So I read about 200 reviews and the comments on the reviews. I was worried to buy any of these products so after a couple days of going back and fourth I settled on this one. 1st - The little brass grease fitting that everyone was complaining about breaking off and being junk was actually a pretty thick and sturdy grease fitting. 2nd - yes, I bought a grease gun just in case I needed it. When I received the part it came in a thick plastic bag with all necessary hardware for mounting it including the 4 bolts to anchor the the deck, the ever important pulley space, top bolt and bottom bolt. I took the grease fitting off to look and see if their was any grease and from what I could tell their wasn’t. I then reinstalled the grease fitting and primed the grease gun. When I applied grease to the grease fitting guess what happened... the grease went where it was supposed to and the brass fitting didn’t break. Shocker! I know right! Mind you I was shaking like Great Granny Gertrude because I was sure it was going to break. It held even through all my fumbling. I must have pumped the trigger on the grease gun 15-20 times and said that was enough. 3rd - I had a limited selection of tools as most of mine are still in storage from a recent move but I got it done from start to finish with the removal of the old to the install of the new. I used a 5/8, 1/2, & 3/8 sockets with a 1/2” driver, I also used 2 Phillips head screwdrivers, 1 adjustable plier, and a hammer. So I had to replace my unit due to the blade bolt breaking off and not being able to extract it. With that being said it is extremely difficult to remove the riser and pulley if your blade bolt breaks off, you have nothing to prevent the main shaft from spinning. So here’s where the hammer and screw drivers come in handy. For starters I freaked out because I had tried everything to stop the shaft from spinning but I couldn’t. A couple of minutes in silence and it hit me, Starr at something long enough and stuff starts falling in line. So I used the hammer and a screw driver to try to peel off the bottom housing because it looked like I could, don’t do this it’s a waste of energy and time, instead take 2 Phillips head screw drivers and look down at the top of your pulley once you break loose and completely drop the assembly.... once your assembly is free and the pulley is sitting on the deck grab the two screwdrivers and spin the pulley until you two wholes directly in front of you, then insert the screwdrivers into the two holes, once you do this look at the holes from the mounting bolts, they will not line up exactly but this is what I had to do, now take your screwdrivers and insert them into the bolt holes while also being in the pulley holes. This will keep the pulley from moving and should allow you to be able to at least break free the pulley nut. All I had was an adjustable set of pliers and a pretty good grip, if you have a better set of tools you would probably have the right socket which will be easier. Once you break it free your good to go. 4th - Install was way easier than removal for me. I recommend removing the grease fitting as it is a tight fit just don’t get debris in the opening, then I recommend installing the assembly and tightening the four deck bolts all the was first, then install the blade as this will give you the leverage you need to make tightening the top bolt easier, then move to the pulley - - - WAIT!!! - - - put the pulley washer on first before the pulley! Very important! Once the washer is in place then place your pulley and belt on next, get the pulley to seat over the spline(star) shaft, then use your pulley nut and tighten down while holding onto the blade with the opposite hand, once you’ve tightened down the pulley( at first you will see some resistance if you try to hand tighten this bolt, it will look and feel like it’s going to leave you 1/2” short or so, don’t worry use the socket and tighten it down the rest of the way) all the way go ahead and install the grease fitting( I recommend using a wrench as it doesn’t leave lots of room for a socket), clean up your mess and you should be off to the races. I hope this helps someone as I had no way of knowing what I was doing as this was the first assembly of this type I had ever removed or installed. I wasted a lot of time in the hopes that maybe I could save someone some time. Also don’t listen to all these crazy horror stories of people’s experiences. I think my experience is the norm as far as the actual product and the install. Very very easy! Product arrived earlier than expected and was exactly what I ordered. I’ve attached some pics of what I was working with and the finished product. NOTE: keep all of the old pieces of the original riser. You never know until it’s completely installed.
