[x738]

There might be other differences, but stumbled across this one today.
They've changed the orientation of the tension spring for the deck belt.

70001+

Of course the deck isn't sitting the same in the 2 pictures, but spring was front to back, and now side to side.
40001-70000

Not sure why or what all was changed.
The belt is same part.
Spring is different, and of course brackets etc changed to suit new spring and spring orientation.


I guess that sort of thing is why it is always a good ideal to have serial numbers when acquiring parts.

 

[CJadamec]

I bet they did it fix the annoying rattle the old style idler arm makes.

 

[WH401]

I would agree on the redesign to fix the noisy idler issues. The previous design of the idler with the spring going forward put an excessive amount of stress on the pivot bushings. The bushings are only plastic as well and the pivot is never really tight even with new bushings. The redesign included a different bushing I believe, and overall the spring location allows for equal pressure on both ends of the idler arm. My 54HC is of the old design and I ended up adding a few thin shims to the top of the central metal bushing/top of the plastic bushings to lesson up and down play. That has quieted it down a bit. I also found the main culprit of my chatter was a worn pivot bushing on the auto connect PTO of the tractor.

Rick

 

[tj1]

You have to watch the parts for sure. I bought a new Steel bushing for my 54HC deck pivot arm and I'm glad I didn't take the old plastic ones out of the arm and ruin them,, the steel will not fit at all. Totally different size and wrong part. Plastic is what we are struck with if you have the older deck. I ordered four plastic bushings and two shims just yesterday.

 

[CJadamec]

You have to watch the parts for sure. I bought a new Steel bushing for my 54HC deck pivot arm and I'm glad I didn't take the old plastic ones out of the arm and ruin them,, the steel will not fit at all. Totally different size and wrong part. Plastic is what we are struck with if you have the older deck. I ordered four plastic bushings and two shims just yesterday.

What size shim is it? I have extra bushing I picked up for this mowing season waiting for the first mow of the year.

 

[tj1]

What size shim is it? I have extra bushing I picked up for this mowing season waiting for the first mow of the year.

No idea on the size, they're probably new washers but the two I bought last fall are pretty darned thin, much thinner then the washer on the arm right now. but they were for the steel bushing that was totally different then the plastic deal. As long as the washer and E-clip fit and no wobble I'll be good. I'll take a pic when it comes in two weeks for a comparison..

 

[x738]

Figured out another difference between early HC series decks and late HC series decks.
Turns out it's also visible in the pictures already posted.

The ride-over ramp/belt shields on the new ones are plastic and snap-on / snap-off vs bolt on (and I assume metal) on the older series.

New design makes it simple to pop off the the covers to blow off debris when finished cutting.

Kudos to those responsible for the design change!

 

[Rule292]

Figured out another difference between early HC series decks and late HC series decks.
Turns out it's also visible in the pictures already posted.

The ride-over ramp/belt shields on the new ones are plastic and snap-on / snap-off vs bolt on (and I assume metal) on the older series.

New design makes it simple to pop off the the covers to blow off debris when finished cutting.

Kudos to those responsible for the design change!

Did they make them [email protected]#$ belt guards simple to pop off too?

 

[Yank]

I leave mine off on my 758. Only put them on when taking off the deck. As soon as I finish mowing, I grab the blower, clean off the deck and spindles, done!

 

[x738]

Did they make them [email protected]#$ belt guards simple to pop off too?

Yupp -- that's what I was trying to say, but I guess I didn't do a good job.

The belt guard and ramp are one piece of plastic.
It hooks into a bracket at the rear and snaps down at the front.
Nice finger hold for lifting it to snap it off.

Only adds about 3 seconds per side to the blower/cleanup job after mowing.

Of course black plastic isn't going to rust and there is no hardware to get lost or threads to damage.

 

[X758er]

The new style plastic ramps , belt guards are all in one and pull right off to clean the deck....perfect!
I nevernhave liked plastic anything....
....but these guards....yep!

 

[Rule292]

Yupp -- that's what I was trying to say, but I guess I didn't do a good job.

The belt guard and ramp are one piece of plastic.
It hooks into a bracket at the rear and snaps down at the front.
Nice finger hold for lifting it to snap it off.

Only adds about 3 seconds per side to the blower/cleanup job after mowing.

Of course black plastic isn't going to rust and there is no hardware to get lost or threads to damage.

Thanks! I dislike spending 15 minutes with the leaf blower blowing off grass and it STILL comes out of under the belt guards. They're comin off this season.

 

[x738]

Thanks! I dislike spending 15 minutes with the leaf blower blowing off grass and it STILL comes out of under the belt guards. They're comin off this season.

That's why the new plastic ones are so nice.

Near instant off and near instant on, No tools. No latches.

Don't even have to set down the blower to manipulate them.

 

[bedn0009]

Are the new spindle guard/ramps compatible with the older decks?

 

[x738]

Are the new spindle guard/ramps compatible with the older decks?

Not a case of ordering parts from Deere and drilling hoe/bolting into place.

Rear of the new guard/ramp has tabs that fit into a bracket bolted to deck.
Front of the new guard/ramp snaps onto a bracket that is welded to the deck.

Presumably the rear bracket can be purchased and bolt holes could be drilled, but it would require fabing up the front bracket and welding it to the deck or developing a different way to hold the front in place.