Grease Zerk help, X304 deck spindle (diagram provided)

[jpover]

Friends,

I have an X304 with a missing grease zerk (see pic/diagram with red circle). I purchased a replacement grease zerk from JD but it's threaded and does not seat.

So, I called JD parts (local) and found out:
1) the spindle bearing is sealed so the zerk doesn't serve much purpose other than "customers wanted a zerk in that location"
2) the factory zerk is a press-in so a standard threaded won't work. Funny, when I purchased it I told them which zerk I needed for that mower and that's what they sold me.

As such, any recommendation on sizing for a self threading zerk or perhaps tapping it myself? I'm hesitant to tap it as I don't want to damage the bearing seal.

If you had this issue, did you resolve it? I'll likely just leave as is since it sounds like a non-issue but wanted some feedback.

Thanks!

 

[Ron of Va]

Take a look at this video, it might help.
Your Riding Lawn Mower Tractor's Dirty Little Secret – Video - YouTube

I would just leave it alone, or replace it with sealed bearings.

 

[radios1]

sealed bearings that you can't grease last a shorter time than bearings you CAN grease, they want you to replace the whole spindle, and make more profit!.. JD is like that.. your tractor might even have shielded bearings for the idlers, instead of sealed bearings.. when you get replacements, you usually get fully sealed bearings, which are much better, but would have increased the cost of the tractor a little bit, so they make it a replacement item!..

 

[beenthere]

Radios1

JD is like that..

Yup, JD makes cheaper mowers to get their market share of cheap mowers. Crafstman, Toro, MTD, etc., etc., get people to buy their mowers.. so JD joins in on the parade.
People will buy the cheapest they can get and have to put up with the shortcuts that make them cheaper. Just the name of the game... IMO

 

[Richard001]

Take a look at this video, it might help.
Your Riding Lawn Mower Tractor's Dirty Little Secret – Video - YouTube

I would just leave it alone, or replace it with sealed bearings.

What Ron said !

 

[Wagtail]

Ta for that video Ron... and for the thread jpover.

The deck that the bloke in the vid is working on looks exactly like the one on my D110 and, yes, I grease both of the nipples as required. No problems yet but I'll definitely keep this in mind.

 

[tomplum]

So the upper bearing in the X series is sealed and the lower is open. That video everyone references is misleading. I'm sure some of the Deere spindles have both sealed bearings- especially if someone put on an aftermarket spindle. But the majority are as they should be. The nice thing about the X series spindle is that either now or when the bearing does fail, you can unbolt it from the deck. Then you can open it up, drill, tap, clean and install your zirc. Do it or don't do it at your convenience, but it doesn't pay to press more grease into a spindle that may have dirt in it. Bearings in these spindles run smaller than those in many competing products and do tend to fail quicker if the deck is frequently washed or are underserviced.

 

[jgayman]

2) the factory zerk is a press-in so a standard threaded won't work. Funny, when I purchased it I told them which zerk I needed for that mower and that's what they sold me.

As such, any recommendation on sizing for a self threading zerk or perhaps tapping it myself? I'm hesitant to tap it as I don't want to damage the bearing seal.
View attachment 614768

You can buy press-in zerk fittings. There is a special tool that costs around $7 that looks like a punch but it has an opening on one end that perfectly fits over the zerk without damaging it. Tap tap with a small hammer and they go right in. Some folks use a small socket to tap them in but doing so can damage the mouth of the socket.

You can get the tool on Amazon. Just search for Lumax LX-1430 Silver Straight Drive Grease Fitting Tool

You can get a pack of press-in zerks there as well.

 

[jpover]

Take a look at this video, it might help.
Your Riding Lawn Mower Tractor's Dirty Little Secret – Video - YouTube

I would just leave it alone, or replace it with sealed bearings.

Ron - excellent video that explained a lot; thanks!

radios1 - good to know, much appreciated

beenthere & Richard001 - thanks

Wagtail - you're welcome, glad it was helpful!

tomplum - good to know. So it sounds like for the X series the bearing is not completely sealed?

jgayman - good info, thanks!