Sure is kinda confusing. https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/sidebyside/equipment/74985/referrer/navigation/pgId/298291135
GT235 w/54C deck... replacement Deere spindle doesn't match others. Ideas??
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Okay. So... after scouring through I don't even know how many schematics of various decks, I think I've found spindle housing that more closely matches the GT235's 54C deck. For those who may go through this nightmare, the unit John Deere SAYS is a direct replacement (AM144377) is most certainly NOT.
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As you can see in this pic I took of the supposedly right spindle, it sits below the deck, while the OEM parts sit on top and pass down through. There is literally no way this spindle would work. The blade, when mounted to it, would sit almost half an inch BELOW the bottom of the deck. Makes me wonder who cross-referenced this when they superseded the original part?!? I cannot imagine why JD says these are the correct ones, and I wonder how many fellas were left frustrated when they took those wrong parts home and tried to install them. My local JD parts guys and I spent the better part of 2 hours pouring over parts fiche pics, calling other dealerships in their network and just basically scratching our heads in bewilderment. I gave up and returned home to hunt around on my own.
Last night, I found what I believe are the right ones. (AM121229) The overall measurements are more in keeping with the OEM spindles, plus the set-up looks to match the original.
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I have ordered 1 to see if it will work. If so, I will report back. If not... the search will continue.
As you can see in this pic I took of the supposedly right spindle, it sits below the deck, while the OEM parts sit on top and pass down through. There is literally no way this spindle would work. The blade, when mounted to it, would sit almost half an inch BELOW the bottom of the deck. Makes me wonder who cross-referenced this when they superseded the original part?!? I cannot imagine why JD says these are the correct ones, and I wonder how many fellas were left frustrated when they took those wrong parts home and tried to install them. My local JD parts guys and I spent the better part of 2 hours pouring over parts fiche pics, calling other dealerships in their network and just basically scratching our heads in bewilderment. I gave up and returned home to hunt around on my own.
Last night, I found what I believe are the right ones. (AM121229) The overall measurements are more in keeping with the OEM spindles, plus the set-up looks to match the original.
I have ordered 1 to see if it will work. If so, I will report back. If not... the search will continue.
Well folks... looks like my cobbled together Frankemower will work just fine! Here it is just before blade was put on, thorough greasing and deck reinstall onto my lil' tractor:
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It's just such a damn shame that the quiz kids at Deere flubbed this one, especially since it's a pretty popular mower. As I posted above, I'm sure I'm not the first guy who got zonked when he tried to put it back together with the 'official' JD superseded part combo! This confabulation looks identical to my stock spindle units and the blade height seems spot-on. I greased everything, threw on a new set of blades and, after getting the deck back on, took the ol' GT 235 for a tentative test mow ...aaand ZERO problems! Smo-o-oth as silk, with no funky sounds or strange vibes coming up through the mower - and by golly, the path of freshly-cut grass looks uniform and even. Success!!!
So, for those who may be faced with this dilemma in the future, here's the hobo recipe for this GT235/54C spindle assembly replacement:
JD spindle assy p/n: AM121229
JD carriage bolt (8mm x 30mm) p/n: 03M7187
JD flanged lock nut: 14M7396
Neither the bolt nor the nut p/n's from JD worked right either! So we had to piecemeal both to get a proper fit. Then again, this is a mishmash project, so I suppose that's not too surprising. In retrospect, 8x25 bolts might be a smidge better. As you can see in my pic above, the bolts, once tightened down, stick up pretty far. There's no interference or anything but the less thread ends exposed to debris, the easier removal will be if/when that time comes (again). Also, grade 8 from the hardware store might be cheaper than through JD. (Mine were $1.08/ea, so not exactly a bank breaker. LOL))
It's just such a damn shame that the quiz kids at Deere flubbed this one, especially since it's a pretty popular mower. As I posted above, I'm sure I'm not the first guy who got zonked when he tried to put it back together with the 'official' JD superseded part combo! This confabulation looks identical to my stock spindle units and the blade height seems spot-on. I greased everything, threw on a new set of blades and, after getting the deck back on, took the ol' GT 235 for a tentative test mow ...aaand ZERO problems! Smo-o-oth as silk, with no funky sounds or strange vibes coming up through the mower - and by golly, the path of freshly-cut grass looks uniform and even. Success!!!
So, for those who may be faced with this dilemma in the future, here's the hobo recipe for this GT235/54C spindle assembly replacement:
JD spindle assy p/n: AM121229
JD carriage bolt (8mm x 30mm) p/n: 03M7187
JD flanged lock nut: 14M7396
Neither the bolt nor the nut p/n's from JD worked right either! So we had to piecemeal both to get a proper fit. Then again, this is a mishmash project, so I suppose that's not too surprising. In retrospect, 8x25 bolts might be a smidge better. As you can see in my pic above, the bolts, once tightened down, stick up pretty far. There's no interference or anything but the less thread ends exposed to debris, the easier removal will be if/when that time comes (again). Also, grade 8 from the hardware store might be cheaper than through JD. (Mine were $1.08/ea, so not exactly a bank breaker. LOL))
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