Ouch, anyone able to explain the cost difference?

[Richard]

Alamo TK15/TK15-HD ARCHIVE (07-04) Parts Diagrams

Alamo Parts Catalog Lookup. Buy Alamo Parts Online & Save!

www.messicks.com

If I posted link correctly.....

Wheel fell off my flexwing mower. Dug into it yesterday. Hub has two bearings, inner and outer. Inner is intact, outer self destructed, which allowed wheel to pull off spindle. (mower was made around 1984)

As I see the listing, Item #2, the outer bearing & race (or cup as they call it) is $416. The larger, inner bearing & cup is $129.

Wha?? Why would the larger bearing cost less than the smaller?

It's got me wondering if I can go down to NAPA with the (broken) parts in hand and see if they've got one that fits a ??? Ford/Chevy/Daihatsu (frankly, I don't care the brand if the size is right) for $50....

$416?? I get the inflation thing but ouch!

Might be time to look for a boneyard, see how lucky I might be. (I'm usually not very lucky)

 

[Tx Jim]

If it was my cutter I'd be getting brgs/races from a brg supply business not an equipment dealership.

 

[scootr]

We have a couple of places here where you can bring in the bearing you want to replace and they will perfectly match it for pennies on the dollar compared to OEM.
When you get it fixed ensure you have a way to grease them and do so often.
I have one old mower with bad U joint seals, I grease it each time I use it. Easier than trying to find and change 50 yr old parts. So far so good.

 

[Richard]

Digging deeper into the parts manual, it says

"Bearing Asy, Outer (00752747 Cone & 00752748 Cup) S/N 41143 up"

I would equate the cup to being what I would call the race. Is the cone what they're calling the bearing?

 

[mrmikey]

That's ridiculous, the bearing and race number should be on the outer face of each part like in the attached pic. If not, either take the old parts with you to a bearing shop or take the sizes, the manufacturers don't make their own bearings. I've got no use for companies that gouge like that.
Friend of mine bought a bearing for a rear wheel from a motorcycle dealer, it was an SKF for $65 as he was away from home . He went to a bearing shop when he got back home, same bearing in the same box even was less that $25.
Same scenario for belts, from dealer the deck belt for my ZT is almost $80, from a bearing shop $28.
For comparison on the complete hub for USD$ 2,200.00 Here's a complete trailer hub and stub for CAN$ 150.00

 

[Richard]

Here's a complete trailer hub and stub for CAN$ 150.00

Exactly!

When I first did a search, I was finding hubs for similar amounts, so just merrily and ignorantly went about my search, then (recalling that my version of Terrain King is no longer part of Alamo, started searching on Terrain King.... and found what I found)

So now am expanding my search. Found a local place "BDI" I've never heard of them but looks like they're not just local.... of course, Sunday so closed. Sent them an email to see.

I don't worry TOO much if something is abusing me for $50 (depending on effort needed to worry about it)

But several hundred?

Yeah, I'm on this one. One down side, the bearing I actually NEED is missing the portion that would have those numbers stamped on it. All I have is the inner portion that help support the bearings.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Richard, check your other wheels, and remove the most floppy one. Take it apart to get the proper numbers you require. You might want to check them all, especially if you can find a supplier that sells them reasonably.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't know anything about your mower, but doesn't it have more than a single wheel?
Pull the other set apart and see what you need?

 

[mrmikey]

As was said, check the other side, chances are if they're all the same age that it could be on the way out also and it'll give you a chance to get the numbers. If you can't get the numbers you can measure it. 10 to 1 you'll find it's a standard size trailer wheel bearing.

 

[Richard]

Yep, thought crossed my mind (finally!!!)

Has six wheels, only one (folded wing) other up in the air.

Just took it off and looks like I can get the big one (seems to be ok but I'll probably replace everything) for under $50 and this small one, the one that blew up, for $10-20 depending on vendor.

Heck, at this rate, I might take all the wheels apart, clean and replace all the bearings. Though none of them wobble side to side.... I tend to be a bit OCD like that so I know everything has the same starting point.

Tomorrow, at work, I am going to one of the local technical schools.....happens they teach automotive. I'll see where they think I might buy them. Last time I was there, I had the oil/filter in my trunk as I was preparing for an oil change.... he asked if they could do it essentially for free (since I had materials), he wanted to use it as a real life experience for someone.

Note to you reading this.... if you have an automotive school near you, it's possible you can get something done far cheaper than a dealer/mechanic because once again, they're teaching and hands on experience is good for them. You pay for the parts (which strikes me as totally fair!)