Belt for 48" deck

[SnowRidge]

Now let me get this straight. We have sealed bearings in our mower decks yet they still have zerk fittings in them. They told me I need to grease my deck every 8 or 9 hours when I was in Tazewell. I greased my fittings before the season started, now I am getting worried I may have greased them to much. So really if they're sealed we should not have to grease them at all. This is goofy on Power-tracs part. So what should we do? When do you know when to grease'em? Hmmmm.

I have had one failure that took out a spindle and slightly damaged the housing. I replaced the bad spindle and all of the spindle bearings, but did not replace the housing. It is the expensive part.

About 100 hours later, I discovered one of the bearings starting to go in that same spindle housing when I did my wobble check after a mow. I replaced both bearings in that spindle again, this time using the Napa equivalent of Loctite Stud and Bearing mount, which I should have done the first time. I haven't had any more problems.

I pack the housings with high temperature grease when I replace the bearings. After digging through various forums about "greasing" sealed bearings in mowers, I adopted a theory I found on http://lawnsite.com that the grease promotes heat transfer away from the bearings and prevents corrosion inside the housing. It is the only thing I have read that makes any real sense.

I grease lightly with a manual grease gun every now and then, stopping if I feel any resistance indicating the cavity is full. So far, I have had no more failures. I check the bearings for play after every mow, no exceptions.

 

[KentT]

Now let me get this straight. We have sealed bearings in our mower decks yet they still have zerk fittings in them. They told me I need to grease my deck every 8 or 9 hours when I was in Tazewell. I greased my fittings before the season started, now I am getting worried I may have greased them to much. So really if they're sealed we should not have to grease them at all. This is goofy on Power-tracs part. So what should we do? When do you know when to grease'em? Hmmmm.

Old Simplicity machines also had zerks on the spindles to grease them, and used sealed bearings in the spindles. The grease is to coat the inside of the spindle, preventing the formation of rust from the condensation of moisture, not to grease the bearings themselves. Spindles get warm when mowing, and the frequent heating/cooling cycle will pull moist air into the spindle -- not counting the moisture from grass clippings that may clump up.

Ever seen molded grass clippings under a mower deck? Picture something similar inside the spindle if it wasn't coated with grease...

 

[ldabe]

Received the whole new (new) complete outside unit yesterday, and installed it today.

Will take it for a spin shortly.

Talked to Keith about greasing, and he said to pump about four shots from a manual grease gun.

Also, he told me that the bearings are "sealed" bearings, but modified. That is, the seal has been removed from the bearings that are facing each other inside the housing (where you would insert grease).

Why? I have no idea.

But, I am glad he told me that (of course only in passing conversation, because I had called about the greasing).

BTW, I am searching (have not found it yet, but I do remember somebody writing about this) to see how the mower deck should be positioned with the front and back wheels.
On a flat surface, should the deck be level, slightly angle up in the front, or slightly angled up in the rear?

Anybody have a "manual" (Ha Ha Ha) on the deck?

 

[J_J]

Received the whole new (new) complete outside unit yesterday, and installed it today.

Will take it for a spin shortly.

Talked to Keith about greasing, and he said to pump about four shots from a manual grease gun.

Also, he told me that the bearings are "sealed" bearings, but modified. That is, the seal has been removed from the bearings that are facing each other inside the housing (where you would insert grease).

Why? I have no idea.

But, I am glad he told me that (of course only in passing conversation, because I had called about the greasing).

BTW, I am searching (have not found it yet, but I do remember somebody writing about this) to see how the mower deck should be positioned with the front and back wheels.
On a flat surface, should the deck be level, slightly angle up in the front, or slightly angled up in the rear?

Anybody have a "manual" (Ha Ha Ha) on the deck?

Only four squirts, that is a joke. that will not begin to put grease to the upper bearings.

I have posted about the bearings before and I believe several times. Yes, the deck should be lower in front. All the mowers that I have had indicated to lower the front a little. If you only use sealed bearings, both sides, then you only need to coat the walls of the bearings housing, and the shaft inside the bearing housing. If you use the modified bearings, then you pump grease until all air is expelled and some grease comes out. Do not use open face bearings for obvious reasons.

What did they charge you for the spindle assembly?

 

[ldabe]

JJ,

This one was free, per Terry / PT warranty (except for the cost, $10, to send the other one back).

It is the "outer spindle assembly/unit", and I think it was about 90 some bucks.

 

[SnowRidge]

When I had a spindle bearing failure, I replaced the bearings in all the spindles. They most certainly were not modified. There were seals on both sides of each and every bearing. The part number stamped on the bearings calls for seals on both sides.

The misinformation department is alive and well at Power Trac.

 

[J_J]

That is why they can not produce a manual. They don't know what parts they have in the machines. Tis a shame me lads.