lizardman
Bronze Member
My JD with less than 50 hours broke its belt last weekend. It just started sounding a little different after about 30 minutesm and then broke about an hour into cutting. When I say broke, I really mean that it appears stretched and the belts popped out and frayed everywhere. I have already bought and replaced the belt. The JD replacement belt was several inches shorter than the one removed.
But, it has left me wondering.
Before replacing the belt, I figured I would spin each spindle and listen for any problems. Well, I didnt hear any grinding, but they didnt spin as freely as I figured they would. Fairly smooth, but they would not just turn freely for very far. So, I greased them until I heard the seal "pop". The center spindle took over 40 pumps on my grease gun. The other two took over 20 until they popped.
No one, nor the manual, gives any direction on how much grease. Of course, I know there is no such thing as "too much" grease, but I did not know I would hear when it was enough. I have never had a mower before with greased spindles.
I usually put about 12-15 pumps of grease into each spindle about everyother time I cut.
Could I have damaged the spindles by not giving them enough grease?
Could that have caused the belt failure?
Should I expect the new belt to fail(due to the spindles being damaged)?
Should I expect to have to replace the spindles?
How will I definitively know if I have a spindle problem? Smoke, smell, broke belt? I certainly can not afford to put a $75 belt on too often!!
And, maybe is not really the answer I am shooting for because I already know that.
Rod
But, it has left me wondering.
Before replacing the belt, I figured I would spin each spindle and listen for any problems. Well, I didnt hear any grinding, but they didnt spin as freely as I figured they would. Fairly smooth, but they would not just turn freely for very far. So, I greased them until I heard the seal "pop". The center spindle took over 40 pumps on my grease gun. The other two took over 20 until they popped.
No one, nor the manual, gives any direction on how much grease. Of course, I know there is no such thing as "too much" grease, but I did not know I would hear when it was enough. I have never had a mower before with greased spindles.
I usually put about 12-15 pumps of grease into each spindle about everyother time I cut.
Could I have damaged the spindles by not giving them enough grease?
Could that have caused the belt failure?
Should I expect the new belt to fail(due to the spindles being damaged)?
Should I expect to have to replace the spindles?
How will I definitively know if I have a spindle problem? Smoke, smell, broke belt? I certainly can not afford to put a $75 belt on too often!!
And, maybe is not really the answer I am shooting for because I already know that.
Rod
