Woods Mower

[BASS813]

I have a Woods Rear Discharge Mower Model PRD7200. My belt came off the pulleys and I am having trouble removing the shields. Each shield has two bolts that go through the mower deck and have a 3/8 Square nut with a retainer. I have tried crescent, open-end, and vise grip wrenches to hold the nut with little success. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[RoyJackson]

When you write "retainer", is it something that prevents the nut from turning? And, is the nut turning anyway? Now, either the nut is worn or the retainer is turning too...that sound right?
Or, is the nut rusted to the bolt threads? If that's the case, try PB Blaster or another good quality penetrating oil. Might have to sacrifice the nut and bolt though and cut the nut or bolt head off.

BTW, you shouldn't have to pull the shields off the top of the deck. You should disconnect the idler spring (under the deck...make sure you have that mower well secured when working under it!!!) and replace the belt on the pulleys.

If you don't have the manual, you can download it as a .pdf from the Woods website.

I have the same RFM, by the way...mine is just painted green and sold by Deere (Frontier brand).

 

[mikehaugen]

I have a Woods Rear Discharge Mower Model PRD7200. My belt came off the pulleys and I am having trouble removing the shields. Each shield has two bolts that go through the mower deck and have a 3/8 Square nut with a retainer. I have tried crescent, open-end, and vise grip wrenches to hold the nut with little success. Any suggestions would be helpful.

They make 8-point sockets for use on square nuts, craftsman has them, as well as others im sure. I can't speak from experience, but I would check out Roy's suggestion first about not removing the shields.

 

[whistlepig]

I have a Woods PRD7200. The two top covers do have to be removed to access the belt. I do this by removing the hex head bolts that hold the covers on with a socket. Sounds like maybe the nuts for the bolts may be spinning. Mine doesn't do that as the nuts are tacked to the mower deck.

 

[BASS813]

You are correct; the two top covers do have to be removed to access the belt. All the nuts for the bolts are spinning. "Square nut w/retainer" is from the "Woods Parts" section of my ops manual; not my words. I have no idea what the retainer looks like but I think it is the reason I am having problems removing the bolts.

 

[whistlepig]

If it were my PRD7200 I would take my handy dandy 5" grinder with a cutoff wheel and nuke the bolts off. Then start out with fresh hardware. Bolts that mess with me die a sudden death.

 

[BASS813]

That's my next step!!!

 

[BASS813]

This is the response from "Woods" - "Those square nuts should be held by the frame of the mower. You should only have to loosen the bolt on top." However, my problem persists because all 4 nuts are turning and are not held by the frame.

 

[JD5210]

I have a gm1072R basically the same mower, if fact the gear box says WOODS on it. The bolts have rusted to the nuts and the square nuts are either now round or turning inside the frame. I would get some penetrating oil and spray the bolts as best you can several times a day over a 3 to 4 day period. Then try using an old screw driver or something similar to put between the nut and the mower to keep the nut from spinning and see, if you can remove the bolts.

I would start with the bolts on the outside ends as you will be able to get under the mower to put the screw driver into the nut slot/hole. The inside ones (the ones in the center) are another story. I will have to give that more thought and look at mine.

Twice a year I remove those 8 bolts and soak them in WD-40 to keep them from rusting. I have read that over greasing the spindles causes the grease to get on the pulleys causing the belt to come off.

I am guessing you have the manual, but if not PM me and I will e-mail you one. If there is an value in having pictures, let me and I will take some for you.

For GM1072 owners if you go to the following link and enter gm1072, you can download the owners manual.

John Deere Ag - New Equipment: Technical Publications - Equipment List

 

[RoyJackson]

I have a gm1072R basically the same mower...

For GM1072 owners if you go to the following link and enter gm1072, you can download the owners manual.

John Deere Ag - New Equipment: Technical Publications - Equipment List

Or go to the Woods equipment site and download the manual for the PDR7200...same mower without the Frontier decals.
(I also have the Frontier model)