914A Mower Deck Help

[SacandagaBrad]

The top nut on the left side spindle on my 60" side discharge deck keeps loosening slightly. I can tell by the "rattling" sound that develops while mowing. The drive pulley can be rocked/wobbled side to side by hand, and there is play between the blade and pulley indicating the key is loose. I can tighten it down and all is smooth and quiet, there is no binding or grinding like a bearing is going even when turning it by hand. I can mow for about an hour before it starts making noise again. I do not have a torque wrench handy.

Am I to the point of needing to apply some LocTite or do you think I am on my way to putting a new set of bearings on that side?

Mower and tractor are 8 years old, tractor has 750 hours and I mow about 1.5 acres from late April thru October around here. It has always been well lubed.

I'm leaning toward giving the LocTite a try first for obvious reasons, just wondering if anybody else has experienced these symptoms.

Thanks - Brad

 

[RickB]

My money is on a worn spindle shaft, pulley, or both. You can dope it up with red loctite, install a new locknut above the pulley and hope for the best while saving up for new parts. If the spindle turns freely and smothly when tightened properly, the bearings are probably OK for now.

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Thanks Rick. That's the kind of info I was looking for. I'll probably tighten it up to get a couple more mowings and then take it apart for a better evaluation when I put it away for the winter. Thinking I can remove the 3 bolts and remove the housing and spindle, rebuild as necessary and put it back together in the spring. Hopefully just needs a new pulley.

Brad

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Pulled the pulley off and then the spindle out of the bearings, pulley definitely wobbles on the spindle. Going to stop at the dealer some day soon and see what they think, hoping it will just need the pulley. The spindle doesn't show and visible wear, but I know that doesn't mean much.

 

[JAMMERGT]

I am trying to remove pulley from my 914A mower deck now - cannot loosen top nut with ANYTHING! Just a sanity check - these are right hand threads, correct?

 

[jwstewar]

Yes, the nuts are normal right hand thread.

 

[phila4x4]

How did you remove the pulley? I see there is a key in the shaft, did you remove the bolts after removing the top nut? My deck is a 914 not 914A if that makes a difference

 

[jwstewar]

Trying to remember how I did it. It has been a couple years. I believe I removed the top nut. Don't think I used a puller to pull they pulley. I'm thinking I just used a pry bar, but can't swear to it. I don't remember a key in the shaft, but honestly don't remember. I would think it would otherwise I think the pulley would/could slip on the shaft.

 

[phila4x4]

Thanks for the feedback, I needed to reassemble it to mow my grass. I'll look into it further in the fall after I'm done mowing.

 

[FloGrown81]

Where did you get the spindle from, messicks is expensive, and another place carries them, but out of stock, for $400. Im in N.E. Fla.

 

[jwstewar]

I purchased all of my parts from one of my two local dealers that I purchase from. They are usually the same price or just a bit cheaper than Messicks and I don't have to pay shipping.

 

[jwstewar]

One thing to note, I didn't replace any actual spindles, just the bearings and cups to rebuild them.

 

[FloGrown81]

Got a part number for those?
Messicks only has a complete spindle, i could do with just the bearings and cups.

 

[jwstewar]

The bearing cone is 13271 25.4 mm ID x14.73 mm W. Then the Bearing Cup itself is 132709 it is 50.29mm OD x 10.67mm w. I believe I also changed the seals while it was apart. The upper is AUB145551, The lower is AUB145552. I found these parts through the New Holland My Shed app on my phone.

 

[FloGrown81]

Awesome thanks alot.

 

[jwstewar]

You are welcome, I think the bearings were around $8 each, cups were 6 or 7 and the seals were like 14 or 15. Don't quote me on those, it has been a couple years. I think I rebuilt all 3 of my spindles for around $150.

 

[FloGrown81]

And all this was ordered from the app?
Or your local store.
Do you mind if i ask the name of that place see if you ship parts.

 

[jwstewar]

Part numbers were from the app, parts were ordered locally through Franklin Equipment in Columbus, OH or Cross & Sons Farm Equipment in Jackson Ohio. Thinking I did the first one from Cross and the other 2 from Franklin - I did the first one in the fall to finish the season because it failed and the other two at the beginning of the following season as preventative - but they weren't bad. Had them apart and changed them anyway since I had them.

Home - Franklin Equipment As far as I know Cross doesn't have a website, he is just a small town dealer but with a huge selection of parts.

 

[FloGrown81]

Awesome thanks alot.
Ill give them a call, missed a few calls this week(end) for food plots and shooting lanes. Hopefully ill get this fixed up soon. Thanks again.

 

[MotoRudyX]

I was able to find bearings for mine but had to get the seals from New Holland. I still saved a bunch rather than replacing the whole spindle.