Quick checks before you begin
- Stop and isolate the machine, prevent restart and wait for all movement to stop before access. Secure raised units with the prescribed mechanical supports.
- Do not run a damaged mechanism to reproduce a symptom or take a photograph. Pressurized, spring-loaded and heavy assemblies require qualified service and the complete procedure.
- Keep unit identity, component location and repair history with every photograph and measurement.
Start with the actual assembly and position
The manual separates the front feeder assembly, its tube bearings and clutch, front and rear kicker shafts, and the rear-feeder idler gears. Keep those names attached to an overview photograph of the installed location.
A front/rear label without the unit configuration is incomplete. TM2109 specifically notes that the described 38 cm (15 in.) units do not have a front kicker. Record the installed structure rather than using a parts list from a different row arrangement.
Build a location-based inspection record
Noise, play or a visible worn part is a reason to inspect the mating components, not a complete diagnosis. Do not operate a suspect assembly to compare it with another unit.
| Assembly | Record for service |
|---|---|
| Front-feeder tube | Upper/lower bearing position and mating surfaces identified by the technician. |
| Front kicker, where fitted | Shaft, gear, upper/lower bearing and mounting identity. |
| Rear kicker | Shaft, coupling and lower bearing location. |
| Rear-feeder idler assembly | Gear, shaft, bearing and bracket identities; keep the removed stack together. |
Similar bearings do not share one installation method
For the front-feeder tube bearings, the manual warns against pressing new bearings beyond their recesses. Other bearing tasks in the chapter use different methods. That distinction is why this page does not provide a generic bearing-removal or press recipe.
Authorized removal can disturb lubrication lines, retaining parts and the relationship between assemblies. Keep position records and ask the workshop to confirm the appropriate tooling and procedure before repair.
Heavy, sharp and retained assemblies require the complete service procedure. Do not improvise a puller, bearing driver or support from this overview.
Resolve gear revisions before substitution
The rear-feeder work includes a welded-versus-machined gear distinction and refers to DTAC solution 104825. This is a specific service-version question, not permission to remove every spacer or replace every welded gear with a similar-looking machined gear.
If the applicable bulletin or replacement reference is missing, keep substitution unresolved. Send the removed reference, both faces, mounting arrangement and documented unit identity for review.
- Related drum-drive identification
Retain front/rear and gear-version records.
- Ask about an identified replacement part
Send the installed reference, unit identity and mounting photographs. A symptom alone does not establish fitment or availability.
Technical basis for this article
The article paraphrases and organizes the sources below. It does not copy a service manual, and it does not replace the current documentation for the exact machine.
- TM2109 (20 July 2020), Section 120, Group 05John Deere Des Moines Works | repair manual
Source scope: PDF pages 209–228; printed 120-05-5–24, including configuration and gear-revision notes. Original inspection and service-handover summary, not the complete repair procedure. Confirm current service information for the installed unit. The purchased manual and its illustrations are not hosted here.
Questions buyers and technicians ask
Does every VRS unit have the same front kicker?
No. TM2109 identifies a row-spacing configuration without a front kicker. Confirm the actual installed unit.
Can a tooth count alone identify the feeder gear?
No. Location, gear construction, mating interfaces and the verified reference are also needed.