It looks like the "idler" pulley spring tensioner to me.

 

I don't think it is. The tensioner spring is thicker and probably about 6" long (insert joke here). Does the deck raise and lower properly?

 

I'm more of a photo guy for explanations like this

I'm assuming the idler pulley spring tensioner is off the deck and not the tractor...? I've posted a photo of a 42C deck for reference. Thanks!

 

Also this isn't a 42c deck

 

M47400 Spring 1 IDLER


#4 in the picture

 

M47400 Spring 1 IDLER

I don't think so, the pic he posted is too small to be the deck idler spring:

Free Length 6.780 IN

 

On my old L110 I had 2 springs on the rod that the discharge guard operated on. One was a shorty (looked like your pic), and one long. Did you remove the guard or lose a keeper end on the rod maybe? Don't really know how a 277 is setup. Just thinking out loud.

 

fastest way to figure out where it came from.. take the spring to ur JD dealer.. let the parts guy look up ur machine.. they will earn their keep for the day then....

 

North_Woods,

Edited post. Looks like I typed in the wrong tractor model.

Here is a pic of the spring that JDretiree is talking about in the posts below.

Roger

 

have the same problem on my GT225. Found the spring last year on top of the deck. From parts book it is a spring that was used to quite some type of noise/vibration. Appears to be hooked to the steering shaft somewhere. Dealer had never heard or seen it. I posted a note here but never had any solutions. Check your parts book in the steering area up near the top of the steering shaft.

 

I have a 2000 LX277 with the 48C deck.
I found the same spring on the ground near were I "clipped" a tree with the side of the deck.
This happened the first or second year I had the tractor.
Has worked fine since but always wondered were it came from.

I just purchased a 48C with low hours and don't see that spring on it.
I think it's from the underside of the tractor

 

Went back and looked at parts book. Spring is M140001 sub for 138833. Anti-rattle spring. Used on LX255, LX277, LX279 and GT225. Key 29 in the steering gear page.

 

Thanks guys! My local dealer is about an hour away and I typically find more help on this forum than I do there anyway. I know it's not off the discharge guard on the deck as those springs are still there on the rod, but good idea, as I did think of this too. Yes, the deck lowers and raises completely fine without issue. I know the deck photo I posted was not the 42C deck that I have, but I thought it was similar enough to use for reference.

JDretiree & rlowe - I think you guys found it. That part (#29) M140001 looks like it might be it. I see it in the parts image but it doesn't show where exactly it installs. I'm assuming it's on the steering rod below the wheel but have no idea where or how. Does anybody have any idea or can somebody take a photo of the spring installed...?

Since it's only an anti-rattle spring, I'm assuming that I would be fine running without it, but if I can replace it easily enough without having to tear everything apart, I'll replace it. Interesting that some of you also had the same issue.

Like always, I find better help here than at a dealer or anywhere else. Thanks again for all the posts.

 

I have been running my GT225 for over a year without the spring and haven't noticed any significant change in noise or rattle. I did get the spring to confirm the part that broke. If anyone can show where it goes, I will install it. My GT225 is a 2000 model.

 

My old 165 had that spring that adjusted the height of cut.

 

I'm with JDretiree. It would be great if somebody could take some photos of one of these installed to help those of us with this issue reinstall a replacement spring. I thought about visiting some buddies this weekend and taking a look on their machines to see if I could find it but photos on here from somebody who knows exactly where to find it installed would be great!!

 

By now guys, these things are 15 years old and probably won't rattle anymore with all the dirt, grime and wear in things. All they did was keep the steel steering shaft from rattling in the powdered metal upper bushing. It was a bandaid. Later tractors didn't have it.

But if you so desire, there was also a plastic sleeve that was over the shaft that the spring actually hooked around. Remove the battery and you will likely see that it has slid down the shaft and is down there at the steering gear assembly. Slide it up, and you will likely see where it was on the shaft. Then hook the spring around it, and hook the spring into the green dash support. It is apparent where. Don't hook the spring directly to the shaft as it will add friction to the steering and the spring will wear quickly.

But again, by now the spring really won't do much. Don't sweat it. Mine fell off years ago!

 

Thanks Displaced Hokie! I'll probably take a look for the sleeve, maybe that broke/fell off too? If it's still there I might get a new spring. If not, I won't sweat it as you said. Thanks again for the explanation, much appreciated.

 

That looks like the spring I just replaced on my brake pedal.