The Sister In law asked if I would do the annual service on her JD D-170. So I obtained two new spark plugs, one air filter, one oil filter, one gas filter and two quarts of oil.
Everything was pretty straight forward. Spark Plugs easy to access and remove. Fuel filter easy to change and didn't lose much gas. This was after the side panel which is held on with one 8 mm bolt was removed. The removal of the panel also allowed easy access to the oil filter for removal. Draining the oil required removing the panel on the other side be removing the same 8 mm holding bolt. Push in and turn the oil drain line plug, and pull off the stem now that was easy. Only spilled a little oil. The air filter was also easy, remove the two fasteners holding the air cleaner cover on, pull up and out on the old air filter, replace with new filter and replace cover.
Then came the fun part. Getting the unit high enough up in the air to remove the blades for sharpening. Placed a 3 &1/2 ton jack under the bumper on the front. Jacked to maximum height. Not high enough to remove blades. Let down and added a short piece of 4x4 to increase height. Did not help that much. Went to the rear then with the jack. Jacked the unit up still no go. Lowered down and added the 4x4 block. still no go. Slid a set of jack stands under the axle on each side. Lowered the mower down onto the jack stands. Replaced the 4x4 wooden block with a 8x8 one. Raised the jack up again. This time could get the mower just high enough to remove the blades with a battery powered impact. Found the blades being held onto a serrated our groved shaft with a 24 mm nut. (Boy was it tight) The blades also have a star burst center hole that has to be lined up with the splines on the shaft.
Got the blades sharpened and replaced and the sister in law was happy.
Next year when she asks I think i will block the rear wheels good, then take the tractor, attach lifting straps to the loader bucket and pick the front end up until the rear end is almost on the ground, or take the forks and do the same.
Everything was pretty straight forward. Spark Plugs easy to access and remove. Fuel filter easy to change and didn't lose much gas. This was after the side panel which is held on with one 8 mm bolt was removed. The removal of the panel also allowed easy access to the oil filter for removal. Draining the oil required removing the panel on the other side be removing the same 8 mm holding bolt. Push in and turn the oil drain line plug, and pull off the stem now that was easy. Only spilled a little oil. The air filter was also easy, remove the two fasteners holding the air cleaner cover on, pull up and out on the old air filter, replace with new filter and replace cover.
Then came the fun part. Getting the unit high enough up in the air to remove the blades for sharpening. Placed a 3 &1/2 ton jack under the bumper on the front. Jacked to maximum height. Not high enough to remove blades. Let down and added a short piece of 4x4 to increase height. Did not help that much. Went to the rear then with the jack. Jacked the unit up still no go. Lowered down and added the 4x4 block. still no go. Slid a set of jack stands under the axle on each side. Lowered the mower down onto the jack stands. Replaced the 4x4 wooden block with a 8x8 one. Raised the jack up again. This time could get the mower just high enough to remove the blades with a battery powered impact. Found the blades being held onto a serrated our groved shaft with a 24 mm nut. (Boy was it tight) The blades also have a star burst center hole that has to be lined up with the splines on the shaft.
Got the blades sharpened and replaced and the sister in law was happy.
Next year when she asks I think i will block the rear wheels good, then take the tractor, attach lifting straps to the loader bucket and pick the front end up until the rear end is almost on the ground, or take the forks and do the same.
