Since uploading this video, this deck has just ended its useful life after 2483 mowing hours.

Generally, it has performed well, but issues to watch out for are as follows;

The anti-scalp wheels are woefully badly mounted - a single mount point and hanging on a small bolt - they wear out every 2-300 hours, (much quicker if you have the rear hanging height too low making them work a lot - not able to lubricate them).

The PTO drive shaft is difficult to grease satisfactorily, (impossible to pull apart completely). Greasing at 25 hourly intervals, the shaft lasted about 1800 hours before the crosses had to be replaced - not bad.

Spindle bearings lasted about 2000 hours before replacing - also not bad - (also 25 hourly greasing).

Gearbox self destructed at 2483 hours - full oil changes every 200 hours, but started vibrating noticeably after about 1800 hours. Rear oil seal replaced twice in that time.

With JD quoting NZ$2400 for a new gearbox (!!), and NZ$1800 for a new PTO shaft (!!!), we bought a whole new deck for NZ$7300 (plus taxes). The "old" deck will now be spare parts and we'll repair the gearbox at our leisure.

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