John Deere 425 greasing the mower deck

[weeder]

I need to grease the PTO driveshaft on my 54-inch mower deck. Is there an easier way to do that without having to remove the deck?

 

[beenthere]

Not that I know of, assuming you are speaking of the universal joints on that PTO shaft.

 

[weeder]

Yes, I am, could a person take off the rear wheels and get to the serts that way? It is very hard for me to remove the deck and reinstall. I also don't have anybody close that could do it for me.

 

[bigtiller]

Yes, I am, could a person take off the rear wheels and get to the serts that way? It is very hard for me to remove the deck and reinstall. I also don't have anybody close that could do it for me.

Try this..
Raise the deck wheels up out of the way.
lower the deck onto the floor, or as low as it will go.
uncouple the tractor side of the pto shaft from the tractor.
it should swing out far enough for you to grease it.
for the other end, turn it until you see the zerk.
a long hose and a LockNlube grease gun coupler is helpful.

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[beenthere]

A trick to disconnect the PTO slip connector on the non-AWS 425 is to reach it from the rear underneath the transaxle. Doesn't work on the AWS as the steering linkages are in the way.
But how long has it been since the joint was greased ?

 

[weeder]

I greased it about 2 yrs ago when I had the deck out to weld some holes on it

 

[weeder]

A trick to disconnect the PTO slip connector on the non-AWS 425 is to reach it from the rear underneath the transaxle. Doesn't work on the AWS as the steering linkages are in the way.
But how long has it been since the joint was greased ?

It might be easier for me to remove the rear wheels to give me room to get my arms back there to remove the PTO slip connector?

 

[beenthere]

Yes, laying across the mower gauge wheel to get one hand on that slip connector is a stretch, for sure. At least it doesn't require two hands. But removing the wheel may be what I will try too. I have three 54" decks now.

When I bought my first 425 in '98, the ease of removing and installing the deck was one of the prime features, compared to any other mower deck on the market that I was familiar with. But agree, at 86 now, the "ease" has faded but still doable.

 

[weeder]

Thanks, I will try that when it cools down outside. My old body can't take the humidity and heat anymore like it used too even in the garage with a fan.

 

[bigtiller]

Do you have a trailer you could drive it onto?

That way, the tractor would be higher off the ground and easier to work on.