Bought an 856 and Attachments

[PWL216 980]

I ended up buying the 856. I’m not sure yet what I’ll do with it, but here’s what I got.

 

1. 856 tractor

2. 36” deck, RM-366, that needs 1 new spindle.

3. HL-5 head and tail light kit

4. AC-675 cultivator, 2 piece

5. PP-101 plow and coulter

6. ST-376 snow thrower, 37”

7. DP-871 disc, double

8. Extra belts and blades

9. Original documents and keys

10. Trailer, home made

 

[ebinmaine 70,964]

What a catch!

 

Well done man!

[Handy Don 13,394]

Zounds! What a nifty collection to get all at once. And the tractor seems in good condition. Good find!

 

If you are not familiar with the RM-366, firstly they do a great cut once set up well. There is a single cast iron frame beneath the shell that holds the bearings for the spindles--two bearings per spindle. Also, note that the spindles themselves had different lengths over the time the RMs were produced. The slightly longer ones had thrust bearings atop the housing below the bevel gear. These, when clogged with dried grease, can easily be mistaken for thick washers! I believe the spindles were hardened at the points which formed the inner race of the needle bearings so I’d be surprised to see a bad spindle.

[PWL216 980]

@Handy Don Don, thx! That’s very helpful information!  Paul

[ri702bill 9,045]

@Handy Don I commented a short while back on this potential purchase... the deck spindles are quality steel alloy &  hardened Thru & thru, not surface hardened (case hardening) with a "soft" substrate. They do NOT tolerate side impact - they shear before they bend....... the cast plate may be damaged....

[sqrlgtr 556]

Great find  

I would be interested in the set of AC-675 cultivators if you ever decide to part with them 

[ri702bill 9,045]

Paul - the rotary mower deck you have is newer than the one in the brochure. Newer style has the quick height adjustment mechanism, the early had a series of 5 or 6 tapped holes for the axle bolts. A true PITA to adjust the mower height... I have a 32" one like that  - I never use it - it will find a home under a "Yard Art" relic.

 

 

Edited June 28, 2024 by ri702bill

[Handy Don 13,394]

Paul, it is not uncommon for one of these, if abused (stumps, big rocks, sidewalk corner?), to have a crack in the cast iron support under the shell and that can cause wonkiness. But YOURS seems to be well kept so I think it unlikely.

It is FAR more likely that you simply have bad bearings on either or both spindles due to poor lubrication. They are readily available and not expensive--~$10-12 per bearing and you need four to update both spindles (and it takes very little extra effort to do both if you have to do one)!

The manual (which you have in paper form!) for the deck is very helpful.

Lots of us use these as our go-to mower so there’s plenty of experience with them!

 

Edited June 29, 2024 by Handy Don

[PWL216 980]

Thx @Handy Don I’ll add a picture here tomorrow, but the shaft actually sheared off…

[ri702bill 9,045]

4 hours ago, PWL216 said:

Thx @Handy Don I’ll add a picture here tomorrow, but the shaft actually sheared off…

....along with the spinning blade. Did it rip up the deck shell??

[rmaynard 15,938]

What a great load of stuff. If you don't mind me asking, what did all that set you back?

[PWL216 980]

35 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

What a great load of stuff. If you don't mind me asking, what did all that set you back?

Hi @Maynard I paid $750…

[PWL216 980]

5 hours ago, ri702bill said:

....along with the spinning blade. Did it rip up the deck shell??

Hi @ri702bill I’ll check shortly. Thx

[Pullstart 64,800]

Very cool!  If you find that disc and plow not fitting in, we might meet again at the show next year!    I seem to always be looking for more “house” supplies for this plow day event I find myself in 

[rmaynard 15,938]

14 minutes ago, PWL216 said:

Hi @Maynard I paid $750…

Sounds fair. I have been offered $350 alone for my HL-5's  

[sqrlgtr 556]

Ok its settled pullstart gets plow and disc and sqrlgtr gets cultivators' .... just kidding kinda...

[ri702bill 9,045]

A while back, I made up a bearing and seal removal / driver tool for @Handy Don, as he was going thru his RM-366. Use it with no stop pin for bearing / seal removal, Stop pin in upper setting installs the lower beaings, leaving the proper gap for the seals. Move the pin to lower hole to install the seal and the upper bearing..... The tool has the "proper" recommended negative angle to contact the outer rounded edge of the bearing shell. Do not use a socket!!! It installs them squarely with little effort.  The tapped hole allows you to draw them in with a bolt & washers if you have neither a press nor a vise with sufficient opening.

 

 

Edited June 29, 2024 by ri702bill

[Handy Don 13,394]

19 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

A while back, I made up a bearing and seal removal / driver tool for @Handy Don

All I can say is that with this tool it was TOO easy! The removal and setting took almost no time at all with no risk to the bearing structures or doubt about placement. I sorta couldn’t believe it was done.

I did use a vise to assure straight pressure.

Edited June 29, 2024 by Handy Don

[PWL216 980]

Pics of the spindle damage…

[Pullstart 64,800]

I’ve sheared keys on those, but never rocked something that hard!

[ri702bill 9,045]

I picked up a 32" gear drive deck a couple of years ago that one spindle encountered a solid object and actually bent the horizontal upper shaft... not worth playing with an RS member sold me a nice NOS replacement. The gears survived just fine... Now runs with no noise or vibration...

 

Edited June 29, 2024 by ri702bill

[Handy Don 13,394]

1 hour ago, PWL216 said:

All I can say is WOW! That was some hit.

Of course, you’ll give the bearings and gears a checking over for any related damage but the support plate doesn’t appear cracked.

If you measure other spindle's length, I might have a match. 

[PWL216 980]

Actually guys, I’ve decided I’m not going to keep this tractor and lot (except the trailer). I’m going to sell it (or trade it), hopefully as a package. I just have too many projects, and I hate stuff sitting around my yard.