Rob, the right side has the same thing. If you'll look closely, at the end of the axle, wheel off, you will find a small hole. If you'll get a point tip for your grease gun or buy one if you don't have a gun, remove both drive wheels once per year and pump grease in that hole until grease comes out of the gear. This flush's out dirt and grit and leave a fresh supply of grease. Owners manual will tell you to grease these buggers once per year and will stop the problem from coming back. Yours is two years old so you should be fine. Early production did not have a hole in the end of the axle and one had to do the full dis-assembly you did.

Okay, the wiring problem has been taken care of, but their was additional problems with either the brake or the clutch, possibly just the brake if the clutch kind of works the brake pad as well. On one occasion I pushed in the clutch, shifted into neutral and felt the gear shift come out of gear as put the gear shift into neutral. When I let off the clutch the motor seemed to bog down a little and I heard a squealing sound so I put the clutch back in. I shut it off and looked at the clutch and brake pad area to see if the brake looked to be in the braking position, it kind of looked like it was. I started it back up and messed with it some more, till finally it went into neutral or the brake came loose. I've always had to rock back and forth as I shifted gears at times, so that's one thing I did while it was in neutral as I slowly let off the clutch I rocked back and forth. That seemed to help. Sometimes it does this even if I don't use the brake but use the clutch to come to a slow stop.

Congrats on your purchase!!! The 854 was made only in 1964. It has an 8hp Kohler electric start engine and a 4 speed manual tranny. Below are the attachments that will fit an 854. -Deerslayer Attachments/Accessories List Model/Part Number Description Comments 5-2321 32" Rotary Mower 5-2361 36" Rotary Mower 6-4111 42" Dozer Blade 7-1721 Cultivator AC-675 Cultivator AC-7 Cultivator (7-1711) AH-63 Auxiliary Hitch (85111) BD-4262 42" Dozer Blade BD-4263 42" Dozer Blade BD-4264 42" Dozer Blade BD-4264A 42" Dozer Blade BD-4267 42" Dozer Blade BD-4271 42" Dozer Blade BR-122 Back Rest DP-861 32" Disc (7-1511) DW-62 Dual Wheel Kit (80711) HL-5 Headlights HL-6 Headlights HY-3 Hydraulic Unit LMR-304 30" Reel Mower MA-1 Speed Hitch (85211) MB-405 40" Grader Blade (7-1111) PP-101 10" Plow PP-411 8" Plow (7-1421) PP-85 8" Plow PTO-66 Power Take-Off RM-323 32" Rotary Mower RM-324 32" Rotary Mower RM-326 32" Rotary Mower RM-3262 32" Rotary Mower RM-327 32" Rotary Mower RM-363 36" Rotary Mower RM-364 36" Rotary Mower RM-366 36" Rotary Mower RM-3662 36" Rotary Mower RM-367 36" Rotary Mower RM-425 42" Rotary Mower SGM-603 3 Gang Reel Mower SMS-42A 42" Sickle Mower SMS-425 42" Sickle Mower (7-1321) SR-64 Speed Reducer ST-324 32" Snow Thrower ST-325 32" Snow Thrower ST-326 32" Snow Thrower (6-2211) TC-12 Tire Chains, All Purpose or Cleat 6.00 x 12 (82411) WD-7 Wheel Disc (80511) WF-60 Front Wheel Weight (81211) WT-244 24" Tiller WW-12 Rear Wheel Weight WW-126 Rear Wheel Weight (81111)

My manual is the same. Mentions tentioning them, but nothing about replacing them Maybe that is why it has 2 belts - to make them last longer! Just got the PTO belt - the manual did include a size as well as the WH number. Looks likke the tention spring I picked is not strong enough, so back to the hardware store. I think I'll try it firswt though. Came in to put on shoes.