Adding a John Deere 7 cubic foot Poly Cart to your mower can significantly boost its utility, making various lawn care tasks more manageable. This comprehensive guide will lead you through the steps of unboxing, assembling, and attaching the poly cart to your lawn mower, ensuring a smooth and efficient setup.

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In this kit:

• Hardware kit
• Drawbar and axle
• Clevis
• Latch bracket
• 2 pneumatic tire assemblies
• Instruction manual
• Poly cart base
   

Tools needed:

• Pliers
• Flathead screwdriver
• Ratchet wrench
• 1/2-inch socket
• 9/16 socket & wrench
   

Installation

Mounting the Base to the Bottom of the Cart

First, we'll mount the base to the bottom of the cart which will support the axle. To do this, locate the eight holes at the rear of the cart and the two towards the front for the latch bracket then place a bolt through one of the rear holes, add a flat washer, and insert it. Next, align the base bracket and start securing it with a lock washer and a nut. Repeat for all eight holes to firmly attach the base.
 

Installing the Latch Bracket

Next, we'll install the latch bracket. Ensure the notch on the latch bracket faces the front of the cart and attach two small flat washers to the bolts, followed by larger flat washers. Then position the bracket correctly insert the bolts through the holes, as shown below, and secure each bolt with a lock washer and a nut. For now, tighten everything down with your fingers, saving the wrench for later.
 

Setting Up & Installing the Drawbar and Axle

Next, locate your drawbar and flip it over to install the spring and latch lever. Once flipped over, insert the long bolt through one side of the drawbar and add a nut with a star edge to act as a lock. Place the latch lever and the spring in position, ensuring the latch lever faces forward, and run the bolt through the latch lever and the spring, securing them in place. Then adjust the spring and nuts to ensure the latch functions smoothly. Then attach the clevis to the drawbar using the bolts, lock washers, and nuts. 

The next step is to connect the drawbar and axle to the cart. Position the drawbar in place, using the latch bracket to hold it steady, and slide the axle through the base and align it with the drawbar. Then find the optimal position for the latch bracket and tighten the bolts.
 

Attaching the Wheels

Lastly, we'll attach the wheels to complete the assembly. Simply slide a nylon washer onto the axle and place a pneumatic tire on the axle, followed by another nylon washer. Next, secure with a spring clip using pliers and repeat for the other side. Flip the cart upright and tighten the latch bracket to complete install.
 

Now hook the cart to your John Deere mower and check the latching mechanism. Ensure it securely locks and can handle weight without coming loose. Once assembled, attach the cart to your John Deere mower and take it for a spin. Test the dump action to ensure everything is working smoothly.
 

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By following this guide, users can expect to enhance their lawn care routine with the added functionality of the John Deere 7 cubic foot Poly Cart. This guide aims to ensure a straightforward assembly process, allowing you to quickly benefit from the increased utility and efficiency the poly cart brings to gardening and lawn care tasks.

If you have questions about any of the information above or are just more of a visual learner, head over to our YouTube channel and watch our video (also attached below)! Leave a comment or question and receive a personal reply from Brent, our resident John Deere expert. Be sure to subscribe and thanks for reading!