Service

Service Intervals

Every 10 Hours

• If operating in dry conditions, clean debris from mower.

Every 25 Hours

• Lubricate spindles

• Lubricate driveshaft

• Lubricate wheels

• Lubricate mower lift kit

• Inspect mower blades

• Inspect mower belt

Every 100 Hours

• Check gearbox oil level

• Wash mower

• Inspect rollers

Every 500 Hours

• Change gearbox oil

Grease


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Use recommended John Deere greases to avoid component failure and premature wear. The recommended John Deere greases are effective within an average air temperature range of -29 to 135 degrees C (-20 to 275 degrees F). If operating outside that temperature range, contact your Servicing dealer for a special-use grease.

The following greases are preferred:

• John Deere Multi-Purpose SD Polyurea Grease

• John Deere Multi-Purpose HD Lithium Complex Grease

If not using any of the preferred greases, be sure to use a general all-purpose grease with an NLGI grade No.2 rating.

Wet or high speed conditions may require use of a special-use grease. Contact your Servicing dealer for information.

Gear Oil

Use oil viscosity based on the expected air temperature range during the period between oil changes.

John Deere GL-5 Gear Lubricant is recommended.

Other oils may be used if they meet one or more of the following:

• API Service Classification GL-5.

• Military Specification MIL-L-2105D.

• Military Specification MIL-L-2105C.

• Military Specification MIL-L-2105B.

Oils meeting Military Specification MIL-L-10324A may be used as arctic oils.

Lubricating Mower

Driveline

MX20649

Lubricate grease fittings (A) with recommended grease.

Wheels

MX32793

Lubricate grease fittings (A) with recommended grease.

Spindles

MX32794

Picture Note: Model with one piece shield is shown. Other models have two piece shield and no plugs to remove.

1. Remove plugs in shield to access and lubricate grease fittings (A) with recommended grease.

2. Install plugs.

Idler Arm

MX32795

Picture Note: 72-inch Large Chassis Mower

MX21832

Picture Note: 72-inch Mid Chassis Mower

MX21833

Picture Note: 60-inch Mower

Lubricate grease fitting (A) with recommended grease.

Lubricating Mower Attaching Kit (Large Chassis Tractor)

Lift Arms

MX17725

Lubricate grease fittings (A) with recommended grease.

Servicing Gearbox

Checking Oil Level

1. Remove plug from one side of gearbox.

2. Oil level should be even with bottom edge of plug hole.

3. If oil is low, add recommended oil.

4. Install plug.

Changing Oil

1. Remove gearbox bracket with gearbox. See Removing Belt in SERVICE.

MX20647

2. Remove plug (A) on both sides of gearbox.

3. Lift and turn gearbox bracket on side to drain oil from gearbox.

4. Route belt around gearbox sheave as you install gearbox bracket on five bolts. See Installing Belt in SERVICE.

5. Following remaining instructions in Installing Belt in SERVICE to install gearbox and rod.

6. Add recommended oil to bottom edge of plug hole in gearbox.

7. Install plugs.

Servicing Mower Belt (72-Inch Models)

Removing Belt (Large Chassis Mower)

1. Remove mower from machine.

MX20619

Picture Note: Model with one piece shield is shown. Other models have two piece shield.

2. Remove six locking springs (A) and shield (B).

3. Clean area under shield.

MX20641

4. Loosen nut (C) to relieve spring tension.

5. Roll the belt off the left sheave.

6. Remove locking pin (D) and washer (E) from end of rod.

7. Remove end of rod from idler arm (F).

8. Remove five nuts (G).

9. Remove hanger (H) and belt guide (I).

10. Remove gearbox bracket (J) with gearbox.

MX20642

11. Remove nut (K) and washer (L) from idler arm.

12. Remove idler arm.

13. Remove belt.

Installing Belt (Large Chassis Mower)

1. Install belt around three sheaves.

MX20643

2. Route belt around idler (A) as shown and install idler arm with washer (B) and nut.

3. Remove belt from left sheave.

4. Route belt around gearbox sheave as you install gearbox bracket on five bolts.

MX20646

5. Install belt guide (C) and hanger (D).

MX20641

6. Install five nuts (E).

7. Roll the belt onto left sheave.

8. Install washer (F) and end of rod (G) in idler arm.

9. Install locking pin (H).

10. Adjust nut (I) to leave about 35 mm (1.4 in.) travel distance between nut and bracket.

11. Install shield with six locking rings.

Removing Belt (Mid Chassis Mower)

