How to Install a John Deere Sabre Deck

Park the tractor on a level surface and push the lift lever into the highest, raised position.

Slide the Sabra mower deck under the raised tractor and place the lift lever down to lower the tractor closer to the mowing deck.

Position the mowing deck under the tractor so that the rear draft arms fall between the lift arms and the guide rods on each side of the tractor.

Elevate the mowing deck on each of the four corners with wood blocks so that it is in contact with the tractor.

Move the deck as needed to align the draft pin holes of the deck's rear draft brackets with the holes on the tractor frame bracket. The draft pins are long, thin steel rods with an L-bend at each end. The brackets are small steel pieces, welded to the tractor and mower deck frames that protrude at a 90-degree angle, with a small hole drilled through them that accepts the hook of the draft pin.

Slide a rear draft pin through the aligned holes from the mower deck draft arm through the hole on the protruding tractor frame bracket. Thread the locking cotter pin in towards the center of the tractor. Repeat on both sides of the tractor.

Slip a spring-loaded locking pin through the end of each draft pin to lock the connection in place. These are silver and look like shorter and stronger bobby pins with a slightly bigger opening at the eye end.

Hook the L-shaped angled head of the long and skinny deck draft arm around the outside hole of the welded-on front axle bracket. Repeat on both sides of the tractor.

Lift the front end of the mower deck with an additional block, if needed, and hook the L-angled head of the front draft rods through the holes on the front bracket on the mower deck. Slip a flat washer over each connection and lock each down by slipping the spring-loaded pin horizontally through the hole in the tip of the draft rod.

Disengage the left side of the belt drive on the mower deck by pulling down and away from the pulley. Loop the drive belt through the guide and onto the engine pulley. Push the belt drive back up and in towards the pulley until it snaps into place.

Lift the tension rod and align the upright metal stub up through the underside of the mower blade drive arm. Secure the two pieces with a flat washer and then another spring-loaded pin, which looks like an oversized bobby-pin, horizontally through the small hole at the tip of the upright metal stub.

Raise the mower deck onto the tractor undercarriage by pressing the lift lever lock on the tractor and pulling the mowing lift lever on the mower deck to its high position, simultaneously.

Remove the wood blocks from under the mower deck. Confirm that all belts are seated in their pulley troughs and level the mower for use.