I would replace the bushings with bearings personally.

>>>I would replace the bushings with bearings personally.

But wouldn't that void the planned obsolescence?

Ask for the wheel bearings from a JD LX176 and that will tighten things up long into the future. Or...just get new bushings. As you've found, bushings do last a long time and work pretty well.

MSSurveyor: I had a JD Sabre 17.5/42 years ago. I changed the bushings out ASAP per a recommendation here on this very forum.

Here's the part number: Part number AM118315 They fit perfectly, and I seem to remember they were between $5.00 - $10.00 per pair. You'll need a pair for both wheels.

Good Luck!

I changed my front wheel bushings to X300 bearings when my LA120 was only a couple of months old.

My LX178 came with bearings and I just replaced them last fall (after 14 years of use), only one of the four actually needed replaced, but I replaced them all while I was at it.

I have had my bushings replaced by a dealer. It was work to get the wheel off and it doesn't seem to fit the wheel shaft now without hammering it on. Is this the normal method of mounting a wheel on the shaft. It was hard coming off, but I thought that was due to the bad bushings.