I KNOW YOU CAN JUST USE A FLOOR JACK!!! Please do not comment to use a floor jack anymore. Not everyone has a floor jack (oddly). Any future comments of this sort will be deleted.
Great Info! I have found that by jacking up the front of the tractor, after deck is disconnected, it was much easier getting the deck to slide out and back in again.
AWESOME VIDEO! Just picked up 2018 JD X580 w/85 hours. Your video was a huge help in removing 54" mower deck. Couple of things that I did helped a lot. Borrowed a scissors jack from my wife's Subaru and jacked the front up so front wheels were about 3" or so off the ground. Mover deck came out w/o interfering with anything. Same thing for going back in. Other thing is, PTO belt is very new and couldn't get if off w/o first putting a 3/8" breaker bar in the tension pulley lever to take the tension off the belt. It comes with a place for that wrench and it worked like a charm.
Hi again - amazing how similar my old GT262 deck is and difficult to install/remove! I usually turn the front wheels all the way to one side and slide the deck in on a 30 degree angle which clears the front drag wheel. I also found it even easier to jack up the front of the tractor and the deck clears everything nicely. Take care!
Thank you for making this video! Easy to follow and made this intimidating job approachable. This saved me money this Spring and will continue to each Spring and Fall as I switch over my tractor.
Great video! Just bought my x580 with the snow blower attachment, so I'm trying to prepare myself for having to put my mower deck on for the first time. Thanks!
My 35-year-old JD 318 with a 50-inch deck sometimes seems to be a bit of a challenge to remove and install but I can still do it at quite an advanced age but am not so sure about a 500 series after watching this. Very interesting. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the video! I DO NOT have a floor jack and it really is lots of maneuvering to get everything aligned just right. The manual makes it sound really easy (which it's not), so thanks for the reinforcement with this video. A video showing how to replace the main v-belt would be helpful also.
I've installed the mower deck deck several times also, but watching this video is nice refresher course. Now I don't have to get the owners' manual all spotted up with dirty finger prints. People making comments had good ideas also.
This is a fantastic video. I followed it exactly and it was perfect. I need to change the blades and do a grease job to the deck and made my day. Thanks so much!!
I just removed my deck after watching video. After disconnecting the rear arms & drive belt I carefully drove front tires up on two 2x4s stacked ( each side). Deck rolled out without hitting anything!
I have made a special tool to de-tension the drive belt for the snow blower. It consists of 1 foot piece of wood with a screw through it. It wedges the spring pulley back on the front of the snow blower , the screw wedges on the body of the plow, and the belt then drops off easily
I removed my x590 once and it was a royal pain! The pull pins would not come out until I went full power on it and I am a big guy. I wish I had found your video prior. There were other minor pains beside the pins.
In pulling the draft arm pins, I discovered I discovered that they WOULD NOT pull out enough to clear the hole and release the draft arm. I had to loosen the nut on the backside of the draft pin almost all the way to get the pins to come out. Would this be a manufacturing defect? I can't understand why they would put j-hook pins in that were too long; that even makes it harder if their own mechanics work on it.
That seems odd, I know mine wouldn’t pull straight out, it would pull more on the hook side, and then bind, so I’d have to take my other hand and push the sling side from the back… maybe it was just put on too far from factory?
Run the front or rear tires up on some 4x4 blocks. Might give enough clearance, and avoid the need for a fl**r jack. My $.02. I just bought a x590 with a 54" deck. Video was very helpful, thank you.
Great power, traction will depend. If plowing or box blading you might spin some tire. If using the cultivator you likely wouldn’t need anything. If snow plowing it’s hard to say, but not a bad idea to have weights regardless.
I bought an X520 in 2006 and it looks like the same difficulties with deck removal/install that mine has. Looking at getting an X580 in the near future. My X520 is starting to get tired after 16 years of hard use.
First thanks for video I struggle with my X590 every time, the back springs that hold the draft arm are very difficult to pull and engage, I luv them well. JD could have done a much better job with belt replacement and deck removal. You have the best video. John Deere gives no manual, no instructions and I can't keep taking it in to them for normal wear.
