John Deere Mower Deck Repair, Idler and Welding

[@rayjrdibenedetto867]

Good morning. Nice video. Thank you. Does that make the belt not run true anymore? Just wondering is all. Thank you and have a good day

[@mattscott4387]

Thanks man! I have a 54” deck z325e less than a year (about 34 hours) on it. I have a little different setup but the same problem. It was peeling off from the deck. Your video helps!

[@marcellemay7721]

Glad I could help

[@davidfoulk3078]

Very nice repair you were thorough and complete no “hob cobbling” whatsoever.

[@KennyJoe01]

My same exact pulley completely fell off so I wasn’t sure exactly how it went back on until I watched your video. Thanks

[@richardjura7044]

Marcel, This peaked my interest and was very enjoyable watching and getting educated. Used Re-inforcement plates on my JD L-130.Thank you. Rick

[@breckenpeter5343]

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[@xavierkylo5655]

@Brecken Peter Yea, have been using instaflixxer for months myself :)

[@johnhall138]

Thanks for this video. It is exactly what I was looking for because my local guy said this wouldn't last but your's looks substantial enough to actually be better than new.

[@1notgilty]

Great video and very creative and informative. I've been repairing my John Deere mower deck that had some similar rust problems and a broken hanger hook. The John Deere dealer was of NO help and wanted to sell me a replacement housing (not a complete deck with pulleys, spindles and other parts) for about $2,000. I was able to get the welding done and replace some parts and paint it for about $350 total. Good as new!

[@anthonymarino4260]

smart move

[@TheWeekendMedic]

Thanks, I have exact same deck, with exact same issue. Tomorrow I'll fire up the welder and get this done - much appreciated.

[@TyBower]

Nice machine shop you've got there. That kind of equipment makes these repairs much easier.

[@marcellemay7721]

Absolutely... I've repaired more things destined for the scrap heap in that shop, that I've paid for those machines over the course of my life. I'm a tinkerer and builder of things, so it's always been my goal to be able to build and fix whatever.

[@anthonymarino4260]

@@marcellemay7721 me too

[@kenlorentzen]

I repair these worn/fatigued holes by welding in a heavy fender washer with the right size hole for the idler bolt - no fabrication required. Thanks for the video!

[@parkerbirch1475]

Good call Garth!! You could weld in a grade 8 washer flush. Then metal finish it with a grinder. You would never know it was there from either side of the deck.. That repair looks fucked up!! Oh yeah wait, what a nice repair job.

[@a737mech]

Great job!

[@kirkbrindley1951]

I am replacing the exact Pulley and because of your well informative video I think I'm heading over to Harbor Freight to get a few air compressor tools to clean the bottom of my deck and IF and that's purposely a big IF, I can find a wielder, I plan to reinforce that coupling holding the bolt in place cause you are correct, the bolt is carrying all the load and as that pulley wobbles over time it will cause it to wear and tear through the bottom. In future use some lubricating oil for your drilling. Will help you save on the wear and tear on your bits. Loved the video and as a fellow DIY'er welcomed the info. Great job and look forward to seeing more.

[@cavinallen1768]

John Deere part number is M71682. Cut the old bolt off by a new bolt in and put it through the new bushing. $4.21

[@greggriner9820]

Same thing happened to my John Deere 525e Ztrak (3 weeks out of warranty). Bad design on that idler pulley. Looks like I will be doing the same thing you showed. Thanks a lot for the video.

[@lurkinbear95]

Nice weld man!

[@johnhunt3905]

Thanks for using additional tools, retired enjoyed the craftmenship. Chef John

[@ronaldwprovo5530]

Thank you from Cheboygn Mi

[@dadsdiygarage3571]

Great content will be fixing mine today

[@billlovett4256]

I'm jealous of the shop. Makes me think you might be able to afford another deck. Haha. Obviously you enjoy tinkering and that's why you do it. Interesting repair. Thanks.

