Lubricating Blade Spindles

[beenthere]

.......... I guess it does make sense to grease the spindles to keep out water since I wash my mower down after every use. ....................

Do as you wish, but I have an air compressor available to blow off the mower deck and tractor after every use.. no water (or very seldom) is much better for the longevity of the tractor and its parts, including bearings. Get a 2' long blower nozzle (wand) from HF and it reaches into those hard to get at spots, including back blowing the radiator core and under the fenders. Belt covers are off the deck as there is where a lot of grass clippings can hide and cause rust.

 

[xrjohndeere]

2 pumps every mow or every other. Grease is cheap. You will push out extra. This gets rid of moisture and grime. Your spindles should last longer. Do you have one of those stupid hose hook ups to wash the deck while it is spinning? If so don稚 use it. Don稚 wash your deck while they spindles are hot. It will cause water to get sucked into the spindle bearings causing premature failure. Keep underside of deck clean. Use good grease. That痴 just my 2 cents.

 

[buck12]

Mine is a hand me down I got for free with over 750 hours. It's now a little under 1,100 hours and I can't remember if I've ever greased the spindles ... maybe when I first got it a few years ago as I was going through it fixing things. I'm reasonably certain the PO never did. He don't roll that way. Maybe a couple of times if he had the dealer to an annual service. As far as I know, all of the deck parts are original other than belts and blades.

If you're on the second set of spindles in under 500 hours, that ain't good, but I'm not sure it's due to greasing or not.

I do the same with my GT 235, once at the beginning of season and about mid point of mowing season. I bought it used15 or so years ago and have not had problem with spindles.

 

[buck12]

I got great advice, next time I'll just get new bearings instead of buying the new spindles. I guess it does make sense to grease the spindles to keep out water since I wash my mower down after every use. I just need to get the right part #'s for the bearings. I may just go ahead and get new bearings and put them up cause I will be using this mower for years to come.

I think I washed my mower once, maybe. If you do wash it make sure to let it sit outside to dry. If you park a wet mower in a dark enclosed shed or garage you are asking for issues.

 

[rayikeo2]

I have a LX270 with the mulching deck. Bought it in 1999 and mow 2 to 3 acres with lots of rocks. I grease my spindles about 3 times a season with at least 5 pumps or more. I still have the original spindles and even the same mower blades. I am on my 21st year of mowing with this mower. I wouldn't ever quit greasing the spindles.

 

[topsaiilbye]

Maybe late, but I grease each spindle at the beginning of summer before i install on my JD325. No issues at 25 yrs.

 

[feetr2c]

I have an X300 and was wondering how often people are greasing the blade spindles. I mow about 60 hours per season and mow about 3 1/2 hours each time I mow. I have been greasing the spindles after every third mow, is that too much or not enough. I have already had to replace the two blade spindles after about 300 hours and I got 500 hours on the mower now. Just wondering.

I just rebuilt all three of my spindles because they were all noisy and dry sounding. 200 hours on the machine. Upon disassembly, I found the top bearing greased and happy. The bottom ones were all rusted from no grease. Apparently my dealer didn’t load the spindles before delivery. I rebuilt all three, and pumped grease into the top until I saw grease coming out of the the bottom; about 50 pumps each. Now the two pumps of grease every 10 hours will actually accomplish something.