If you leveling it yes, you need all wheels off the ground. Once leveled you adjust the wheel I think 1/4” to 1/2” off the ground… can’t remember the exact number. But I usually put them as close as possible without touching. Pretty sure I have a video on leveling this deck. Might answer some questions for ya.
Yes, I need to replace the primary drive belt M154897 and am getting conflicting results even from John Deere. Are the new belts cogged? They seem to be shorter and I'm having trouble stretching it over the front spindle. The original and old one was not cogged.
I need more details. What model is the tractor? And when you say primary drive do you mean the belt that goes from the engine to the deck? Or the engine to the transaxle?
Sadly no, and I won’t be able to make one… it isn’t complicated though, you are halfway there just by removing the deck… take note of the routing of the belt, and which way the taper goes, and just put the new one on the same way. There should also be a routing sticker on the deck, and in the owners manual.
I wish you showed how you release/apply the tension on the drive belt. I find it's crazy difficult to do on both removal and install. The spring tension on my deck takes King Kong to move it!! Has to be an easier way.
Just got a x585 with a loader but don't know how to raise and lower the 3 point hitch with the loader on and I have an engine light on,how do you check the codes
Well I can tell you the top handle when pushed forward should eventually lower the 3pt hitch if the SCV shutoff valve is open. if closed I believe it will curl the loader, but I could be mistaken, it may lift and lower the loader, depends how its hooked up (keep in mind there is no third function on these; you either get hitch and loader, or just hitch). Check the shutoff valve behind your SCV, that will need opened. That is likely why you have little to no movement of the hitch. also check to make sure the hitch depth stop is loosened all the way. You can watch my videos of tractor prep on an X700 series for the front plow. It shows the lockout. I don't think I have anything highlighting the depth stop other than the hitch install video. As for the code, I'm sorry, not sure about that one. Haven't messed with that on my X7 yet, and I've never had an X5X5. You will have to TH-cam or Google that one.
So you don’t have to disconnect the arm that connects to the deck hydraulics? I asked the manufacturer and they said I would have to but I wasn’t confident with the way he answered me.
Nope. So the arm is in 2 parts. If you watch this video: th-cam.com/video/j2QHrq2U1q0/w-d-xo.html you will see what I mean about the 2 parts. When the hitch is attached, both arms are on, connecting it to the deck lift. The deck lift rockshaft is a solid connection to the deck lift arms, as well as the hitch lift arm (to an extent, the hitch lift arm slides). No matter which attachment (mid or rear) you are using, both are going to actuate. The mower deck doesn't care what the rear is doing, and the rear doesn't care about the deck. If you take off the hitch, you remove the back part of the arm (just a wing nut), and pin what remains to the frame. The section that is "permanently" attached to the tractor won't move, the rockshaft will just slide in the arm's groove. So technically if you remove the hitch, you would want to remove 1/2 the arm, but the hitch can stay on all the time if you choose, and you can still use the deck. Does this answer everything? Sometimes what makes sense in my head doesn't make sense when I type it lol.
On my 584,To keep the draft arm pin from hitting the pulley, I use a line tied to one pin and then the other side. The deck will roll out and in without binding. Other than turning the wheel.
Any thoughts of after the deck is disconnected from the tractor to raise the front of the tractor an inch or two with a floor jack to get that little extra clearance??? Do you have a video on installing the snow blower?? Thans
Yes it has been pointed out numerous times to use a jack. I’m showing how to do it without as not everyone owns a jack. But yes, using a jack works very well. No I do not have a video of the snow blower. I was going to get one, but am looking at an X758 and plow blade instead.
The X7XX series honestly, soooo easy! But it comes at a cost. Honestly the X3/X5 series isn’t bad. Not sure about the higher end 100s and 200s, nor other brands. I think most value tractors are going to have the cable…
What about a 4’ long piece of 2x8 or 2x10 that you could just drive the rear wheels up on? That extra 1 1/2” might be all you need. Or, two pieces, one for each axle although the front tires might want to push the board instead of riding up and on.
