Sealed bearings and spindles

[J_J]

This is for those that like to pump grease into a deck spindle housing every 8 hrs or more.

They talk about the Hustler deck up to about 11 min, and then mentioned about the spindle housing and grease.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6-ENok7gFc

 

[J_J]

Just a few dipsticks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjJ_PFmIonQ

 

[davesl708]

I have wondered why the manufacturer calls for frequent greasing in the spindles when none is being lost. Eventually you would be applying pressure to the bearing seals and cause a leak.

Thanks for the post

 

[woodlandfarms]

So my mower deck failed grandly last year. Tore it apart to find the bearings are not sealed, they are the typical trailer bearing. I have heard do not fill up the tube as it over heats but how often do you apply grease?

Also, can I get those bearings in a sealed version? Seems to be a smarter play....

 

[RickB]

Many mower spindles have one seal (usually the lower one) designed with the lip facing away from the bearing rather than towards it as a lip seal is typically oriented. This allows grease to exit the assembly, flushing any contamination that may have bypassed the seal from the underneath the deck. This style seal also acts more like a dust wiper on a hydraulic cylinder rod gland, keeping trash out better than a conventionally oriented seal. There is no pressure buildup and the lower bearing is always lubed with clean grease.

The flip side is that high quality sealed bearings have a long life, particularly if the lower bearing is well protected from the harsh environment found on the underside of mower decks.

 

[MossRoad]

I've had one bearing failure in 14 years on my 60" finish mower. I use high temp grease as factory suggested and try to remember to grease it every 8 hours of operation. Which, for me, is about every 10 or 12th mowing, so maybe 3 times per season. I'm thinking of changing all of the bearings this year, as I'm probably pushing my luck with the originals.

 

[RickB]

I've had one bearing failure in 14 years on my 60" finish mower. I use high temp grease as factory suggested and try to remember to grease it every 8 hours of operation. Which, for me, is about every 10 or 12th mowing, so maybe 3 times per season. I'm thinking of changing all of the bearings this year, as I'm probably pushing my luck with the originals.

Given that level of use and that maintainence schedule, I'll wager if you disassemble and inspect one spindle before ordering bearings, you will put it back together with new seals and go have a beer rather than replacing all the bearings.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF it isn't broke, don't fix it!!

You grease bearings to push out anything that's made it's way in... Also on loooooooong mowing sessions, the grease in sealed bearings can melt away from the balls.....seen it happen waaaaaay too many times!

If you aren't mowing for hours at a time, your bearing problems will be less...

Make MY spindle bearings grease-able pleaseeee....

SR

 

[woodlandfarms]

So this is an interesting conversation. Please look at the video. Essentially my mower is the same as pictured in the video. I would have to fill up a large cavity with grease before I can press out dirt from a bearing. Secondly I have heard that it is bad to have the cavity full of grease as it the bearing have no way to cool (?).

So there is a bearing on the top, and on the bottom. Lets say I pump 10 squirts of grease into the zert as recommended. THat puddle of grease is hanging in the cavity wall, or maybe just falling down to the bottom bearing. Nothing is getting the top bearing. OK so maybe the spindle gets hot and the grease melts, still don't see how it is getting pulled up to the top bearing.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[RickB]

So this is an interesting conversation. Please look at the video. Essentially my mower is the same as pictured in the video. I would have to fill up a large cavity with grease before I can press out dirt from a bearing. Secondly I have heard that it is bad to have the cavity full of grease as it the bearing have no way to cool (?).

So there is a bearing on the top, and on the bottom. Lets say I pump 10 squirts of grease into the zert as recommended. THat puddle of grease is hanging in the cavity wall, or maybe just falling down to the bottom bearing. Nothing is getting the top bearing. OK so maybe the spindle gets hot and the grease melts, still don't see how it is getting pulled up to the top bearing.

Thoughts anyone?

The part about it being "bad" to fill the spindle housing with grease is hogwash. Once you accept that, everything else you have posted is true and makes sense.