2/20/2014 9:02 AM
Keith,
I have found replacement lift cylinders on ebay and Motion Industries for cheaper then what John Deere wants. Downfall is if you do not get the cylinder from John Deere, it will not just bolt right up. John Deere had the lift cylinders specially made with the piece you put the pin or bolt thru (not the actual slide rod end) longer. The actuators you buy that are not from John Deere have a shorter piece and will not just bolt right up. You can unbolt the housing of the new actuator (carefully) and take that piece out of the old and swap them. I have done this many times. Another option is to contact your Deere dealer or service tech and see if they have any used ones available.
Paul L Double
Director of Turfgrass Management
Sugar Valley Golf Club
Bellbrook, Ohio