62D MMM Creating Divots with Front Wheels

[ORCM]

You have the old wheel. I just bought a 62d last week and it has the more rounded wheels. They almost look like very large roller blade wheels.

After I posted, I looked further back in the post and saw some pics of the newer wheels. Like I said I haven't had any problems, but I might hit my dealer up for the new style...

 

[bz1]

I want to thank all you folks who posted here and helped me to head off this problem with front gauge wheels. I just bought a 2520 with 62D deck. First thing I noticed when it was delivered is no grease fittings on the front castors and not much offset on the wheel. I knew this wouldn't work for long. I haven't even used the deck yet but I contacted my dealer and told him I wanted the fix that many of you described. My dealer is mostly a large tractor dealer so he didn't know anything about it. But after checking, sure enough, there is a kit to fix the problem by installing new wheels and zirk fittings. The kit is on the way so thanks to all. Personally I like the mower deck I have on my 4100 better than this one. That deck could be rolled out from under the machine sideways which worked really slick. Much less trouble to remove if you have a flat, hard surface to do it on. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to lower my 62D to the ground before I drive over it. Then after taking it off the machine how do you get it up off the ground onto the wheels again? I find having to hook it to the 3 point a real pain taking too much time. Oh well.

 

[BigD9]

After dropping the deck, the few times I have actually had to roll it away I lifted the pin for the wheel shaft, just lifted one corner of the deck and let the wheel drop snapping the pin in with my knee. Probably wound be easier to use the FEL hooks and lift the deck a little, but I didn't think of that at the time!


Funny about the deck not having the Zerk fittings on the gage wheels. My deck is just over a year old now and it came with the fittings on the wheels and swivel joint just above the wheels. So if I counted correctly, the gage wheels have 6 grease fittings, plus the ones on the deck.

 

[bz1]

I found that my deck was made in 2006. Dealer must have had it left over since then. I thought about telling him when I bought the tractor that I don't want a deck he's had around just in case the newer ones are better. But I figured that these have been out a while and what kind of things could possibly be wrong with a 2006 deck. Well, I guess I found one thing.

 

[2deeskip]

Glad I found this thread as I just started using my new 62D, on a 2320, bought last fall & was disturbed the way it was tearing up the turf. Looks like I will be stopping by the dealer real soon (they're only a couple hundred yards from where I work). My solution was to raise the deck every time I reversed, but that was a pain & it still dug in if the wheel was turned wrong when I dropped the deck. Otherwise I am happy with the mower, except for the noise.
Thanks to all for the info.

Skip

 

[RollTideRam]

I was one of the first to have problems with a 62d. I took a year to get it working right. I saw a new deck at the dealer last Saturday. It had the rounded wheels front and back, grease fittings and it even had the water hose hookup for cleaning the deck. JC

 

[2deeskip]

Stopped at my friendly JD dealer last week & discussed my "divot" problem. I got mostly blank stares with the comment "nobody has complained", but they did admit they did not have a lot of the "Ds" out yet. Mike got on the computer and announced, yep thats a problem and there are new wheels, we'll order them. Took my "guide" (that's what JD calls them) spindles in, they zerked them & installed the new wheels. Problem solved.
I mowed the other day between the monsoons, on pretty soft ground, & those wheels just rotated as necessary, without turf damage.
I'm a happy camper (customer).

Skip

 

[bz1]

I got my wheel kit from the dealer this past week. The kit was just wheels. The dealer gave me two zerks to go along with them. I didn't want to bring the deck to the dealer since I figured that this time of year it would take 2 weeks to get it back. I did the work myself. Took several hours. The kit did not come with any instructions, just 4 new wheels. After I installed the zerk on the first wheel I tried greasing it. The shaft fits so tightly into the plastic bushing that I could hardly get grease into the joint and without grease all the way around the castor still didn't turn that smooth. So I took it back apart and ground a groove around the shaft in line with the zerk. The grease went in very easy now until it started oozing out top and bottom. They now turn real good. I mowed for the first time today and the castors worked great. With the old dry bushing I couldn't push my deck around on the garage floor at all because the castors wouldn't turn. Now I can push it around and the castors turn nicely allowing me to steer the deck into a parking place. I'm so glad you guys told me about this fix. Thanks again.