Keep up the videos! I just got an X584 and deck removal is going to be my main pain point, I think, as I my outbuilding has an cracked and unlevel floor ...yikes
How did your drive belt come off that easily? I'm pulling with all my might and just barely get it off. It looked like you just popped it off one-handed with no effort.
We have an X570 (and we use a floor jack) and just did this twice in two days. But boy howdy getting those draft arm pins out and back in are nowhere near as easy to do as they appear in your video (does hydraulic lift really make it that much easier?). Next time we'll look at loosening the nut on reverse side, per Marc Stump's comment. Thought maybe there might be some kind of tool to make it simpler… we ended up using the hook on a fireplace tool and some wd40…
I also own a 14 cub cadet and, while the decks are not identical, the hardware, and mounting procedures are the same. I'm 90% sure both mowers are made by MTD.
So,maybe a stupid question...and just bought my X590 yesterday,so hopefully wont need to remove deck for a while. I have a Pro-Eagle Off road jack floor jack.....couldnt you put a jack in front or back and just lift mower to give you the clearance instead of wrestling with it..?? BTW..great video....just speak up a little for us old deaf guys...LOL
You could, someone else mentioned that too… but I guess not everyone may have a floor jack (I do, and I would imagine if you have equipment like this you probably have one)… sorry about my volume, I try to talk louder, but I guess I expect too much from my phone!
Have you tried that TK, or just suggesting it? It loos to me like the main issue is the tight clearances of the deck between the wheels. Raising the machine wouldn't change that. I have to do this on the ground, not on cement, alas.
Yeah, I agree with you Josh. Why couldn't John Deere have made the wheel base just a bit longer, even just a couple of inches would have made removal & installation a snap. I've always thought these tractors should be just a bit longer for the decks they carry. Clearances are just too tight.
I KNOW YOU CAN JUST USE A FLOOR JACK!!! Please do not comment to use a floor jack anymore. Not everyone has a floor jack (oddly). Any future comments of this sort will be deleted.
...and may not have a floor!
Hugely helpful - X590'er here, and that deck's a beast. Moving the wheels out (duh!) was a nice tip. Thanks!
Great Info! I have found that by jacking up the front of the tractor, after deck is disconnected, it was much easier getting the deck to slide out and back in again.
AWESOME VIDEO! Just picked up 2018 JD X580 w/85 hours. Your video was a huge help in removing 54" mower deck. Couple of things that I did helped a lot. Borrowed a scissors jack from my wife's Subaru and jacked the front up so front wheels were about 3" or so off the ground. Mover deck came out w/o interfering with anything. Same thing for going back in. Other thing is, PTO belt is very new and couldn't get if off w/o first putting a 3/8" breaker bar in the tension pulley lever to take the tension off the belt. It comes with a place for that wrench and it worked like a charm.
How much does a x580 w/85 hours cost?
Each time I need to remove my deck the first step is to review this video. Thanks.
Some nice videos. How about a quick one showing blade removal and sharpening?
Hi again - amazing how similar my old GT262 deck is and difficult to install/remove! I usually turn the front wheels all the way to one side and slide the deck in on a 30 degree angle which clears the front drag wheel. I also found it even easier to jack up the front of the tractor and the deck clears everything nicely. Take care!
I found jacking up the front of the tractor With a floor jack helps to pull out and install the mower deck.
Thank you for making this video! Easy to follow and made this intimidating job approachable. This saved me money this Spring and will continue to each Spring and Fall as I switch over my tractor.
Glad this helps!
Great video! Just bought my x580 with the snow blower attachment, so I'm trying to prepare myself for having to put my mower deck on for the first time. Thanks!
My 35-year-old JD 318 with a 50-inch deck sometimes seems to be a bit of a challenge to remove and install but I can still do it at quite an advanced age but am not so sure about a 500 series after watching this. Very interesting. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for the help. This is only the second time I’m taking it off. So hopefully it sticks in my brain this time 😃
Thanks for the video! I DO NOT have a floor jack and it really is lots of maneuvering to get everything aligned just right. The manual makes it sound really easy (which it's not), so thanks for the reinforcement with this video. A video showing how to replace the main v-belt would be helpful also.
