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JD X127 Deck

#1

D

Diwali

Removed the deck to find the cause of belt slip. What a palaver! There are 4 shields/panels surrounding the deck that had to be removed before I could access the deck. What is the purpose of these? My previous mower had none at all.


#2

A

Auto Doc's

The shields are there to keep clutter and buildup out of the components. Aside from that, they protect idiots from getting caught up in the moving components.

Your previous mower likely had them removed, because belt safety guards have been mandatory since at least the late 50's

"Palaver"? That is a $2 word not many people use.

Your belt slip problem is likely just a stretched belt due to heat and use.


#3

D

Diwali

Thanks. I suspected the shields were there because of a legal requirement. I'm guessing it didn't apply to the UK in 2008 when I bought a new Craftsman LT2000 (US made).
However, I was disappointed to find so much debris had accumulated behind the shields. I now realise the regular hosing down wasn't reaching behind the shields. Something for me to think about in future.
BTW, the slipping belt was due to one of the pulley brakes being stuck and not releasing due to corrosion. Fixed with a bit of lubrication and luckily the belt is still good.
PS. "Palaver" - $2!! You've been robbed!! It's free in the UK.

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#4

ILENGINE

ILENGINE

Diwali said:
Thanks. I suspected the shields were there because of a legal requirement. I'm guessing it didn't apply to the UK in 2008 when I bought a new Craftsman LT2000 (US made).
However, I was disappointed to find so much debris had accumulated behind the shields. I now realise the regular hosing down wasn't reaching behind the shields. Something for me to think about in future.
BTW, the slipping belt was due to one of the pulley brakes being stuck and not releasing due to corrosion. Fixed with a bit of lubrication and luckily the belt is still good.
PS. "Palaver" - $2!! You've been robbed!! It's free in the UK.
Click to expand...
That deck is clean compared to some of the decks and mowers that come through my shop every year.


#5

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

ILENGINE said:
That deck is clean compared to some of the decks and mowers that come through my shop every year.
Click to expand...
Some of the decks on top, and bottom that get serviced by me are absolutely packed. To the point where I charge extra. To the point where it should be embarrassing to the customer, but it isn’t.


#6

D

Diwali

Having to clean a machine before working on it must be a mechanic‘s nightmare and charging extra is fully justifiable in my opinion.
In my case, having discovered the safety shields were preventing a thorough clean of the JD deck, I have (shhhh!) removed two of the four shields for better access. Hosing down is now considerably more effective. Furthermore, I can now see the debris where my view was blocked before.


#7

kbowley

kbowley

Just leave the shields off so you can hose the deck off. The decomposing grass buildup can cause the deck to rust.


#8

T

Tdj2591

kbowley said:
Just leave the shields off so you can hose the deck off. The decomposing grass buildup can cause the deck to rust.
Click to expand...
Someone removed the shields off my 80 year old aunt’s zero turn. She wasn’t thinking, reached down to remove some debris from the deck while mowing and now has one less finger. True story!


#9

D

Diwali

kbowley said:
Just leave the shields off so you can hose the deck off. The decomposing grass buildup can cause the deck to rust
Click to expand...
You’re right! I believe the collection of grass debris on the deck is what caused the pulley brake to seize. There were other signs of corrosion too: springs, deck steel etc. and this is a machine that is less than 2 years old and has never been stored outside.
The shields are staying off for good!


#10

D

Diwali

Tdj2591 said:
Someone removed the shields off my 80 year old aunt’s zero turn. She wasn’t thinking, reached down to remove some debris from the deck while mowing and now has one less finger. True story!
Click to expand...
Sorry to read that. Clearing a rotating deck is risky; I‘ve never done it.
I did hear of an Australian lady who severely injured her foot cutting on a slope. She put her foot down to stop a potential rollover but, unfortunately, the foot went under the deck. ☹️


#11

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

Blowing off equipment with a blower is better than hosing it off. If done consistently enough, grass won’t build up all over the machine. However, if you never grease the zerk fittings, it is doubtful you blow off equipment .


#12

S

slomo

Yeah what cooling fins........


#13

T

tacod

Diwali said:
Thanks. I suspected the shields were there because of a legal requirement. I'm guessing it didn't apply to the UK in 2008 when I bought a new Craftsman LT2000 (US made).
However, I was disappointed to find so much debris had accumulated behind the shields. I now realise the regular hosing down wasn't reaching behind the shields. Something for me to think about in future.
BTW, the slipping belt was due to one of the pulley brakes being stuck and not releasing due to corrosion. Fixed with a bit of lubrication and luckily the belt is still good.
PS. "Palaver" - $2!! You've been robbed!! It's free in the UK.
Click to expand...
I like to use air after mowing to clear out all the nooks and crannies that gather grass. I use my blower to clean it all out.


#14

D

Diwali

I agree blowing off with air is preferable to hosing down with water but not everyone has an air compressor.
I do have a small one but it doesn't have enough capacity to clean the whole deck hence the use of a water jet. However, it is quite good for blowing off the accumulated water (and also the cooling fins on the engine block!).
I guess, what I really need is a bigger compressor unit?? I'll just add it to my long shopping list. ;-)


#15

2

2muchgrass2mow

My former barber (he's been retired for a couple years now) had disabled the kill switch under the mower seat. He also was known to imbibe regularly and excessively. One day he was mowing across a sloping ditch line, and the mower began to flip. He instinctively put his foot down, but it flipped anyway and literally "sliced" off about a half inch of the bottom of his foot from the heel to the pad just behind the toes! He went through many surgeries and still wears a boot. He made his living standing up, and it proved to be, in part, why he retired.


#16

T

tacod

Diwali said:
I agree blowing off with air is preferable to hosing down with water but not everyone has an air compressor.
I do have a small one but it doesn't have enough capacity to clean the whole deck hence the use of a water jet. However, it is quite good for blowing off the accumulated water (and also the cooling fins on the engine block!).
I guess, what I really need is a bigger compressor unit?? I'll just add it to my long shopping list. ;-)
Click to expand...
I use the blower that I also use for ”sweeping“ the driveway and sidewalks. But this could just be another tool for your wishlist… 😉


#17

2

2muchgrass2mow

tacod said:
I use the blower that I also use for ”sweeping“ the driveway and sidewalks. But this could just be another tool for your wishlist… 😉
Click to expand...
I have an EGO 56V blower and just purchased their weed eater. Both are beasts! I'm not a huge fan of electric yard tools, but the weed eater is especially impressive. Every other one I've ever owned eventually gave me fits with the trimmer line jamming up. NO more!!


#18

F

Forest#2

You might think about:
Instead of hosing off a deck for debris removal try using air pressure or a leaf blower. Reduces the amount of rusting.


#19

L

LawnWizard

Diwali said:
Removed the deck to find the cause of belt slip. What a palaver! There are 4 shields/panels surrounding the deck that had to be removed before I could access the deck. What is the purpose of these? My previous mower had none at all.
Click to expand...
A good strong blower is your best friend for cleaning deck after each use.


#20

D

davis2

Why not use a leaf blower or compressor to blow the grass out from the pulley area?


#21

D

davis2

davis2 said:
Why not use a leaf blower or compressor to blow the grass out from the pulley area?
Click to expand...
Oops, should have read all posts before replying.


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