JD Z425 Zero Turn - Deck pulley stripping out.

rubantin

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May 23, 2014
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I recently bought the mower and proceeded to mow a 7 inch thick lawn.... The right blade deck pulley ended up stripping out and stripping out the spindle with it... I bought a new mandrel and pulley ($150) and replaced them. It lasted 5 minutes and did it again... So, I decided that I would make due with what I had. I ground off the zinc on the pulley/spindle nut and surface ground the inside of the pulley. I then welded (MIG) the nut to the pulley. Reassembled the mower and took it for a mow. It worked great for about 2 minutes until the weld broke away from the pulley....

I assumed the pulley was zinc coated steel ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LQ7K0 )? What do you all think this pulley made of? It's definitely to heavy to be aluminum.
 

rubantin

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May 23, 2014
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NVM, decided to give it a 3rd try. I must not have ground all the zinc off.... working great now... I have covid and am trying to think... not very easy... lol
 

bertsmobile1

Lawn Royalty
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Nov 29, 2014
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How easy does the spindle spin ?
You have a serious problem with that deck if it can strip out a pulley that fast assuming you tightened the nut to specification
 
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