Yes, all you need is a heavy duty cotter key. Get it from the hardware. Should be about 2.5" one. Those things just sheer off. Check the gear on the wheels, locate the old key (if still there) remove and align holes, insert key, been key to keep from falling out, done.

 

My JDL dealer has them in stock & was kind enough not to charge for installation. It took 5 minutes.

 

This is a very simple fix. Go to your JDL store and they will sell you a roll pin (about $1.00) and show you how to fix it. It should not take more than 5 min's. If it is the impeller pin you are replacing do not use a cotter key. This will stretch out the plastic on the impeller and the pin will fall out over time. (You can use a cotter pin on the drive wheel but not the impeller.)

 

i did a quick visual of the cotter pin in the drive wheel and it's stil in place. at least i can see both ends of the pin...which should be a good indication the pin is not broken (maybe). i should have pulled it out and give it a closer inspection...but at first glance, i think it's still okay. that said, it must be the other pin being mentioned in this thread. now, figuring out how to change it is MY challenge.......and i do mean challenge. (i'm helpless)

 

Use a small hole punch to knock out the old pin. Then line up the holes in the impeller and the shaft and gently get the new pin started into the impeller. Once it is set in the plastic of the impeller you should be able to pound it through the shaft and into the plastic on the other side. Just don't hit it too hard or you will mushroom the end of the pin. I use something flat inbetween the pin and the hammer. This prevents mushrooming the pin out. good luck

 

Nah your not helpless take your time and figure it out its just nuts and bolts and pins not working on the space shuttle...

 

thanks all...for the great information. i called jdl and seems they (all 3 locations) are all a little short on parts for these spreaders. apparently, everybody is gearing up/stocking up for winter to spread salt and there's been a run on spreader parts. so......

the other problem is, i can't tell them which of the 3 roll pins (according to jdl) is broken since i didn't know how to diagnose the problem when it first broke. now, i'm at work (real job) and away from the spreader so i can't do a look-see to know which pin i need. this isn't real helpful to jdl...but, they have a spreader in stock and can show me what i need to do to diagnose. hopefully they have all 3...or it's a one size fits all deal and they have some in stock.

again, all i know is that fertilizer is dropping onto the impeller??? (tray) that is suppose to spin/throw/broadcast the material and it ain't spinning.

 

I have used a nail in a pinch..always carry a few in the truck they actually last longer than the pins.. those pins break really easy in humid weather and the fertilizer gets a little heavier.

 

You can get the roll-pins at any hardware store. Check to make sure the axle is turning as you spin the right hand wheel. Check to see if the platter fails to spin with the vertical shaft. Replace if needed. See Ro1207 advice. Coat hanger wire works in a pinch. If Ok so far, remove the gear cover if your model has one. There is a pin that fixes the large gear to the axle, check it. There is a tiny pin that fixes the small gear to the vertical shaft--check that. There is a collar that pushes the gears together (it is tightened with an Allen screw) check that it is tight, so the gears mesh. If it is almost new--it should not break. Hope this helps.

 

as a follow-up, it turns out that i have 2 sheered roll pins. the first is the one that goes through the verticle shaft and impeller....easy enough, providing i could have bought the pin at jdl, however, they were OUT. the second is the roll pin below the impeller going through the verticle shaft. to get to it, you have to remove 3 screws, which i did (applause please), but was unable to figure out how to put the new pin back in given it is down inside the plastic housing and not enough clearance to access. oh well, at least i have the new pin...the rest is to figure out.

by the way, it seems a bit dangerous to use nails as a substitute for roll pins. clearly, i can see it would get you through in a pinch, but substitutes could result in damage to gears??? i think i'd prefer to sheer/replace a roll pin rather than more expensive gears.