 

[Farm]

I hate to beat a dead horse but I've been going round and round with my dealer about the updated wheels. They can't find anything in their computers other than to admit that, yes there is a new wheel design on the newer versions of the 62D deck. Since they can't find anything issued by Deere regarding the fix, they can't replace them as a warranty item.

I called JD customer service and was told "There is not an update kit. You will have to talk to your dealer and see if they can or will order the new wheels." She also told me that it isn't a warranty issue. So, basically, I got nowhere with them.

Does anybody have any specific information about a kit item # or another piece of data that I could give to my dealer regarding the 62D wheel update??? I've already bent a wheel because they won't rotate due to the poor design.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Rara Avis]

This photo is similar to my deck, but my deck has both front wheels like the one on the RIGHT side of the deck...which has a spring mechanism to realign the front wheels...You might check with JD to see if they can get you something similar...

 

[Runner]

You could refer them to the parts diagram on the JD web site for the 62D mower deck. It shows two different wheel assemblies for the front of the 62D. I would think that would be enough for them to know there was a change. Sorry, I don't know the Dtach number, but I half remember seeing one mentioned somewhere in this thread (or one of the others on this topic).

When I ordered my deck, I specifically mentioned the two different types of wheels and showed the salesman the parts diagram, and it came in with the new wheels on the front.

Since then (December 07), I have heard of others getting new decks with the updated wheels on all four corners. On the other hand, I'm also still seeing 62D's with the old style wheels on all four corners at the dealers.

 

[Runner]

Here's the parts diagram:

 

[Dale1995]

I am having the same problem, but I have a 2320 tractor, just 7 hours on it.... 62D Deck. Everywhere i mow I have two ruts or tracks. I figured the lawn was realy wet, we have had alot of rain here. My x485 had a 54C deck and never had those problems. It had softball sized rollers that worked well. I have not checked the adjustments yet...I figured my dealer should have set this all up properly. Other than that I love the deck, it does a good job mowing and is very quite. but I hate those ruts....so what I have been doing for now is lifting the deck when I back up (a real pain) Mine has skinny wheels with rounded edges. why do some decks have a different wheel design. Let me know what you find out. By the way which style wheel is the newest one. I also have a place to wash my deck with the water hose.

 

[Runner]

The new ones have rounded shoulders, look like donuts.

 

[Farm]

You could refer them to the parts diagram on the JD web site for the 62D mower deck. It shows two different wheel assemblies for the front of the 62D. I would think that would be enough for them to know there was a change. Sorry, I don't know the Dtach number, but I half remember seeing one mentioned somewhere in this thread (or one of the others on this topic).

When I ordered my deck, I specifically mentioned the two different types of wheels and showed the salesman the parts diagram, and it came in with the new wheels on the front.

Since then (December 07), I have heard of others getting new decks with the updated wheels on all four corners. On the other hand, I'm also still seeing 62D's with the old style wheels on all four corners at the dealers.

I've searched several of the threads pertaining to the 62D wheel issue and can't find anything specific to a Dtach number or other reference number from JD. Unless there is something specific from JD, my dealer doesn't feel like they should switch the wheels out as a warranty issue. If anyone has a reference number on their wheel replacement invoice or knows of another way to convince my dealer that is SHOULD be a warranty issue, please let me know.
Thanks.

 

[chen]

I have the same issue. Wheels dig in all the time and my property is slightly sloped so over the span of two years the pins that support the wheels bent sufficiently that I had to purchase new ones for the front. Also, my rear wheels snapped off most likely due to too much stress and poor engineering in the design. It suprises me that JD's engineers didn't realize the potential or flat out ignored it that this could happen and went with a weak rear support structure. Anyone else have this happen to them? I was informed by my dealer that I must be doing something wrong!! Wasn't too happy about that to say the least. I am going to insist that they pick up my unit and get it corrected, but we'll see where that goes.

 

[Nuru]

I adjusted my deck this week and I forgot to adjust the wheels and I temporarily had a few scuffs, but i adjusted my wheels and now all is fine.

 

[wingsaircharter]

My dealer replaced the wheels at no cost. Actually they sent me four wheels and 2 zerks for no cost. They told me that they ate the cost cause the deck it self was over a year old and it only has a one year warranty. There is a definite problem with the original style. They are anti-scalp wheels. They should not normally touch the turf. If anyone wants some old style wheels, I have some to sell.