mystery mower

[Randy-IA]

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since I've posted. I now have a mystery on my hands. A friend bought a green mower with the decals implying it was a mx6 JD. We know it's not, what don't know is what it IS. There is no identifying markings on it, although I have not taken the shroud off the gear case as of now. It looks like this one just JD green. It appears to be in very good condition, no holes, only one punch mark from the inside, and no visible rust and there's no noise coming from the gear case (it also spins very easily!). Everything points to it being a woods mower ... some call it a Woods cadet 72, but that doesn't appear to be the proper model name for finding out about it. I would like to find manuals for it. I hope the picture show up, otherwise I hope the link shows to click to the picture. Notice that on this unit it has the double reinforcements for the rear deck, most don't have this feature. In addition, most have a wishbone tail-wheel support, this one has the single beam support. I believe this makes it a light duty machine?
Untitled URL Link

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Looks like a Woods by the lift brackets but can't say what model.

 

[Timmycornpicker]

try Model 72-3.

 

[Randy-IA]

I saw that 72-3 but there's enough difference that I wasn't sure. The main difference is the two reinforcement's on the top on the back end. It might be the same but that makes it different.

 

[Randy-IA]

I can't edit so one more difference is the mast mount on the front...the 72-3 has a bent mount with a separate gusset welded in that is just an angle brace while the one in the picture (like the one I have but is not mine) has a solid gusset plate with no hole under it. minor differences but enough for me to believe it's not entirely the same. It's not unique by any means and the pictures I've found just show it as a Cadet 72 and no model number.

I really need to know because the blades need to come off and there's a possibility I'll need to remove the gear box to replace the bottom seal. Not certain on the seal yet, I filled the gear case this morning with 80w-90 before mowing for three hours, I smelled gear oil while mowing but never checked the level after I stopped because I had more mowing to do on the riding mower before it got dark. I'll check tomorrow.

It is very quiet running and smooth but it beats the grass instead of cutting it. I was cutting grass that was about 18 tall. It did as good as I expected it to however. I think it'll do better when the blades are a little sharper, right now they feel round on the front.

 

[Gary201]

It's a Woods M-5.

 

[Gary201]

Oops-missed the 6' part. Woods 72

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

If it's like the 60 you need to rig a puller to get the bar off the shaft. OP manual shows how to do it and I recall it needs some Loctite when it goes back on. Could also be the blades are on upside down, done that myself.