I've installed the mower deck deck several times also, but watching this video is nice refresher course. Now I don't have to get the owners' manual all spotted up with dirty finger prints. People making comments had good ideas also.
Thanks for the tip of raising the arms! I’ve been doing mine with them hanging down cussing them trying to get them out of the way.
Still slight interference with the adjustment bolt , but should clear the arms 100%! Glad it helped!
This is a fantastic video. I followed it exactly and it was perfect. I need to change the blades and do a grease job to the deck and made my day. Thanks so much!!
Thank you! Glad it helped you!
I just removed my deck after watching video. After disconnecting the rear arms & drive belt I carefully drove front tires up on two 2x4s stacked ( each side). Deck rolled out without hitting anything!
Josh, would it be any easier to temporarily raise the front of the tractor a bit
I have made a special tool to de-tension the drive belt for the snow blower. It consists of 1 foot piece of wood with a screw through it. It wedges the spring pulley back on the front of the snow blower , the screw wedges on the body of the plow, and the belt then drops off easily
I removed my x590 once and it was a royal pain! The pull pins would not come out until I went full power on it and I am a big guy. I wish I had found your video prior. There were other minor pains beside the pins.
Great video simple and concise. Thank you
Awesome vid! Thanks for taking the time to show us how this works. I just ordered the same tractor and your vids are very helpful. Thank You.
In pulling the draft arm pins, I discovered I discovered that they WOULD NOT pull out enough to clear the hole and release the draft arm. I had to loosen the nut on the backside of the draft pin almost all the way to get the pins to come out. Would this be a manufacturing defect? I can't understand why they would put j-hook pins in that were too long; that even makes it harder if their own mechanics work on it.
That seems odd, I know mine wouldn’t pull straight out, it would pull more on the hook side, and then bind, so I’d have to take my other hand and push the sling side from the back… maybe it was just put on too far from factory?
I’m having the same exact issue
Run the front or rear tires up on some 4x4 blocks. Might give enough clearance, and avoid the need for a fl**r jack. My $.02. I just bought a x590 with a 54" deck. Video was very helpful, thank you.
P.S. How's the power and traction when using implements and attachments? I haven't bought any weights yet, and not sure if I will need any.
Great power, traction will depend. If plowing or box blading you might spin some tire. If using the cultivator you likely wouldn’t need anything. If snow plowing it’s hard to say, but not a bad idea to have weights regardless.
I know the mowers aren’t the same but the John Deere G100 has a 54” deck and I have to cut the wheels all the way to the left to get my deck out
I bought an X520 in 2006 and it looks like the same difficulties with deck removal/install that mine has. Looking at getting an X580 in the near future. My X520 is starting to get tired after 16 years of hard use.
Thanks great video.identical procedure with my 590x. Did you mention setting cutting height to zero ? That helped me connect pins easier. Thanks
First thanks for video I struggle with my X590 every time, the back springs that hold the draft arm are very difficult to pull and engage, I luv them well. JD could have done a much better job with belt replacement and deck removal. You have the best video. John Deere gives no manual, no instructions and I can't keep taking it in to them for normal wear.
Thanks! Glad I could help!
There is a manual that came with our X570 (applies to the X590 also), the dealer gave it to us when we bought it 5 years ago. Go back and get it!
What is the best way to level deck? When you adjust mower deck height do you raise outside four wheels all the way up ?
If you leveling it yes, you need all wheels off the ground. Once leveled you adjust the wheel I think 1/4” to 1/2” off the ground… can’t remember the exact number. But I usually put them as close as possible without touching.
Pretty sure I have a video on leveling this deck. Might answer some questions for ya.
Thank you very much really appreciate all your help sir
Do you have a video showing how to adjust the mower deck?
I don’t think I do for the 580… you can watch the one for the x700 series though, same design for both
Yes, I need to replace the primary drive belt M154897 and am getting conflicting results even from John Deere. Are the new belts cogged? They seem to be shorter and I'm having trouble stretching it over the front spindle. The original and old one was not cogged.
