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Wife was out mowing the yard yesterday with the JD D170 we bought at an estate sale 2 years back. Sweet machine, replaced a Scotts 1642 that we'd had for ~23 years (was still working), and now she can cut an hour off mowing our lawn. She actually enjoys mowing the lawn so who am I to take that joy away from her? Anyway, she came in in a panic saying the right front wheel was falling off? Went out an sure enough it looked rather cockeyed? Took it off and it didn't look like it even had a bearing in it, more like just a one inch spacer, and only on the outer side of the hub opening! Nothing on the inner side of it next to the "cup" on the steering arm. We were both amazed that in the two years we had it we never noticed that it was a white hub instead of a yellow one. It's obviously had an aftermarket repair and a horrible one at that as you can see by the pics.
My question is, since this thing was riding cockeyed for as long as it did it, and it obviously has worn down the mounting rod next to the cup a little (you can feel a slight indention), is the situation bad enough that I need to replace the arm also?
Second question is whether there should be any spacing on that rod? On the left wheel, which appears to be an OEM JD wheel it doesn't appear to be held tight between the cup and the retainer washer/clip. Maybe less than 1/8" that could allow the wheel to move laterally ever so slightly? Don't know if they screwed with it also and just left some spacing washers off?
Your opinions are appreciated.

were it me I'd replace both wheels and the shaft. Things do wear out. But I tend to be a perfectionist on things, and prefer to do a repair again as seldom as possible. You might be able to find a good used one or aftermarket that is 90% as good as the original to avoid JD prices.

That wheel assembly was installed with very little grease and has not seen any new grease in a long time. Bearing failures are often sudden in cases like this. The small ball bearing come out and the wheel suddenly cocks sideways and wobbles.

That appears to be an aftermarket "universal rim, likely a hardware off the shelf part. That design typically has soft tin bearing that break out and fall apart and have no business on the front of a rider mower. Most likely it started life as a hand truck wheel assembly.

The original rims would have been yellow and have pressed in bearings.

That steering spindle shaft is pretty badly worn, I do not suggest trying to keep using it. Putting new parts against very worn/damaged parts, usually repeats breakdowns quickly. That inner bearing is what takes the most side load and shock when steering the rider back and forth while riding.

It would be best to replace both sides at the same time.

I have found that Ebay is usually pretty reliable for these parts but read the descriptions carefully and ask questions of the seller to clarify exact fit before purchase. I suggest both complete front rim and tire assemblies because you do not want to fight changing the tire over to a bare rim. Rider and small implement tires can be very difficult to fight with (even for a tire shop)

The JD dealer will be stupid expensive; the green parts store online is not much better.

I am not a fan of Amazon when it comes to any lawnmower/rider parts, so I don't recommend them.

A little machine history for you:

Already ordered a new set of tires off AMZ only to find out they wouldn't even go on the shaft though they are supposed to be for 3/4" spindle. The JD store doesn't want to give me specs or part numbers because they know I'll probably search for better pricing elsewhere. The steering spindles have to be ordered in pairs to get them here fast otherwise it's Sept. 16th before you could get just a right one. Again, AMZ. WIfe thinks the world is going to end cause she can't mow the yard! Almost funny but... Guess she loves that mower more than I thought?

Parts diagrams and numbers here:
https://www.weingartz.com/illustrat...kup/model-d170-100-series-tractor/4275-639849

Here is an idea. Go visit your local lawnmower savage yard. The GY21453 > AUC22510 is a common rim use on JD mowers. Then install new bushing or bearings. You might even find a good front spindle at the same time. Don't have to be new just in good shape.

Kenbu, THX! That will certainly come in handy in the future! Appreciate it.

Ordered a new set of wheels and spindles off AMZ. Should be in on Sunday so we'll see.

If not you first succeed, try, try again and again and again.... That free returns thing must be intoxicating.

It should be noted that once you buy John Deere, you are married to John Deere. Parts are expensive, and MOST are only available from JD. The same is true for their BIG farm machinery. Then when something unavailable from JD breaks, you're dead in the water. My brother in law needed a wiring harness for his tractor. It was made at a factory in Ukraine. Guess what. The factory no longer exists. The JD factory was out of the harness. The dealer finally found one in stock at another dealer out of state. FedEx had it here the next day. Several states, and even the federal.house, have attempted to pass RIGHT TO REPAIR bills. I don't know that any have passed and made a difference. Those laws would force manufacturers to allow access to parts and repair information, including John Deere.