[@marcellemay7721]

Well actually, not really. That shop represents almost 4 decades of tool accumulation and bargain hunting. You see, if I had bought a brand new replacement item every time one of my possessions broke, I wouldn't have money to buy tools. I generally buy used stuff at a bargain price that I know I can fix. I paid $50 for the entire mower, which is A 24 hp John Deere that had a seized mower deck clutch, that had 400 hrs on it. The guy I bought it from replaced it with a brand new John Deere that cost him well over $3500. The Bridgeport milling machine and my surface grinder and all the tooling for them didn't even cost me that much. 😳

[@jackmeadows1789]

Good job, keep fixing makes them last 👍

[@anthonymarino4260]

well done.

[@dhenschel4]

Thanks for the video, I have the 54" version of this deck I am rebuilding now and the topic interested me. Anyway, you already commented on the 1/8" offset so thanks for that. I wanted to let you know that the bolt nearby (you mentioned it early but never followed up) is to hold a 'belt keeper' which is a z-shaped ~1/4" dia rod bent into a z-shape and goes thru the other nearby hole before locking down with the nut. I doubt you put it on, but thats what its for.

[@paulsimonton584]

Thanks, I have this exact problem and was not sure how to fix it. Great!

[@charlesbinding2740]

Any chance of doing a video how to change the primary drive belt on that mower deck 👍.

[@wallytverstol8627]

I'd like to have all the tools he has. good vid

[@kennethmartin9081]

It looks pretty good that's that's probably a whole lot better than it was

[@wallytverstol8627]

I will watch more of these

[@RO-dr1xh]

I have to do the same repair to my LX 277 deck which is identical to yours. Since you welded your metal on the top did it raise the ider to high for the belt to ride correctly. I’m thinking of welding mine on the underside of the deck so the ider stays in the original position.

[@marcellemay7721]

Nah, it's only about an eighth of an inch. The idler had plenty of wobble in it to align itself.

[@jameschappell1894]

nice job

[@davidfoulk3078]

Should’ve put patch underneath the deck and not on top because now the height of the pulley is higher than it was before causing misalignment in the belt and possibly causing premature belt failure.

[@TheCaperfish]

suggestion , use a hole saw to cut out your piece and use the same hole saw to cut the new material , will fit right in with perfect spacing for welding , much less work than cutting squares and rectangles trying to make em fit

[@GTObearclaw1]

I agree with your statement at the end, it takes a lot longer to video a repair and I know it slows me down a great bit. I'd love to do more vids but sometimes I'm just wanting the project done and don't want the added hassle. Thanks for taking the time, and that's one nice set up you got. I with I had a bigger shop. I'm working out of a 30x35 and it gets cramped.

[@marcellemay7721]

Woodchuck Russ the Deck Dr I'm enjoying making the videos so far but it does take time. I'm getting quicker at setting up the cameras, but the editing takes me a while, to make videos that people will actually watch. The shop is 40x60. Up until 2 yrs ago, I was working out of a 2 car garage and a walk in basement. The tools, the shop, and equipment, are a lifetime accumulation that I started when I was in my mid teens. I'm in my early 50s now. I still have my first Craftsmen rolling tool box and most of my first Craftsmen mechanics set. All paid for with my hard earned money. THANKS FOR WATCHING.

[@ronaldwprovo6111]

Thank you.

[@rodneybrand8521]

I just had to do the same thing to a LA105...and yes it would help to clean the mower deck..CHEERS..

[@efrainbeltran4678]

What did this deck come off of

[@kennethrobinson7636]

But appreciate your time and skill, thanks.

[@briankadams66]

Exactly the problem I've discovered today, hopefully I can get it going again.

[@fredhart7904]

You do good work, but man o man do you have nice equipment to work with, like a regular machine shop,

[@1notgilty]

I was thinking the same thing and wondered if Mr. LeMay was a shop teacher or something because of all the great equipment he has in his shop. I'd love to be his neighbor.

[@johnvandergriff3521]

Great Video!!! Thank you!!!

