Mowing 1046 mower deck bearings squeeling

[sdk8103]

My mower deck is so loud this year and it sounds like the bearings in the spindles are bad. This mower only has 82 hours on it and it screams when I engage the blades. Has anyone else had this experience?

 

[dqdave1]

Are they greaseable?

 

[sdk8103]

There are grease fittings on the spindles and I have greased them. It doesn't make a difference.

 

[dqdave1]

Are both spindles sqeeling? I would disassemble one and while on bench, you should be able to feel if bearings are tight.

 

[dqdave1]

Are both spindles sqeeling? I would disassemble one and while on bench, you should be able to feel if bearings are tight. It may be the idler puley making the noise. Make sure belt is installed correctly also. You need to isolate the noise. A piece of hose held to the ear and spindle or a piece of steel held to spindle and ear or a mechanics stethiscope.

 

[sdk8103]

I don't think it's the pulley since I had the belt off and hand spun everything. The pulley turns and spins very freely, but the blades feel like there are bad spots in the bearings that you can feel while turning the blades by hand. I will try the stethoscope trick to see if I can narrow it down.

 

[dqdave1]

Sounds like no grease is getting to the bearings. Can you disassemble the spindles? Anyway to get some penetrating oil in bearing to free it up? This may get you a little more life out of it. Take the grease zerk fitting out; then force some penetrating oil into bearing. I am guessing here.

 

[sdk8103]

The noise is coming out of the spindles. I can't believe the bearings are shot after only about 70 hours. Anyone else experience this? I am not sure if all 6 bearings will need replacing, but at least 3 will since the noise is coming from all 3 spindles. At $15 a bearing plus the time to do it, this ticks me off on a 2 year old mower with so few hours.

 

[dqdave1]

Talk to your dealer; maybe CC will help you out. You can run it till they fail.

 

[JSharp]

If it's only 2 years old isn't it still on warranty? If so, make Cub fix it and save yourself the $