1. Remove mower from machine.

MX21824

2. Remove six locking rings (A) and shields (B).

3. Clean area under shields.

MX21825

4. Loosen nut (C) to relieve spring tension.

5. Roll the belt off the left sheave (D).

6. Remove locking pin (E) and washers (F) from end of rod.

7. Remove end of rod from idler arm (G).

8. Remove four nuts (H).

9. Remove gearbox bracket (I) with gearbox and rod.

MX21826

10. Remove locknut (J), locknut (K) and washer (L).

11. Remove idler arm (M) with bushing.

12. Remove belt.

Installing Belt (Mid Chassis Mower)

1. Install belt around three sheaves.

MX21827

2. Route belt around idler (A) as shown and install idler arm with washer (B), locknut (C) and locknut (D).

3. Remove belt from left sheave (E).

4. Route belt around gearbox sheave as you install gearbox bracket with gearbox on four bolts.

MX21825

5. Install four nuts (E).

6. Roll the belt onto left sheave.

7. Install washers (F) and end of rod in idler arm.

8. Install locking pin (G).

9. Adjust nut (H) to leave about 35 mm (1.4 in.) travel distance between nut and bracket.

10. Install shields with six locking rings.

Servicing Mower Belt (60-Inch Model)

Removing Belt

1. Remove mower from machine.

MX21828

2. Remove six locking rings (A), three locking knobs (B) and shields (C).

3. Clean area under shields.

MX21829

4. Loosen jam nut (C) and turn threaded adjuster bolt (D) to relieve spring tension.

5. Roll the belt off the left sheave (E).

6. Remove four nuts (F) and washers.

7. Remove gearbox bracket (G) with gearbox.

8. Remove belt.

Installing Belt

1. Install belt around three sheaves.

MX21830

2. Route belt as shown.

3. Remove belt from left sheave (A).

4. Route belt around gearbox sheave as you install gearbox bracket on four bolts.

MX21829

5. Install four washers and nuts (B).

6. Roll the belt onto left sheave.

7. Tighten threaded adjuster bolt (C) and jam nut (D). Check belt tension.

8. Install shields with six locking rings and three locking knobs.

Checking and Adjusting Belt Tension

60-Inch Model

1. Remove mower from machine.

MX21834

2. Pull sideways on belt and see how much the belt tensioner rod (A) moves within the threaded adjuster bolt (B).

3. If there is more than 10 mm (.4 in.) rod movement, adjust the belt tension.

a. Loosen the jam nut (C).

b. Tighten the adjuster bolt (B) by turning clockwise just enough to compress the spring.

c. Tighten jam nut.

Servicing Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Blades are sharp. Always wear gloves when handling blades or working near blades.

Checking for Bent Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Blades are sharp. Always wear gloves when handling blades or working near blades.

Replace blades if defective. Never straighten or weld them.

1. Park machine on a level surface, not on a slope.

2. Disengage mower blades.

3. Fully raise the mower.

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Stop the engine.

6. Remove the key.

7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat.

8. Block the mower.

MX11181

9. Measure the distance (A) from blade tip to level surface with a ruler or a leveling gauge available at your John Deere dealer.

10. Rotate blade 180? and measure the distance between other end of blade and surface.

11. Check all blades. Install new blade if difference between measurements is more than 3 mm (1/8 in.).

Removing Mower Blades

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in SAFETY.)

2. Remove mower from machine.

3. Use a suitable lifting device to raise mower to gain access to blades.

4. Insert wood block between blade and mower to prevent blade from turning when removing bolt.

MX32792

5. Remove bolt (A), washer (B), washer (C) and blade.

Installing Mower Blades

1. Install blade with cutting edge toward the ground.

MX32792

2. Install washer (A), washer (B) and bolt (C).

3. Insert wood block between blade and mower to prevent blade from turning when tightening bolt. Tighten to 122 N•m (90 lb-ft).

Sharpening Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Before adjusting or servicing mower:

• Disconnect spark plug wire(s) or battery negative (-) cable to prevent engine from starting accidently.

• Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades.

MX8333

1. Sharpen blade with grinder, hand file or electric blade sharpener.

• Keep original bevel (A) when grinding.

• Blade should have 0.40 mm (1/64 in.) cutting edge (B) or less.

2. Balance blade before installing.

Balancing Blades

1. Clean the blade.

M61524

2. Put blade on a nail in a vice or in a vertical wall stud. Turn blade to horizontal position. If blade is not balanced, heavy end of blade will drop.

3. Grind bevel of heavy end. Do not change blade bevel.