[@canwetalk6535]

I'm guilty of not cleaning my mower deck enough. The last time I did clean my deck I noticed a lot of rust. This winter I plan to rebuild my deck so I may as well strip everything off the deck to sand and repaint it. The deck has been in use 15 years now so it is time.

[@marcellemay7721]

I'm pretty sure most of us are guilty of not cleaning the mower....me included. I usually mow my lawn after I come home from work, so the last thing I want to do is crawl under the mower before dinner...lol

[@brainiac_brian]

I'm late to this party. Firstly, nice work!I I appreciate such attention to detail. I have to do a similar repair. I have a serious question. Raising that pulley up changes the alignment of the belt. Did you make other changes to compensate for this? I've seen many belts jump with less changes in height than you made. Thanks in advance if you ever see my post.

[@marcellemay7721]

No problem at all. It only raised it up by 1/8". The idler pulley rides on the back side of the belt. The pulley is twice as wide as the back of the belt. It's been years and it still going without a hitch. Same belt too. This has been mentioned more than once in the comments...

[@brainiac_brian]

@@marcellemay7721 Thanks again. I did scroll the comments but did not see an answer as clear as yours. My repair is also the idler. With the belt riding the back i see now it doesn't matter. Its a good day today! I learned something!

[@kskentuckyable]

Thank you! Video really helped me out!

[@travismeinert8068]

Nice job hope metal repair didn’t raise your pulley up the 1/8” of steel you used and affected pulley alignment. Something to be concerned with; good luck

[@gavinwarner5263]

My thoughts exactly. I would have removed 1/8" of material from the bottom portion of the spacer that he welded to the repaired section.

[@rickytaylor6954]

good work man !!!!

[@kysupersport]

Knows WTF he's doing! There used to be a guy like this at every rural crossroads...

[@WayneRite758]

You’re crazy to weld without heat resistant gloves. With the idler pulley you repaired mounted 1/8” higher than the others, has it had an effect on the wear of the bearings and/or belt?

[@marcellemay7721]

Wayne Tjornhom I've been welding without gloves for years for small jobs like this. The idler pulley was plenty wide enough to accommodate the slight offset. Thanks for watching.

[@chuckscott9360]

Hi I'll be doing this on my mower tomorrow. Just like to know if it's still working or if it broke again. How long do I have to trade or sell it. Lol

[@marcellemay7721]

Better and stronger than new. Still going strong.

[@chuckscott9360]

@@marcellemay7721 Thank you very much for replying.

[@FletchDoesIt]

Good stuff.

[@danj6289]

You guys gild the lilly. I have a set of torches and a AC225 Buzzbox Lincoln. I pound those things close, and stick 'em with 6011. It takes me MINUTES to make these welds/repairs and if they do break, it only takes me a few minutes to re-weld them. Usually, they last for years of hard abuse. Waste of time trying to make a great repair on a old, worn mower deck. POUND IT, AND STICK IT!!!

[@marcellemay7721]

You should make a video of pounding it and sticking it. 😉

[@alwaysopen7970]

You only need a $250K shop to do this. Makes it hard on us who have a 8 x12 shed and a hand tools. I can make do with most of it but the harder stuff I have to haul somewhere.

[@marcellemay7721]

alwaysopen Not true. This repair could have been done with a 4 inch grinder from harbor freight and a cheap stick welder. I didn't always have the shop I have now. I used to do these kinds of things in my driveway, years ago. I'd rather invest in tools than pay someone to fix my stuff. I don't pay anyone to do anything that entails service and repair of any type. But, I made it a priority in my life to set myself up that way.

[@wildcat2488]

you have to think outside the box . look and buy used i have a 12 x 12 deck at the front doors and a 12 x 12 easy up. over the deck . shed is for all the tools and equipment .i can enclose the patio and heat it for winter . love it

[@richardlamb4397]

Good job.Thanks for not singing***

[@dannystevens9086]

Great job!!