Back Left Wheel on JS63C Push Mower Locks Up When Turning

[O Deere]

Hello everyone! I am new to the forum and have an issue - hoping that someone can help me out.

I currently have a 2005 John Deere JS63C Push Mower that I purchased new almost 15 years ago. It has been an excellent mower and I still mow quite a bit of grass with the unit. I have an issue though. I appears that my rear left wheel locks up when I try to turn the mower to the left. I went to my local John Deere dealer and they told me that it was most likely my pinion gear that was locking up and either needed to be lubricated or replaced. After almost 15 years, they still have parts for my mower, so I purchased a pinion gear and replaced the old one on my mower. Unfortunately, it didn't do the job.

I've lubricated my axle and greased just about everything, but still have the same issue. I do not want to part with the mower as it has to be a simple fix. But I also do not want to spend $96.00 per hour in labor at my local John Deere dealer. If anyone has an idea on what could be wrong, I would greatly appreciate any help I can get.

I have a video of what the mower is doing but could not get it loaded to YouTube.

Thanks,

O Deere

 

[Deleted member 97405]

Hello everyone! I am new to the forum and have an issue - hoping that someone can help me out.

I currently have a 2005 John Deere JS63C Push Mower that I purchased new almost 15 years ago. It has been an excellent mower and I still mow quite a bit of grass with the unit. I have an issue though. I appears that my rear left wheel locks up when I try to turn the mower to the left. I went to my local John Deere dealer and they told me that it was most likely my pinion gear that was locking up and either needed to be lubricated or replaced. After almost 15 years, they still have parts for my mower, so I purchased a pinion gear and replaced the old one on my mower. Unfortunately, it didn't do the job.

I've lubricated my axle and greased just about everything, but still have the same issue. I do not want to part with the mower as it has to be a simple fix. But I also do not want to spend $96.00 per hour in labor at my local John Deere dealer. If anyone has an idea on what could be wrong, I would greatly appreciate any help I can get.

I have a video of what the mower is doing but could not get it loaded to YouTube.

Thanks,

O Deere

I work at a Deere dealership. Did you lubricate the spring-loaded half moon key? The most common issue is that those keys arent lubricated every year. (I usually lube mine at the beginning and then again halfway thru the season)
Once you lubricate the keys on each end of the axle, you should be able to hear them "click" when you rotate the wheel FORWARD by hand. If you rotate the wheel in REVERSE, it should turn the axle shaft.
If one side isnt clicking, then there is an issue. If they do click, but it still hangs up on the left side, there may be an issue in the transmission not releasing the drive.
*The gears can also be flipped and installed backward. If that happened, the wheel will click when rotated in REVERSE, and turn the axle when rotated FORWARD. *
I did have one customer replace the spring loaded key with a solid key with no spring. Needless to say, his drive wheels would never release. Good luck and hope this helps!

 

[O Deere]

I work at a Deere dealership. Did you lubricate the spring-loaded half moon key? The most common issue is that those keys arent lubricated every year. (I usually lube mine at the beginning and then again halfway thru the season)
Once you lubricate the keys on each end of the axle, you should be able to hear them "click" when you rotate the wheel FORWARD by hand. If you rotate the wheel in REVERSE, it should turn the axle shaft.
If one side isnt clicking, then there is an issue. If they do click, but it still hangs up on the left side, there may be an issue in the transmission not releasing the drive.
*The gears can also be flipped and installed backward. If that happened, the wheel will click when rotated in REVERSE, and turn the axle when rotated FORWARD. *
I did have one customer replace the spring loaded key with a solid key with no spring. Needless to say, his drive wheels would never release. Good luck and hope this helps!

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Will1988, thank you so much for the response. I will give it a try and let you know what the outcome is. The worst case would be to purchase a new transmission if necessary. When I look at what type of push mowers there are available today, I just don't want to part with my ole Deere. I still wish John Deere made push mowers. If I weren't tied down financially with helping my children pay off student loans, I would like to purchase a new John Deere riding mower. Hopefully I will some day. God Bless. O Deere