used rm59

[Cord]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( Good Work! They are different but the spindles do look to be serviceable.

Thanks,
Rob )</font>

Yes, they do look to be servicable, but to quote the manual: "Mower spindles are equipped with two tapered roller bearings. The proper adjustment is held by a spring pin. It is not intended that these bearings be adjusted during their useful life. When difficulty is experienced with the mower spindle assembly, time and trouble will be saved by buying a completely new spindle assembly." The next paragraph really clairifies things: "However, if bearings must be adjusted, the spring pin can be driven out, the sleeve pulled loose, and a washer shim placed under the sleeve to tighten the bearings."

Translation: Yea, you can service them but you'll find it to be such a infuriating process that you should just save your time and buy new ones.


Regarding the belt, I saw some on ebay earlier today for $60 some dollars

 

[Cord]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( Good Work! They are different but the spindles do look to be serviceable.

Thanks,
Rob )</font>

Yes, they do look to be servicable, but to quote the manual: "Mower spindles are equipped with two tapered roller bearings. The proper adjustment is held by a spring pin. It is not intended that these bearings be adjusted during their useful life. When difficulty is experienced with the mower spindle assembly, time and trouble will be saved by buying a completely new spindle assembly." The next paragraph really clairifies things: "However, if bearings must be adjusted, the spring pin can be driven out, the sleeve pulled loose, and a washer shim placed under the sleeve to tighten the bearings."

Translation: Yea, you can service them but you'll find it to be such a infuriating process that you should just save your time and buy new ones.


Regarding the belt, I saw some on ebay earlier today for $60 some dollars

 

[oliver28472]

Cord is right. My spindles were servicable too until we broke one. The manual says that you will be time and money ahead to buy new ones. Mine were pretty old. My brother is a pretty good mechanic and works in maintenance at Freightliner. We used a torch and a hydraulic press. We could not beat the 25+ years of froze on rust. The manual does list parts--bearings and seals. It may be worth a chance but I would at least not buy the parts until you successfully take them apart. The bearings and seals can probably be crossed at a good local auto parts store.

My RM 48 just has the two wheels. It has check chains that take the weight when you let it all the way down to mow. The up side is that this design puts the mower closer to the tractor and you don't have as much hardware way back yonder. You can turn sooner after you mow past an object. Sorry for the long ramble.

 

[oliver28472]

Cord is right. My spindles were servicable too until we broke one. The manual says that you will be time and money ahead to buy new ones. Mine were pretty old. My brother is a pretty good mechanic and works in maintenance at Freightliner. We used a torch and a hydraulic press. We could not beat the 25+ years of froze on rust. The manual does list parts--bearings and seals. It may be worth a chance but I would at least not buy the parts until you successfully take them apart. The bearings and seals can probably be crossed at a good local auto parts store.

My RM 48 just has the two wheels. It has check chains that take the weight when you let it all the way down to mow. The up side is that this design puts the mower closer to the tractor and you don't have as much hardware way back yonder. You can turn sooner after you mow past an object. Sorry for the long ramble.

 

[djradz]

I'm not sure I agree. I'm no mechanic, but on my RM306, with the use of a press, I've rebuilt the spindle assemblies twice now. Yes, the RM 59 has the additional spring pin, but if that can be removed, then the rest of the assembly is identical to the 306 model. Granted, if everything is pretty rusty, it might be quite difficult to get the pin out or the sleeve off, but otherwise, the rebuild is very simple. I've not checked recently, but I thought the price of a new spindle was close to $100, which certainly makes giving it a try worth the challenge.

 

[djradz]

I'm not sure I agree. I'm no mechanic, but on my RM306, with the use of a press, I've rebuilt the spindle assemblies twice now. Yes, the RM 59 has the additional spring pin, but if that can be removed, then the rest of the assembly is identical to the 306 model. Granted, if everything is pretty rusty, it might be quite difficult to get the pin out or the sleeve off, but otherwise, the rebuild is very simple. I've not checked recently, but I thought the price of a new spindle was close to $100, which certainly makes giving it a try worth the challenge.

 

[RobJ]

Well I'm going to get out of the rm59 and rm306 conversation. I'll stick to my rm360 which I have rebuild the spindles. Maybe a pressed in sleeve but nothing my aluminum hammer and a vise couldn't handle.

But regarding the belt (yikes the rm59 and 360 are the same) I bought my spare on Ebay for $64 plus $8.00 shipping from seller helmstractorparts. After an email I called them and bought some other woods parts for cheaper than local. Blades, complete wheel yoke, etc. They are good people to deal with. Think I even paid with paypal.

 

[RobJ]

Well I'm going to get out of the rm59 and rm306 conversation. I'll stick to my rm360 which I have rebuild the spindles. Maybe a pressed in sleeve but nothing my aluminum hammer and a vise couldn't handle.

But regarding the belt (yikes the rm59 and 360 are the same) I bought my spare on Ebay for $64 plus $8.00 shipping from seller helmstractorparts. After an email I called them and bought some other woods parts for cheaper than local. Blades, complete wheel yoke, etc. They are good people to deal with. Think I even paid with paypal.

 

[GaryE]

<font color="blue"> But regarding the belt (yikes the rm59 and 360 are the same) I bought my spare on Ebay for $64 plus $8.00 shipping </font>

$64 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I bought mine at NAPA for well under $30, it might have been under $20. If you ever need to buy a new one, the NAPA number is B162. A word of caution, don’t use their heavy duty green colored belt. It is to stiff and will not handle the twisting. It will fail. I have had their standard duty belt on for two years now and it seems fine. And the one before that was on for at least 5 years.



Gary

 

[GaryE]

<font color="blue"> But regarding the belt (yikes the rm59 and 360 are the same) I bought my spare on Ebay for $64 plus $8.00 shipping </font>

$64 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I bought mine at NAPA for well under $30, it might have been under $20. If you ever need to buy a new one, the NAPA number is B162. A word of caution, don’t use their heavy duty green colored belt. It is to stiff and will not handle the twisting. It will fail. I have had their standard duty belt on for two years now and it seems fine. And the one before that was on for at least 5 years.



Gary