me a day and a half of work. A conversation will be had with the shop manager.

 

[gstrom99]

That's good to hear. Bad to hear that the JD shop caused it. What, may I ask, did they do to "service" the rear end?

 

[edwardsss]

That's good to hear. Bad to hear that the JD shop caused it. What, may I ask, did they do to "service" the rear end?

I had a hydraulic fluid leak occurring from somewhere in the rear. I never fully understood just exactly what, or where, it was leaking. I was told that the rear would have to be removed from the frame to be serviced. It was over eight dollars in repair. The repair lasted for all of three hours and I had to haul it back. The second time worked for the oil leak but I suspect the tech was in a hurry to reassemble the tractor.