Zerk Grease fittings on Zero Turn Mowers???

[email protected] said:

I am interested in buying a John Deere Zero Turn mower and am wondering if any past models or new models have zerk grease fittings on the front wheel spindles? Thanks in advance.

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Mine does! (Z955m)

I am not sure but based on my recent looking(and purchase) they use sealed bearings on all of them. My z7 does for sure.

my new 530R does not have fittings on the front wheels.

No zerks on the wheel bearings on my Z960R, but it does have zerks on the front spindles.

Dave

997 have them so does the Toro it even has ones for the axle.

My Gravely does not have a single zerk, that's the one thing I don't like about it. I spray thick cable lube into any moving parts. Everything else has sealed bearings.
My 1977 Ariens SNOWBLOWER has no less than 3 zerks...

AJgrn78 said:

My Gravely does not have a single zerk, that's the one thing I don't like about it. I spray thick cable lube into any moving parts. Everything else has sealed bearings.
My 1977 Ariens SNOWBLOWER has no less than 3 zerks...

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Not even on the spindles?

ddinham said:

No zerks on the wheel bearings on my Z960R, but it does have zerks on the front spindles.

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Same with the Z915E.

Shame on Deere forgetting to install grease zerks on their high priced mowing equipment.
For those that don't have grease zerks on their Zero Turn front caster spindles, will have to set aside some cash to pay John Deere for those missing zerks. Have you ever thought how many thousand turns those spindle make mowing a 5 acre lawn...Probably thirty thousand turns. At one time in the past years all Commercial mowers had the grease zerks on the caster spindles. The box store modals probably don't for some reason. My Z710A does. BTW: Don't get grease gun happy and pump too much grease as you will be replacing the seals.

Thanks for all the replies. It has been very helpful.

One way to tell a designed failure point, when they sell a replacement kit.

pede said:

Not even on the spindles?

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Nope, sealed bearings.
I've read even manufacturers like Exmark are going to sealed bearings. Not my cup of tea, but it is what it is.

I once had to replace bearings in a JD mower deck spindle. Dealer gave me sealed bearings. Those lasted about one year. Found that Deere get those....now modern sealed bearings from China that is made by those two Chinese brothers way back in that dark alley in a small town in China. After that problem, I now go to IBT bearing store and get real greaseable ball bearings. Nothing like the old times.

930M has zerks