Help Loosening up

[Suburban Plowboy]

Help Loosening up Pivot Shaft on 60" Deck

I have a John Deere 430. Removing the mower deck is a pain. There is a lever on the left side, and you pull it to rotate a part that connects two arms to the deck. The rotating part has two big flanges that press against the inside of the frame. It's supposed to be loose enough to permit the part to rotate pretty easily, but on my tractor, it's very tight, making reinserting the part very difficult.

I assume this is a defect. Surely they don't expect you to use a hammer every time you install the deck.

The part number is AM39379.

I was considering putting a bottle jack between the frame rails and bending them outward a millimeter or so, to loosen it up. Then I wondered if this was likely to split whatever connects the frame rails.

Can anyone here give me advice? I hate it when things that are supposed to be fast and easy to take apart turn out to be scams.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Help Loosening up Pivot Shaft on 60" Deck

I think I may use a clamp to bend the flanges. If they break, it's easier to repair than the frame.

 

[Kish318420]

Can you take a pic and post, I have a 430 with a 60" deck, so I can help but need some more info. I think you talking about the lift arms and the quick release pins???

The P/N you gave is the deck drive shaft???

 

[Ford850]

It sounds like he's describing this assembly with that part number. AM39379 - SHAFT fits John Deere | AFTERMARKET.SUPPLY

 

[beenthere]

Suburban Plowboy
Don't think it is either a defect in design or a scam.. just sayin...

Maybe worn and need of a replacement.

(removed spring pin comment)

Edit:
I think Ford850 has the correct part shown in that link.

 

[bg71361]

I have a John Deere 430. Removing the mower deck is a pain. There is a lever on the left side, and you pull it to rotate a part that connects two arms to the deck. The rotating part has two big flanges that press against the inside of the frame. It's supposed to be loose enough to permit the part to rotate pretty easily, but on my tractor, it's very tight, making reinserting the part very difficult.

Have you pulled the pin that lets the handle rotate?

 

[bg71361]

See pictures.

 

[Kish318420]

I spray the surface that fits inside of the frame and the inner part of the frame with a dry lube. Plus you have to get that pin to move freely also.

 

[Ron of Va]

If it were mine, I would remove the deck and take a flap disc to both rubbing surfaces. A few thousandths off would not hurt a thing.

A flap disc like this; 4-1/2 in. 36 Grit Flap Disc
If you do not have a grinder, you can use a large ******* file. (remember files should only be used on the push stroke)

 

[Thomas]

As others already said also anti seize the living heck out of it.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Help Loosening up Pivot Shaft on 60" Deck

The part number I gave is correct.

BG71361's pictures show the correct part. Yes, I pulled the pin. I don't have the tractor here with me by the PC, but I don't think you can remove the deck with that pin in place. I believe it prevents the part from rotating.

Maybe worn and need of a replacement.

If it were worn, it would be easier to use, not harder.

Far as I can tell, there is no need for these parts to fit tightly.

It's really funny. I found a video with some model dropping the deck in about thirty seconds, without getting on the ground. No, sweetheart. It doesn't really do that. Maybe it works that way after the advertising team works the tractor over with an angle grinder.

It's nice to have a good clear photo of the part in place. It looks like a flap disk might help. I was reluctant to scrape off whatever coating John Deere had put on the frame, but I guess there isn't much left after all the years of needless scraping due to an improper fit. I don't know if a bottle jack would be strong enough to bend the frame. It doesn't look like there are any welds down there that could break.

 

[beenthere]

SP
When I referred to a "worn" part, I thought you were having a struggle with the J-pins.. and they can be a struggle if deck weight isn't removed.

And since the year the 430 was born (last 1992), there have been improvements in the draft bracket as well as the rotation of the deck wheels to turn 90 deg to roll out the deck rather than dragging it. Or was your video for that 430 ?? And the X series have done away with the J-pins.
Neighbor just bought one with the drive-over deck.. :dance1:

Wish you success with loosening this up.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Help Loosening up Pivot Shaft on 60" Deck

I have to turn the wheels sideways in order to get the deck out, and I also have to remove one wheel. I have to drag it (367 pounds) across the ground. The gearbox is made so it hits the frame on the way out, so if you don't remove one wheel, the deck gets stuck. If any John Deere engineers are reading this forum: way to go, boys. This is why Honda didn't hire you.

The PTO shaft is very hard to put back on. I have cleaned it and greased it, but it does not like sliding onto the tractor's shaft. I wire-wheeled and filed the square part that slides inside the shaft so it wouldn't bind. No help.

I am thinking I should replace the bearings. I don't know how old they are. I saw a video about deck bearings. It said the grease zerks do precisely nothing. The guy in the video said the bearings were sealed, and that the zerk was between them, so all grease does is fill an empty cavity between bearings that can't be greased. Don't know if it's true for all JD decks, but he pulled one open in the video, and he was right about that model. His solution was to remove the seals from the inner sides of the bearings, to let grease in.

I would like to find out if it's true, because there is no point in wasting several ounces of grease.

 

[Kish318420]

The deck is to be removed from the right side of tractor. There is a front wheel bracket on the left front of deck, you pull the 2 pins and the assembly (the should allow passage by the tractor front wheels). Remove the spring caps on top of the the front two wheels, to allow them to freely rotate. Back wheels you pull pins and rotate 90 degrees, so wheels are parallel to the rear deck. I still use a jack (from Lowes) to lift the front of the tractor to get the gearbox by. Guess you need to either get bigger tires $$$$ on the tractor or air them way up and remember to let the air out :confused2:

It's all in the Operator's Manual on the deck (OM-M88418) that comes when you buy the tractor and deck. Which get lost as it passes from owner to owner.