 

A bad sign if Lesco/JDL doesn't have the parts. Maybe that means they are not going to support their spreader anymore. I don't understand how those pins could have broken. Rust is part of the problem on mine. Do you have the made in America version or the new Chinese-made version? I have a Scotts spreader, but they are very similar. Do you mean that you must replace the tiny roll pin that attaches the small gear to the vertical shaft? If so, you should be able remove the gear cover and rotate the platter to bring the roll pin into semi plain sight. You should try to drive the old pin out with a special kind of punch in the proper size called a "drift" or "pin punch", also available at your hardware store. On mine, the size is about 1/16th. OK to drive it out with a nail if you want. Then using the nail or punch to keep the two parts aligned, using your third hand, drive the new pin through, with gentle taps of a smaLL hammer, being careful not to smash the gear. Withdraw the punch as you go.

 

riggle,

thanks for the tip (duh)...of rotating the platter to bring or lift the verticle shaft upward so i can access the roll pin hole. yes, it's in the "small gear" area......so you say. all i know is i had to remove 3 screws and lift or slide the cover up and then the plastic gear-like thing in order to see the roll pin hole (minus the pin).

yes, i think mine is the made in china version as i bought it new about 1 year ago. i was a bit disappointed to learn that these pins were broken. however, the more i'm learning about this stupid spreader, i realize i probably caused the damage by pushing it through some ruts/dips/holes while trying to spread fertilizer a little too close to the edge of my foundation beds and base of trees. too much force i suppose.

funny thing, i contacted 2 jdl dealers and both had a very limited selection of spare parts for the spreader. hmmmmmm

 

A friend of mine gave me a Lesco spreader that he had just put new gears in said he did a couple passes and it stopped working again.I brought it home drove the roll pin out it had broken and was letting the gears spin.Anyways 30 cents later it was fixed and I sold it today for $275 dollars:clapping:

 

you know, this is all common knowledge with the lesco spreaders now that i have done this for many years now, but i started with a scotts spreader and i have never done anything to it. never broken a pin or etc that the lesco ones do. i love it and reserve it for me and my crew. it was more pricey i think when we bought it, but it is easier to push than the lesco. we own three lesco spreaders, one was an oldy a guy "brought " with him to our company, one was brand new and the other we bought off a lco that was getting out for cheap and it was barely used.

 

I use prize lawn never had a problem http://www.prizelawnspreaders.com/viewItem.do?itemId=EST-3

I spread penn mulch with them also

 

I know at my Lesco TGCL is bad about coming in cleaning them out on certain, more popular parts. They ask how many they have, then say they will take them all. I can't tell you how many times I've been screwed on Lesco Gun rebuild kits, roll pins and dampeners for D-30's. I used to try to keep 1 of every replacement part such as these, now I keep 2. Mainly because I might have to order it and you never know how long it will take to come in. Pisses me off when TGCL does that!

 

i really like tgcl, they get me alot of business for not delivering satisfactory results and idiots misinforming customers

 

Lesco spreaders were much better when they were made in the U.S.A.
I swear, every new spreader I had from lesco years worked great, now that there made in "another country" they are made with cheaper material and full of trouble. What is this country doing to itself.:usflag:

 

Lesco spreaders were much better when they were made in the U.S.A.
I swear, every new spreader I had from lesco years worked great, now that there made in "another country" they are made with cheaper material and full of trouble. What is this country doing to itself.:usflag:

i cant type the words to fully describe the answer to your question, it is not allowed on here!

 

It appeared to me that on the new spreaders (China) the axles are made from sheet metal rolled up to make a tube. I thought the plastic hoppers were a little more stiff. And the metal parts seemed more shiny.

 

Yeah, when I saw the shipping boxes at the local JDL with 'MADE IN CHINA' printed on it I knew that I had already purchased my last one.

One bad incident with a Chinese-made pipe wrench will alter your view of things. I saw a whole sky full of stars when the things snapped in half.

As to the roll pins, I gave up on trying to keep them where they should be. I would replace the worn pins with stainless steel cotter pins lathered up with never-seize. Keep a whole bunch of them (both sizes) in the glove compartment.

 

do yourselves a favor, buy stainless roll and cotter pins.