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March 5, 2024
Read MoreHow to Install a Storage Tray on a John Deere Z735M Zero-Turn Mower
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Need to carry a few larger items with you while you mow like a rope, a hose, or your toolbox? Do you have a John Deere Z735M Zero-Turn Mower? Then the Storage Tray attachment is the right one for you.
Keep reading to learn how you can easily install a storage tray onto the back of your zero-turn mower and where you can buy one today.
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Mower Prep
Before you begin the installation, you’ll first need to do some preparations on the mower to make it ready for an easy installation.
On the Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS), you will need access to two holes at the base of the structure on either side. In order to access these, two things will need to be removed from the mower frame: the battery cover on the left-hand side and the cupholder on the right. We’ll tell you how below.
Removing the battery cover is simple and easy. All you have to do is twist the small knob located at the base of the cover, lift, and remove it. To remove the cupholder, you will need a flathead screwdriver to assist you in detaching the small plastic bolts that are securing the cupholder to the mower frame, as shown. These bolts come in two pieces, a bolt and a clip. So be sure you remove both to successfully detach the holder. Set both the cover and the cupholder aside to replace later.
Now that the cupholder is removed, notice how there is a bolt in the bottom hole on the right-hand side of the ROPS on the right side. You can remove this bolt using a 13-mm wrench, ratchet, and socket. The nut used on this bolt is a nylon lock nut, so keep that in mind when working. Once loosened and removed, set the hardware aside.
Brackets
The storage tray mounting brackets are each bent to form a right angle with one of the “arms” being longer and wider than the other. This longer arm will be the one we bolt onto the inside walls of the ROPS, and the shorter arm will be facing upwards. The storage tray will later be secured to the shorter arm.
We will be starting the installation process on the right side. To begin, hold the mounting bracket in place so the holes on the large arm line up with the two bottom holes located along the inside of the ROPS near the base. When in place, run a large bolt through the holes at the bottom of the structure and follow on the back of the bolt with a washer and nut to secure. On this side, you will need to reach your hand inside the cupholder hole to access the back of the bolt.
Next, run another bolt through the second hole and the ROPS and follow this again by twisting a washer and nut onto the back of the bolt. Now tighten both nuts down using the wrench, ratchet, and socket from earlier. Just like the bottom bolt, you will need to reach your hand inside the cupholder hole in order to tighten this nut. Once everything is secured, you can replace the cupholder and the clips used to secure it to the frame.
Repeat the process on the left side to complete the bracket install.
Storage Tray
Place the tray onto the upward-facing portion of the brackets making sure to line up the bracket holes with the four holes inside the storage tray, as shown. The tray should be positioned so you are looking directly at the stickers on the inside when standing behind the mower.
Once the tray is positioned properly on top of the brackets, insert the small bolts through the washers and into the 4 holes in each corner of the tray, as shown. Place the four 10-mm nylon nuts on the back side of each of these bolts and tighten each using an impact drill to secure and complete install. Once again, be careful not to overtighten these bolts using the drill to avoid cracking the plastic.
And that’s it! You have now successfully installed a Storage Tray onto your John Deere Z735M Zero-Turn Mower! If you have questions about any of the steps outlined above or are just more of a visual learner, head over to our YouTube channel and watch our step-by-step 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!
