Adding Zerk to mandrel

Syncro · Jun 27, 2006

Thought I'd pass this on for those that may have an interest. The mower blade mandrels on my lawn tractor have sealed bearings, which have worked very well for the past 13 seasons, however lately one has been getting a little noisey. Since there is no way to grease the bearings, I was going to replace the whole mandrel until I found out the price, $87 plus tax! Each! So I thought I'd add a zerk and see if I could get some grease in to the dry bearings. All that was required was drilling and tapping a hole in the rather thick aluminum casting, turned out to be pretty simple. I then added a few squirts of oil, screwed in a new zerk fitting and filled the cavity with grease. That seemed to do the trick just fine, grease was reaching the bearings from the inside and a smooth quiet mandrel was the result.

Molerj · Jun 28, 2006

Syncro, a few thoughts from a smalltime lawn mower repairman. The sealed bearings are just that sealed. In time the life of these bearings are up. Usually the seal gets comprimised & water finds it way in. I believe the grease has temporarily quieted the bearing noise. Those bearings are replaceable for about 6 bucks each. Loosen the top nut to the top of the threads & drive the shaft out. The bottom bearing is a little harder to get off. Usually the top bearing is fine. That said the grease thru the zerk fitting with new bearings surely can't hurt. In fact, I have seen a replaceable shaft for an AYP mandrel assembly now has a zerk on top of the shaft. Shaft is drilled so that grease can enter the top & drilled again so it can come out inside the mandrel assembly.

Syncro · Jun 28, 2006

Thanks Ron, thats good to know. If I keep the machine into next season I'll replace the bearings. Problem is the Briggs 18hp horizontal twin has started making a rather loud clatter. In your experience in repair, any ideas why the motor is suddenly getting noisey? I estimate it has ~350 hours and I've always changed the oil twice a season. In any event the mandrel will become moot if the engine blows up!

Mith · Jun 29, 2006

Syncro - the bearings on that have a seal on both sides, so the grease wount really enter the bearings.
If you take the shaft out as described above, replace the bearings, it isnt that hard, and cheap. When you put the new ones in you could take the inside seal out, so the grease will enter the bearings. Or, just leave them as sealed bearings, it'll last several more years.

As to the engine, is it down on power atall. Is it running on both cylinders. Change the oil, looking for metal filings in the oil

Molerj · Jun 29, 2006

Synchro, as you know, internal engine noise isn't good. Can't really give much of an opinion without listening myself. Could it be external, like muffler or a shroud bolt came loose? From your picture, I can tell you take extra good care & changing oil twice a year is way more than most. Like Mith asked, how is the power?

Syncro · Jun 29, 2006

Molerj said:
Like Mith asked, how is the power?

It runs strong, smooth powerfull rythim from the exhaust and it starts right up. No smoke, no oil consumption, no metal in the oil. Its got me baffeled. The clatter is pretty loud and sure seems to be internal. I tried different weights of motor oil from lighter to heavier viscosity, no change. The loudness seems to quiet some as the enghine heats up. I sure hate to run a machine this way, but really have no choice. The local lawn repair guy says parts are not available, just a whole new engine. Its been a good mower, never abused, and I really thought it'd last forever, kinda concerned that it may be on its last leg. Also makes me wonder about Briggs.

HomeBrew2 · Jun 29, 2006

Another point for future reference if you'd like. My 14 year old MTD 42" wore out the spindle bearings this year also. First place I found online wanted about $70 ea. After finding many other offerings, in declining price, I found an eBay seller that had them all day every day for $17 ea. (After I ordered off eBay, then I found the current AgriSupply catalog had them for $17 also.)
For $17 ea, I decided to get bearings later and rebuild a spare set when I'm bored someday.
Kindof hard to imagine that parts cannot be had for that old Briggs motor ...

Molerj · Jun 30, 2006

Syncro said:
The local lawn repair guy says parts are not available, just a whole new engine. Also makes me wonder about Briggs.

Get your MN & type number off the engine shroud. Go to the Briggs site & put the numbers in. Then go to a parts site like this site & put the parts numbers in. I doubt that there isn't much you can't order. As for the loud clatter, if it were a rod you would here more of a knock. It could be a loose valve seat, but then there would be a loss of power & rough running especially under load. What did the the local repair guy say about it? I guess if he said parts weren't available, I wouldn't value his opinion of what the noise was though. Maybe he just didn't want to work on it. Maybe load it up & take it to another shop, if for nothing else other than let the fellow listen to it run & ask him what he thinks it is. (or her).

MrJimi · Jun 30, 2006

Syncro said:
Thought I'd pass this on for those that may have an interest. The mower blade mandrels on my lawn tractor have sealed bearings, which have worked very well for the past 13 seasons, however lately one has been getting a little noisey. Since there is no way to grease the bearings, I was going to replace the whole mandrel until I found out the price, $87 plus tax! Each! So I thought I'd add a zerk and see if I could get some grease in to the dry bearings. All that was required was drilling and tapping a hole in the rather thick aluminum casting, turned out to be pretty simple. I then added a few squirts of oil, screwed in a new zerk fitting and filled the cavity with grease. That seemed to do the trick just fine, grease was reaching the bearings from the inside and a smooth quiet mandrel was the result.

I feel bad now, I did the same thing a few years ago and I think it helped, but after reading about the sealed bearing thing? its kinda of disappointing? Ya know what I mean? LOL
Jim

Syncro · Jun 30, 2006

Molerj said:

.......I doubt that there isn't much you can't order. As for the loud clatter, if it were a rod you would here more of a knock.....I guess if he said parts weren't available, I wouldn't value his opinion of what the noise was though.......Maybe load it up & take it to another shop, if for nothing else other than let the fellow listen to it run & ask him what he thinks it is. (or her).

Click to expand...

I think you are right about the local shop guy not wanting to work on it, I got that impression, and as you point out parts are probably out there. I will take it to another shop next week. I was thinking rod bearing too, if thats the case it sure dosen't say much for Briggs as this engine has been babyed since new.

Anyways thanks for the valuable input and have a great 4th, I'll post the outcome.