Fix for 62D MMM Creating Divots with Front Wheels

chevy · May 2, 2007

I believe I have come up with a fix for this problem.
I added grease zerks to the pivot points. The wheel bracket now spin very well on the shaft.
I also rounded off both the square edges of both wheels. I used a 1 1/2" radius router bit to round the wheels. It makes a mess. The dust that comes off the wheels is very fine.
I mowed tonight for the first time after making the fix & the wheels did not dig in one time. It raind today so I was not expecting it to work so well.

ChuckinNH · May 2, 2007

I was at a JD dealer a while ago, and mentioned the divot problem to a salesman that was showing me the 2000 series. He said that the wheels are designed to be locked in the forward position, and should not be free to rotate. He said that the JD decks are suspended, and the wheels should only act as anti scalp devices. He said that he has seen people running the decks with the lock for the wheels unlocked, and suspects that they will have problems.
In the real world, does he make sense at all?

chevy · May 2, 2007

There is no way to lock the front wheels on the 62D deck. They are made to swivel. He is correct in that the wheel are run suspended. The problem comes in when your lawn is not as flat as a football field.

Chris2520 · May 2, 2007

Where is the pictures of the repair...

Chris...

YASH2520 · May 3, 2007

ChuckinNH said:
I was at a JD dealer a while ago, and mentioned the divot problem to a salesman that was showing me the 2000 series. He said that the wheels are designed to be locked in the forward position, and should not be free to rotate. He said that the JD decks are suspended, and the wheels should only act as anti scalp devices. He said that he has seen people running the decks with the lock for the wheels unlocked, and suspects that they will have problems.
In the real world, does he make sense at all?

The only lock is for height adjustment. The front wheels are made to rotate. I had the dealer enter a trouble request on mine and it came back to install washers (which act as a bearing surface) and grease fittings to allow the wheels to spin more freely (which the dealer complete)

kljunior · May 3, 2007

I've operated all kinds of commercial mowing equipment and don't understand JD's theory on this one. The only deck wheels that should be designed to swivel are those on a non floating deck, where the weight of the deck is always on the wheels. I can imagine the way those caster wheels spin freely then "land" in a bad position when the terrain changes. I have not seen it as I have the 62c on a 2305 and it doesn't have any such problems.

chevy · May 4, 2007

Chris2520 said:
Where is the pictures of the repair...

Chris...

Sorry Chris,

I have been working to much. I was lucky to get the mod done & the yard mowed.

Chris2520 · May 5, 2007

chevy said:
Sorry Chris,

I have been working to much. I was lucky to get the mod done & the yard mowed.

Chevy , read my reply to the other thread about the problem. the wheel is not offset enough to work right. it was a design mistake. you need to brake out the plasma torch and welder. its a easy fix...

Maybe i should get all of you to send your wheels to me for fixing. i could get rich.

3 inch offset. and it will never dig in the yard again....

chevy · May 5, 2007

Thanks Chris.
Now I feel like a moron. John Deere had the idea first.
I should have read more about the problem here.

GordNovo · May 6, 2007

My dealer is delivering my 2320 tomorrow morning. I'll get his opinion on this issue. The 62D is on order and I should get it in 10 days apparently.

Chris2520 said:
Maybe i should get all of you to send your wheels to me for fixing. i could get rich. 3 inch offset. and it will never dig in the yard again....

Chris can you post a picture of your fix?

Gord

Chris2520 · May 6, 2007

No gordnovo i can't...

I dont have a mower deck on my 2520.
but i use to work on alot of them. just like the county uses to mow the medians on the road. it is simple Geometry. JD did not put enough offset on the wheels. there to strate up and down under the pin in witch it swivels on. it needs to be offset about 3 or so inches. and it will follow its leading edge , if you under stand what i mean. look at the wheels on the front of a zero turn mower. and look how the wheels are offset of the mounting pin. and you will see exactly what i am saying. slite fab work is all that is needed to correct the problem.....

chevy · May 6, 2007

Chris,
This is the limit on increasing the offset of the wheels without reworking the mounting brackets on the deck. The factory offset is 7/8". I now have about 1 5/8" of offset. This leaves about 3/16" on clearence between the deck & wheel.

Nuru · May 6, 2007

I actually believe I get it now that onece you said look at the zero turns.

Chris2520 · May 6, 2007

chevy said:
Chris,
This is the limit on increasing the offset of the wheels without reworking the mounting brackets on the deck. The factory offset is 7/8". I now have about 1 5/8" of offset. This leaves about 3/16" on clearence between the deck & wheel.

Chevy that will help. but i am sorry to say . its not enough.

it really needs at least 2 to three inches. what you have done was the right thing to do. and it will most likely work on level ground. when the ground is uneven it still will not track properly. in the end. a refab musts be done to make it work in all conditions. if there is someone in your area that can weld. thay can fix them in a few mins...

but you got the idea now. you just need a little more.
when it is offset right. it will cut just as smooth as a GX lawn tractor.
I know my GX cuts as smooth as a golf course...

chevy · May 6, 2007

I tried out the mower & the wheels work very well.
Chris my mower cut fine before I made any changes and the changes did not make any change in how the mower cut. It cut very smooth before & after the changes. The problem was the diviots.

Chris2520 · May 6, 2007

Well if it not plugging your grass anymore. i guess your in good
shape now...

glad you got it working for you. if it does it anymore. just add more offset. and it will
not ever do it again. wet or dry....

LBrown59 · May 7, 2007

kljunior said:
I've operated all kinds of commercial mowing equipment and don't understand JD's theory on this one. The only deck wheels that should be designed to swivel are those on a non floating deck, where the weight of the deck is always on the wheels. I can imagine the way those caster wheels spin freely then "land" in a bad position when the terrain changes. I have not seen it as I have the 62c on a 2305 and it doesn't have any such problems.

The front caster wheels on the 54'' deck on my CC GT 2554 work just great - No problems with them.
If they will work on the CC there is no reason they should not work on the JD if JD installs them correctly.