Anyone in MD or PA that services a 1966 656 mower deck?

[WH656 9]

Hi All, 

Mine had new bearings put in it a while back but starting to sound rough.. like its vibrating a little.  I want to get this thing looked at.  Worried I might damage it if I keep using it.  Is there anyone around these parts that knows what they are doing and can look it over or replace what it needs if so?  

[ri702bill 8,311]

So we are talkiing about a gear driven deck, right??? The ones where the blades need to be timed to prevent colliding??

Did you ( or whoever) hit any objects while mowing?? A harsh hit can bend a blade and / or damage a hardened spindle shaft. And actually bend the overhung end of the cross shaft that mounts the drive gears. I had to replace that shaft on a nice 32" deck - the end of the shaft was bent .020. Timing - the side gear key had also sheared, allowing the gear to revolve on the shaft and go out of time.....

Worn gears that have excessive lash can also make for some odd noises....... Oh, one more - check the large cast housing under the deck that mounts the bearings - then tend to crack and break into two near the middle... when that happens only the deck shell is holding it all together...

 

Edited August 20 by ri702bill

[adsm08 2,046]

I've been through one or two of them. I'm certainly not as skilled as some others here like @Handy Don

[ri702bill 8,311]

And don't forget @squonk - every now & then he reminds us that there is no better cut than that from a properly running gear drive RD deck...... he is not wrong...

[WH656 9]

Thanks guys.  I am past diagnosing after having someone else look .. just want to find someone that knows what they are doing that can 'fix/restore' it not too far from local!  Im short on time and dont want to play around with it with what little experience I have.

[WH656 9]

Hi guys.. The folks here are SUPER as usual..  One of the fellas offered to help but too far away in NY.     Here appears to be the only issue.. gears look ok.. There is a little side to side, not up and down play in this side of the deck/blade.  Not a TON.. Any ideas?  Will it just 'run' like this?

Edited August 24 by WH656

[adsm08 2,046]

I'd take a look, but nothing I own will open a .3gp file.

 

Side to side play indicates bearing wear or failure. Wear will always lead to failure.

[WH656 9]

Thanks sir!  Ok I will try to repost this in another form if I can!

[adsm08 2,046]

16 minutes ago, WH656 said:

Thanks sir!  Ok I will try to repost this in another form if I can!

The easiest way, if you have a Google account, is to upload it to YouTube and post a link from there.

 

That would eliminate any compatibility issues.

[WH656 9]

Thank you.  Unfortunately I dont have any google accounts   BUT I found someone local that can help.  I really would like to restore this deck so that I have years of good service.  I am looking at the wheelhorse parts and more site to see what I would need to restore this 1966 656 32" deck.  Can anyone help with what parts I might need?  I will also post a pic bc the video wont post that may help! The slight movement is probably 1/8" at MOST and somewhat up and down but more a little bit side-to side.. sigh.. hard to explain.... If I push on the bottom of the blade I cant get it to go up or down... just more like a tilt if I push on one side of the blade or other... but the other side doesnt move AT ALL.

 

It also looks like I need some sort of grease seal for that rear wheel?

 

 

Edited August 31 by WH656

[WH656 9]

Did this work!? 

[ri702bill 8,311]

Looks to me that either the upper spimdle shaft needle bearing and /or excessive wear on the shaft it the issue... needs to be fixed asap...

[squonk 41,052]

You need bearings in the cast iron spindle housing to help with the blades tilting and that rocking motion. Plus new seals. Spindle may be worn as well  There is a woodruff key in the gear that lays flat on the deck that wears out causing excessive backlash between the gear and spindle.

 

   You will also find new blades for that deck are hard to find and expensive if you do. 

Edited August 31 by squonk

[WH656 9]

Thanks guys, Im not sure where to order that stuff.  Any help appreciated..  Dont know where to buy a shaft.

Looks like I need these but cant exactly fins the manual that matches my 32: 66 mower deck... Like this one.. I DONT see the big deck bearings in it that I know were ordered 2 years ago... part #1515/101480

 

 

 

Edited September 1 by WH656

[adsm08 2,046]

10 hours ago, WH656 said:

Thanks guys, Im not sure where to order that stuff.  Any help appreciated..  Dont know where to buy a shaft.

Looks like I need these but cant exactly fins the manual that matches my 32: 66 mower deck... Like this one.. I DONT see the big deck bearings in it that I know were ordered 2 years ago... part #1515/101480

 

 

 

These are the spindle bearings and seals that @Handy Don told me to get earlier this summer, and they worked great:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006KT1DKQ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BZ6XDW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

These should be the bearings for the cross shaft:

https://wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/?s=1515&post_type=product&dgwt_wcas=1

 

They sit steaked into the aluminum stands behind the cross-shaft gears.

 

The shafts are NLA as far as I know. If you need the spindle shafts (the short vertical ones) I believe I have a set that is still good I'd be willing to set you up with. I just have to find them.

 

If you need a cross shaft contact A-Z tractors. IIRC he had a few of them at the show.

 

This is the manual for the 32-inch decks built between 61 and 67.

 

Edited September 1 by adsm08

[squonk 41,052]

The 101480 bearing is a common 1630 2RS

 

 

[WH656 9]

Thanks guys!  Yes I am interested in those vertical shafts as it seems it may need them. 

So looks like I need at least this list to semi restore this deck while fixing the issue.  Can you guys confirm?  THANK YOU x 10!!

(BTW, I still dont understand why none of the manuals seem to show the exact deck I have in the pic or exploded diagram.  All of them appear to be missing the large looking bearings inside the deck (1515?)that are flat with the deck that I think the shaft goes trough. )

 

1. One or two vertical shafts

2. 4 x 1508

3. 4 x 1303? seal for deck?  is this the same as 'Timken 312518 Manual Transmission Shift Shaft Seal' ?  'https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BZ6XDW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title' ?

4. 2 x 1515/101480? deck bearing

5. 2 x 1534 thrust washer bearing kit

The rest of the deck seems ok to me.. I dont think I need cross shaft or shaft bearings.

 

p.s. the stuff on amazon is not chinese junk right?  Thanks.

 

p.s. sorry.. the rear axle seal I think.. (checking the regular forum) grease or gear oil leakn out of center of rear rim!  

 

Edited September 1 by WH656

[adsm08 2,046]

Here is the manual for the RM 326/366 (32 inch vs 36 inch, otherwise identical). 

 

 

P/S 1515 is #44 in the diagram. They are shown, but the PDF we have is a scan of a physical document that was probably run off a mimeograph in the 60s, so some of the numbers are blurred. If you go to the very last page of that PDF and look at the right side, near the black line where the original paper was creased, that line runs between 43 and 44.

 

The 1515 bearing sits staked into the 3138 bearing housing (#43), and the housing bolts to the deck shell.

 

 

[WH656 9]

Okay.  Does anyone know of reliable bearings (1515) from amazon? or the 1534 thrust bearing kit?

[WH656 9]

Found and bought bearings to keep this piece of history going a long time.  adsm08 pm'd you on those shafts, thanks all!!

[squonk 41,052]

The 1515 bearing changes to the 101480 bearing which is a 1630 2RS