Diagnose"pulley" noise; R&R main pulley?

[Moe Rocks]

"Always grease your spindle bearings after washing under your mower deck."

Although I have occasionally used water - either just the hose or more rarely, the pressure washer, I understand and agree with the reasons for using air, which I do most often. After unexpectedly getting into some very wet, muddy areas, of which I have several, along with dry and rocky areas, and the mud dries, it seems that air at 90 psi won't even take it off.

I have tried to make sure I grease the bearings on the deck, and the steering, before I used water, rather than after. It seems to make sense to me to have the greasable spaces full of grease, rather than air, before applying h2o. What is the rationale for greasing after rather than before?

 

[Spanner]

Greasing 'after' purges any water that may have entered the bearing.
Do your cleaning (And washing if necessary) and then purge the spindle bearing housings with grease. Thus Grease is the last thing you leave in the bearing not, potentially, water.

:wrench:

 

[jim98000]

If you are replacing the drive belt and idler pulleys replace the fan on the transmission as well. The fan on my 345 looked ok . About ten hours of run time after replacing drive belt and idlers it shed blades and put a gash in the gas tank.

 

[RandyT]

Ok, Talking "Washing" -

In his latest post Moe mentioned he 'pressure washed' mud & debris from around the transmission.

I'm just giving my view here - Water is the enemy of the Ride-on mower. (All brands)

More correctly perhaps, Ride-on's are not 'water friendly' machines.

So here's why:

Many places under the chassis of a ride-on are prone to catching/holding grass debris in the course of operation. These include the chassis rail sections, transmission housing, mower deck, steering assembly plate and even the upper surfaces of idler pulleys (dust mainly).

Water washing tends to flush grass debris downwards into crevices. Wet grass tends to become acidic and corrosive as it decays.

A more effective method of clearing debris from on/under your Ride-on is to use an air compressor with a long-nozzle air 'duster' gun.

Compressed air can 'fluff' out the grass and blow it out of crevices and chassis rails etc.

No moisture is left on components. That is a good thing.

Additionally, many mechanisms of the Ride-on mower are 'open-jointed' such as steering, belt clutch pivots, control linkages etc. Rear axle shafts are particularly prone to absorbing water into the wheel hub between the shaft and hub.

Over time this water has a negative effect on the condition of the various components.

Air on the other hand, can clear out all debris, more than water, and has no detrimental effect on components.

The underside of the mower deck is a different story. Washing is good and many manufacturers install a wash-port device for hose connection. Always grease your spindle bearings after washing under your mower deck.

An air compressor is a great investment in maintaining your Ride-on mower.

Just my :2cents:

Regards all,
:wrench:

if they don't want to invent in an air compressor, a leaf blower, which they may already own will work wonders also