John Deere runs like a Deer my foot. I have a 21" walk behind JX85. That is the commercial model of the JX75 and it don't run like no Deer. Well maybe a gut shot deer. Anyway I thought I would write about my latest tussle with my green and yellow dream lawn mower. 

First off this is not ordinary lawn mower. It is a Deere! I should wear a hat. Did you know this little 21" broken mower costs over 900.00 Dollars Retail in 1999? That alone should be against the law. It's just insane, that's what it is. So here is the problem now.

Here is is, in all it's broken glory. With a "Bad Clutch" on the "blade clutch brake assembly". A new one (if you can find it) can go for 160.00. I wouldn't pay that much for this mower. Much less for a part for this mower. So I had to find another alternative. It should have been easy. Search JX85 bad Clutch and you should have your answer. Right? Wrong. You get everything but the info you need. It took me about 2 days to find out what I am going to share with you, and I am pretty good at getting info. 

 First of all this model is pretty much a lemon. John Deere discontinued it and went to the homeowner model the JX75. So if you are looking for parts start there if this is your first time. It applies to just about every part except the metal wheel adjusters. 

 Okay the Blade Clutch Brake Assembly is located on the blade of course. It was designed as a safety feature to make the blade stop turning within 4 seconds of disengagement or engine shut off of some such federally mandated safety crap.  On my mower the brake part still works. If yours doesn't and there is play in the shaft you are kind of screwed. I was fortunate I fixed mine with one of these. 

Pretty good huh? I can't recommend this fix at all. I did check out what I had done and the guy at the lawn repair shop that I can't name said I did good. But I do not recommend anyone circumvent federal safety guidelines is that clear. I am just telling you what I did in order to mow grass.  

Where did I put it? I took the blade off (two bolts) and slipped it in the center hole. Over the nut that holds the clutch assembly on. That way when the blade is re installed it puts friction on the clutch assembly and blade. It acts as a permanently engaged clutch. So I had do do one of two things. I had to engage the blade so the brake would release. and strap the handle on the the mower down to keep it engaged or release/remove the spring on the bottom of the clutch brake assembly and safety wire it open. Because I was getting ticked with it and my grass was growing wildly I chose option one.

 What is the difference? Now the blade turns when I crank the mower just like all of the other non $900.00 lawn mowers in the world, and it does not stop in 4 seconds. That is it and  I'll take it. 

Some links for you. '

The parts manual general page 

 The actual link for the JX85 Walk Behind Mower is 

Good luck!