I need more details. What model is the tractor? And when you say primary drive do you mean the belt that goes from the engine to the deck? Or the engine to the transaxle?
What’s the best type of Jack to raise lower to remove deck
The cheapest, most compact, and highest capacity route would be a bottle jack from Harbor Freight, but any floor jack would work.
do you have a video showing how to replace the belt on the x590? 54c..
Sadly no, and I won’t be able to make one… it isn’t complicated though, you are halfway there just by removing the deck… take note of the routing of the belt, and which way the taper goes, and just put the new one on the same way. There should also be a routing sticker on the deck, and in the owners manual.
I found jacking front end up for removal and install much easier and less stressful lol
I wish you showed how you release/apply the tension on the drive belt. I find it's crazy difficult to do on both removal and install. The spring tension on my deck takes King Kong to move it!! Has to be an easier way.
Just got a x585 with a loader but don't know how to raise and lower the 3 point hitch with the loader on and I have an engine light on,how do you check the codes
Well I can tell you the top handle when pushed forward should eventually lower the 3pt hitch if the SCV shutoff valve is open. if closed I believe it will curl the loader, but I could be mistaken, it may lift and lower the loader, depends how its hooked up (keep in mind there is no third function on these; you either get hitch and loader, or just hitch). Check the shutoff valve behind your SCV, that will need opened. That is likely why you have little to no movement of the hitch. also check to make sure the hitch depth stop is loosened all the way. You can watch my videos of tractor prep on an X700 series for the front plow. It shows the lockout. I don't think I have anything highlighting the depth stop other than the hitch install video.
As for the code, I'm sorry, not sure about that one. Haven't messed with that on my X7 yet, and I've never had an X5X5. You will have to TH-cam or Google that one.
Same steps work on X570. Just have to raise and lower the draft arms manually.
Hey josh
Can you show a video on how to replace transmission belt on a x580
Unfortunately I cannot. I don’t have that machine anymore.
Can you run the mower deck with the sleeve hitch still attached?
yes you can, it will just raise and lower the hitch with the deck.
So you don’t have to disconnect the arm that connects to the deck hydraulics? I asked the manufacturer and they said I would have to but I wasn’t confident with the way he answered me.
Nope. So the arm is in 2 parts. If you watch this video: th-cam.com/video/j2QHrq2U1q0/w-d-xo.html you will see what I mean about the 2 parts. When the hitch is attached, both arms are on, connecting it to the deck lift. The deck lift rockshaft is a solid connection to the deck lift arms, as well as the hitch lift arm (to an extent, the hitch lift arm slides). No matter which attachment (mid or rear) you are using, both are going to actuate. The mower deck doesn't care what the rear is doing, and the rear doesn't care about the deck. If you take off the hitch, you remove the back part of the arm (just a wing nut), and pin what remains to the frame. The section that is "permanently" attached to the tractor won't move, the rockshaft will just slide in the arm's groove. So technically if you remove the hitch, you would want to remove 1/2 the arm, but the hitch can stay on all the time if you choose, and you can still use the deck. Does this answer everything? Sometimes what makes sense in my head doesn't make sense when I type it lol.
Yep, then I guess the rep at Brinley wasn’t real sure about this, thanks!
On my 584,To keep the draft arm pin from hitting the pulley, I use a line tied to one pin and then the other side. The deck will roll out and in without binding. Other than turning the wheel.
I found on my 345 put height adjustment on tracker on 1 inch up arms much easier
Craig
Can you use the power sleeve hitch with the deck on or does the deck need to be off?
You can use it with the deck on.
@@JoshsGreenGarage thank you! Also thank you for all your videos. I find them very helpful
Can I adjust the tension of the drive belt?
No, this deck has a tensioner pulley, does it automatically!
