Flail Mower Sealed bearings vs grease bearings

[CTWright]

Im changing the cutting drum bearings on my JD 25A. There are grease fittings on the 4 bolt bearing housing but both bearings I removed were sealed bearings. This is an older mower so they're probably not original. My local JD shop is totally unfamiliar with flail mowers (northern NM). The original bearing were not in stock and I won't get replacements now until mid next week. Flailmaster could not deliver any faster. My question to anyone with a JD 25A Flail mower...Are the original bearings sealed? Anyone with a flail mower have sealed bearings?

 

[CalG]

Use sealed bearings, grease type will fail due to contamination.

That's SEALED not shielded. Use shielded if you must grease to feel happy.

It's amazing how long sealed bearings hold up.

 

[Leejohn]

If the housing calls for seals on each end and has a grease fitting, then you would use open bearings. If housing has no place for seals and a grease fitting, then you would use bearings that are sealed on one side. If no grease fitting then it would be sealed bearings on both sides.

 

[oosik]

I've replaced open and sealed on one side bearings with totally sealed bearings on two ag implements. Vast improvement with the totally sealed bearings. No longer have to be so very concerned about dust, dirt, moisture & snow. The biggest headache were the open bearings on the 3-point hitch snow blower auger ends.

 

[RalphVa]

My MacKissic chipper/shredder has 4 bearings: 3 on zerk and 1 sealed. I've had to replace the sealed bearing, never the zerk ones.

Ralph

 

[jenkinsph]

Just my opinion but over my lifetime sealed bearings have improved tremendously. I use to prefer bearings with grease fittings but the newer sealed bearings are holding up pretty well now.

Don't know what would be best for the 25A flail though.

 

[Billrog]

The sealed bearings on my flail I had to replace once so far and that's was after aprox. 300 + hrs.

 

[CTWright]

Im going to try some sealed bearings from Tractor Supply while I'm waiting for the OEM bearings to arrive. I'll see if they are up to the rpm required.

 

[Steave]

If and when I have a choice I would use sealed bearings. All these type bearings run in grease whether factory sealed or enclosed within grease seals you have to install. If either one of these seals fail the bearings can get contaminated and soon fail also. Dirt and water then heat is not a bearings best friend. Bearings installed in an oil bath type situation seem to last forever but of course not practical in all tools.

If you install the sealed bearings you mentioned and also have room for the grease or dirt seals from the original setup that should keep the dirt away from the bearings better I would think.