I am having the same problem, I can not lfind where the return sprong is on my model. The tractor model number is 917.252610. the return extension spring PN 146927 is missing from the deck, The diagram and pictures in the this thread do not match my deck. I do no have a slot for the spring in my deck. If anyone has a picture for my deck that would help me a lot.

We just moved to our house in PA a year ago this month, and the previous owners left their shepherd's hooks in the yard, with one birdfeeder attached. I rec'd a nice birdfeeder as a housewarming gift and have been so delighted with the birds that are visiting. I will probably regret all the seedlings that will be sprouting in my walkway and beds in a few months, but for now, I am a (happy)slave to the birds. So far, my main birds are tons of male and female cardinals, goldfinches, juncoes, sparrows, 2 red-headed woodpeckers, and chickadees, plus two nuisance squirrels. This past spring and summer we had two separate bird families rear babies in the eaves of our gazebo, and that was just great watching them on the day the babies learned to fly. The parents spread out into two trees and called loudly for their children to follow. Slowly, big brother waddled out from the nest and perched percariously on the edge of the eave. "Wow, it's a long way down from here", he thought as he looked below his little feet !! However, he got up his nerve and hopped off the ledge, only to crash a few yards down on the patio (I gasped in horror as he hit the ground !) Quite embarrassed at his first flying lesson, he started hopping into the brush to hide as he gathered his wits about him, and then began a series of short, low flights until he was resting at the base of his parent's tree. Well, in quick succession, his siblings followed suit, all going off in many directions, so fast I couldn't keep up with them all. I learned to recognize their young voices as they called to their moms for help, under a bush, under the bench, or right in the middle of the lawn ! Happily, all seemed to make it into a tree and I am hoping that they come back as adults and make my gazebo their family's choice of home once again. Looking froward to spring and new bird babies !! It's funny, in summer I concentrated on attracting butterflies since I thought the birds could find plenty to eat in spring, summer and fall. Maybe this year I will continue feeding the birds year round, and try to attract more hummingbirds as well. Thank you, God, for making such beautiful animals for me to look at !! I am amazed at every detail.

Lucygreenthumb makes a good point. Hummers are attracted to our artificial feeders, but there is more to their diet than just dissolved refined white sugar. Aside from the tiny insects they seem to eat (and I've never quite understood how they "eat" them), I suspect that real plants must provide some trace minerals lacking in our pure sugar water. So planting flowers that they can feed from is important, too, and I encourage everyone to have a butterfly bush, trumpet vine, cardinal flower, lobelia, monarda, etc. Anyone has room for a couple hummer-friendly plants. Sometimes, I see the hummers around my butterfly bushes so much, I'm not sure if I really have to feed them myself (but I do to see them mose closely). And maybe I have more hummers by putting out the feeders. Here is a link that might be useful: Hummer Plants

Dawn, boy are you right about the weed growth! I've been pulling weeds from one of the beds for a week now, and they keep coming up. We all know it's a never ending job, right? Henbit, Speedwell (blue flowers), Spring Beauties, Dandelions, and another white flowering weed have been blooming for a few days now. The early Daffs, as you said, are gone, and the mid-season Daffs are blooming like crazy. They had a nice cold winter to spur their growth this spring. The Redbuds are just bursting to flower now, and the pears are done. The Malva zebrinas are growing now, as well as the Rue. The Centaurea Montana Blue and Silene - pink flowering) are putting out new growth, and spreading at that. I see green leaves emerging on the Lavender Munstead, Rosemary, and Fennel. The fall Asters are popping up everywhere - I'll have to do some judicious pulling there. The Monarda is up about 1".. I see no signs yet of the Butterfly Bush and pray that it made it thru it's first winter. The Phlox x 'Wanda' is greening up and should put on a nice show the middle to latter of April. I have lettuce sprouting, but no sign of the snap peas. I may not get much of that if it turns hot too quickly - assuming they even come up. I did plant quite a lot of it to climb up the fence in the backyard - we'll see. Don't have any violets blooming yet. Birds are singing like crazy, woodpeckers are rat-a-tat-tatting on the trees, and bird love is in the air. I hope everyone has a lovely spring! Susan