@JoshsGreenGarage hey man thanks that's what the service guy said
Post a screen cap of 5:55 somewhere for all of us looking for a belt diagram (sometimes the belt breaks before you get a look at it lol)
Any thoughts of after the deck is disconnected from the tractor to raise the front of the tractor an inch or two with a floor jack to get that little extra clearance??? Do you have a video on installing the snow blower?? Thans
Yes it has been pointed out numerous times to use a jack. I’m showing how to do it without as not everyone owns a jack. But yes, using a jack works very well.
No I do not have a video of the snow blower. I was going to get one, but am looking at an X758 and plow blade instead.
Looking for a new mower, what is the easiest deck to remove? Anything with a cable is out.
The X7XX series honestly, soooo easy! But it comes at a cost. Honestly the X3/X5 series isn’t bad. Not sure about the higher end 100s and 200s, nor other brands. I think most value tractors are going to have the cable…
Stay away from the 100 and 200s
Piece O cake.
I had a 1986 160.
THAT was a pain.
What about a 4’ long piece of 2x8 or 2x10 that you could just drive the rear wheels up on? That extra 1 1/2” might be all you need. Or, two pieces, one for each axle although the front tires might want to push the board instead of riding up and on.
How did you lower the deck at the very beginning of the video?
Used the deck lift/lower lever, it just releases hydraulic pressure so the deck lowers
Thanks 🙏 love the videos
Keep up the videos! I just got an X584 and deck removal is going to be my main pain point, I think, as I my outbuilding has an cracked and unlevel floor ...yikes
GREAT VIDEO THANK YOU
How did your drive belt come off that easily? I'm pulling with all my might and just barely get it off. It looked like you just popped it off one-handed with no effort.
Is your deck still mounted? I disconnected the deck first. Now, getting it back on was a different story lol
Guessing if you have a jack you can lift up the front of the tractor and then the deck can slide out under the front wheels
Good stuff!
if they can afford a 590 they can afford a floor jack
For those that don’t have a jack, remember you could always use one from your car.
Pulled it out the wrong side. Mine pulls easy out the left side. Piece of cake.
We have an X570 (and we use a floor jack) and just did this twice in two days. But boy howdy getting those draft arm pins out and back in are nowhere near as easy to do as they appear in your video (does hydraulic lift really make it that much easier?). Next time we'll look at loosening the nut on reverse side, per Marc Stump's comment. Thought maybe there might be some kind of tool to make it simpler… we ended up using the hook on a fireplace tool and some wd40…
Volume not loud enough
Well done. thanks for the video
Great thank you!!!
I also own a 14 cub cadet and, while the decks are not identical, the hardware, and mounting procedures are the same. I'm 90% sure both mowers are made by MTD.
Get a car jack lift front and slide deck with zero struggle
So,maybe a stupid question...and just bought my X590 yesterday,so hopefully wont need to remove deck for a while.
I have a Pro-Eagle Off road jack floor jack.....couldnt you put a jack in front or back and just lift mower to give you the clearance instead of wrestling with it..??
BTW..great video....just speak up a little for us old deaf guys...LOL
You could, someone else mentioned that too… but I guess not everyone may have a floor jack (I do, and I would imagine if you have equipment like this you probably have one)… sorry about my volume, I try to talk louder, but I guess I expect too much from my phone!
@@JoshsGreenGarage Hey,thanks for reply...and great videos...no worries on the volume,my GF tells me i need a hearing aid all the time..lol
my 585 has a drive shaft 63 inch mower it's a pain in the ass
Hard to heard the video.
A floor jack under the front and raise up would make much easier
Good idea, didn't think of that...might do that now (after taking the front draft arm off first).
Have you tried that TK, or just suggesting it? It loos to me like the main issue is the tight clearances of the deck between the wheels. Raising the machine wouldn't change that. I have to do this on the ground, not on cement, alas.
It does work, you won’t be able to slide it straight out, but you can angle it some and pull it out. Definitely recommend if you have a jack.
Yeah, I agree with you Josh. Why couldn't John Deere have made the wheel base just a bit longer, even just a couple of inches would have made removal & installation a snap. I've always thought these tractors should be just a bit longer for the decks they carry. Clearances are just too tight.
My 1987 JD 318 has more front to back clearance for deck placement.
Nightmare !