I just rebuilt my 1987 JD 165 Hydro deck. Very similar to your rebuild but I like what you did better. When I finally got my deck back on, which was an incredible task for that model, I could not believe how well it works and actually is 100% more efficient and quiet.
You put a lot of work into this - as someone who's repaired these for longer than I'd like to admit, a few pieces of unsolicited advice while you've got it all apart: replace the wheels or drill the center holes larger and put some steel pipe shims in there. Good, tight wheels make a bigger difference than you'd ever guess and they won't rub. I'd also weld multiple gussets onto both of the rear hangers (at the very least the one you welded!) as well as onto both of the wheel holders. These are areas that break very often, it's easier to avoid problems than it is to fix them. Lastly, I've found over the years that these decks like to crack around the bolts that hold the blade spindles on. You can find "repair rings" online to bolt onto the top of the deck (so they don't impact the height of the cut) -- again, strengthening those areas now will avoid a lot of headache in the future. (some guys weld fender bolts above the existing holes - I find the repair rings are quick, easy, and overall a better solution.) Your deck turned out very nice! I'd actually recommend paint over powdercoating (from another comment) because it's easier to repair and cheaper to apply - a can of yellow spray paint every spring when you're sharpening blades and greasing the spindles will keep it looking fresh!
Just mine February 2024 good feeling ready for the season , now confident it'll last till next season then clean her up and check it again, thanks Steve.....Australia
I've seen several John Deere deck restorations videos and so far yours is the best I've seen. Two notable things you did better is getting down to the bare metal and then you primed it. Others only remove paint, grease, dirt (leaving the rust) and do not prime. Great job!!!
I have done 2 decks, this same way. takes time but done right, I did notice on those two decks that I repaired that the underbar where the discharge chute is ,was rusted out and not attached or missing causing the scalp wheels weldment to crack, I made the new bars , and re welded the brackets .I am now working on a snapper deck , from 1998 and that steel that they used back then is BOSS! I have no rust through on the entire deck.Just surface here and there.
I repaired/refinished a JD deck that looked exactly like this one. I used a flux core welder. Our welds look the same LOL But your paint job turned out much better than mine. Nice job. Full view & .👍 # 152 Stay well, Joe Z
Yeah thats nice. At least yours was in better shape before you started than my 38 inch deck off my 216 john deere. My deck is a rust bucket I have alot of work that needs to be done to that thing.
Nice job! did i miss it or did you tell us what yellow paint you used? I'm having a really hard time trying to find a good yellow match for my 2006 JD deck.
My aunt had just given me her old John Deere lawn mower and it's in very good shape there's a little bit of paint peeling on the top of the deck I'm wondering if this ever rusts out am I better off I'm not very mechanically inclined I'm wondering what the cost difference would be to just replace the deck then doing all of this taking apart and repair I fairly believe I can take the deck out and put a new one in what is the cost benefits either way whether I replace the whole deck or I refinish the whole deck. I sure would appreciate any and all recommendations I really love the look of the John Deere I used to have a Craftsman riding mower and I hated it
Awesome job!! I’m fixing to redo my deck also. Think John Deere forgot to put a primer on the 100 and 110 series decks. They seem to rust out very easily. Question?? Would it be better to do a powder coat or primer and paint on outside. Was thinking a Teflon coat underneath. To stop grass from build up underneath. What do you think would be best. Also, when you mount back on the mower. Could you show how to level this deck. Most of the other decks have a hanger bar. But, mine is like the one you refurbished in this video. Thank you fir this video and any information, you could give.
sandblast deck, paint it with POR15 2-3 coats and then a couple coats of paint of your choice, POR 15 dries to a very hard finish that doesn't chip off easily, better than powdercoating
Great video. The only thing I wish you would have done was a more in-depth of putting the police back together and adjusting the brackets that holds up the deck I see there's like a slide adjustment for those brackets and I didn't see how you adjusted it
The deck adjusts in the front by rotating the nut in to raise out to lower. The brackets on the back control the elevation of the back. Loosen the nut and move the mower deck up or down. When positioned, tighten the nut.
Well a half gallon of paint stripper would have stripped all the paint of both sides of the deck in 20 minutes plus all the hangers and power wash it off Then you could have flappered the rust ,welded it added rust killer both sides Then primered and painted both sides and the hangers and the plate under the guard and it would have been better than the new decks they sell now that the paint peels off in chunks At least Thats how i do my stuff But i will say the top of your deck looks great I hear peeps say its only a mower deck But thats why you got the mower and you dont want to buy a new mower deck every few years for the sake of some paint and clearing the grass off it after you have mowed ?
You should discard that plastic pulley guard as it collects grass & dirt & water and accelerates rust. ALSO, NEVER clean a deck with water as the water will work its way down the pulley shafts into the bearings accelerating bearing fail. !
john deere kinda sucks, their powdercoating for the decks and body comes off in large sheets, i've had to sandblast deck, paint it with 3 coats of POR15 then a topcoat of glossy black chassis paint, so far its held up now for 5 years with no signs of rust or paint chipping off when pressure washing deck at end of mowing season
PS.. why would any manufacturer mix AF and MM hardware on their product. just plain stoopid........... I do own and use my JD L111 on my two acre block but I never fail to be amazed at the poor build quality. Must say the engine is great tho`.
It is my belief that engineers should have to work on things before they are allowed to be an engineer. So they can realize how absolutely atrocious they make some things