MG McAnick said:

It should be noted that once you buy John Deere, you are married to John Deere. Parts are expensive, and MOST are only available from JD. The same is true for their BIG farm machinery. Then when something unavailable from JD breaks, you're dead in the water. My brother in law needed a wiring harness for his tractor. It was made at a factory in Ukraine. Guess what. The factory no longer exists. The JD factory was out of the harness. The dealer finally found one in stock at another dealer out of state. FedEx had it here the next day. Several states, and even the federal.house, have attempted to pass RIGHT TO REPAIR bills. I don't know that any have passed and made a difference. Those laws would force manufacturers to allow access to parts and repair information, including John Deere.

Click to expand...

The computer programs are available for the John Deere equipment at a cost but again you run into the issue that so many parts are "John Deere" exclusive. I have even encountered problems working on the small equipment like gators. Kawasaki makes the engines but the carbs are John Deere specific and only available from John Deere. It wouldn't be such a bother if the equipment worked better and had a longer life between repairs but that too has gone to the wayside.

Hello MG,

If it is over 8-10 years old (with many like JD it is seldom 5 years) manufacturers will no longer make the parts, and they are simply depleting old stock.

Companies no longer lease and maintain massive warehouses full of parts that just sit for years. Even when built new, they use a process called a "just in time supply" process to avoid overstock and clutter.

When it comes to rider equipment, there are more aftermarket sources for JD riders than for the farm tractors.

Now for the rest of the story. And I'm kicking myself royally every time I think about this!
I was fixated on finding a wheel spindle that exactly matched the one that was on the D170. What set it apart from the ones that I was finding online was that it only had one upward tab on it, which is probably some sort of turn limiter? By this time I had ordered and returned two different sets of wheel spindles that were supposedly for the D-170 from AMZ. Unfortunately both had come in with the wrong (2 tab) spindle and didn't look like the single tab wheel spindle that their ad pictures had shown. Had contacted two different JD dealers by this time and explained exactly what I was looking for (single tab) and they said didn't have what I needed.
Wife nagging me about getting her mower fixed so I decided to just bite the bullet and pay whatever the part would cost me if I could find a dealer/seller that carried it. Since the first two dealers had previously said the didn't have what I needed I called a third. They asked me for the serial number which I provided them. Yes! We have the part you need for the JD based on that serial number! I'll be right down I replied so off I go. Got there and they bring out a wheel spindle that has two upward tabs. Not the one I'm after I explained. At which time I was informed that they no longer make the the single tab spindle. It was replaced with the two tab version! So WHY didn't the two other dealers say that to begin with??? So I had returned two sets of AMZ wheel spindles already that I actually could have been used and had the tractor running in days instead of weeks.
In a crunch so I pay the $40 something, run home and install it. Fortunately the two front wheels fit the axle perfectly (the AMZ wheels are another story in themselves). Finally, success and wife will be thrilled to know she's back in business. Got around to explaining the whole dealer situation with the spindles, the tabs, etc. with her and how I could have used one of the two sets we had returned! That's when she tells me she never got around to returning the second set! That's when I really start kicking myself! If only I had know an hour earlier! That AMZ set came with TWO wheel spindles, all the washers, retainer clips, and the vinyl axle covers! And it cost less than $40 tax included. Could have rebuild the whole front end steering assembly for less than what I paid for that one piece from the John Deere dealer. Anyway, that's my sad story. Lesson learned. Hope your repair jobs go smoother! Will definitely be asking more questions if another repair comes up.

That is one of the biggest challenges on this site. Having people provide the proper information.

Always have you PIN (machine label) information. If it is for engine parts, have that engine label information as well, or the stamped numbers on the valve cover if it is a Briggs and Stratton engine.

Those are the numbers are the first thing a good parts person (or people on this site) should ask you for.

The hood model "call out" labels and model stickers are not always correct.

When I was a JD service manager, I would screw with a new tech by simply swapping hoods. I would let the parts person know what was going on and they would send the tech back by telling them to look for the correct PIN number. Most of the "D" series riders had interchangeable hoods.