Deck bearings for 1973 no name

[jamesfranklincollins7@gma 2]

Hi everyone just a quick question. Has anyone ever tried to put a grease fitting in one of those bearings. I'm thinking it could be done by using a small carbide drill to go through the race then a tap drill for 1/4-28 pipe tap. Does that sound feasible.

[ri702bill 8,409]

The amount of chips that get into the bearing by drilling & tapping  will do more harm than good....... 

[oliver2-44 9,791]

Most decks have grease fitting in the center of the pulley on top of each spindle. The only bad thing about using this is there is a large cavity to fill with grease between the two bearings.  Some of us have used sealed bearing with good success, when installing new bearings. Pop the sealed bearing shield off, clean out the stock grease and repack with a good high temp grease. Put the shiel back on and your good to go. 

[daveoman1966 3,752]

I put a grease zerk in the old 'Double-D' style spindles.  Here is a pic of what I did.  Worked out well and I sold the 42" side disch deck a few years ago.  

[peter lena 8,671]

@jamesfranklincollins7@gma agree with @oliver2-44  on the specific lubricant  to the spindles , the loading , heat / stress , is what , finishes off the original lube in there . my own experience is LUCAS  X TRA HEAVY DUTY , POLYUREA  GREASE ,  550 flash point , have also done every related bearing in the mule drive related belt drive set up , 12 bearings NO WHYINING  NOISE , pto outer cone bearing available at NAPA ,imagine that ? the lucas marine grease is also very good , 570 deg flash point , once I started getting after deck problems , the critical failure point  was consistently lubricant failure , my mule drive belt easily rotates the deck, BY HAND , also lightly feed in the PTO LEVER  , to start engagement , no screaming / squealing clutch burning start . experience based on REPEDITIVE FAILURE , is what you want , to show you the way  , like many W/H  issues , original intent was good , its the finish DETAILING  on FUNCTIONAL  OPERATION  , that make them amazingly  easy to use ,  my own experience , pete  

[jamesfranklincollins7@gma 2]

8 hours ago, daveoman1966 said:

I put a grease zerk in the old 'Double-D' style spindles.  Here is a pic of what I did.  Worked out well and I sold the 42" side disch deck a few years ago.  

The bearings in my deck are solid not double so I will have to drill a hole in the race first then drill a hole for tap. They are dry now and will hardly turn. I'm hoping to save them. I'm a poor man and can't afford 140 for new ones.

[jamesfranklincollins7@gma 2]

51 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@jamesfranklincollins7@gma agree with @oliver2-44  on the specific lubricant  to the spindles , the loading , heat / stress , is what , finishes off the original lube in there . my own experience is LUCAS  X TRA HEAVY DUTY , POLYUREA  GREASE ,  550 flash point , have also done every related bearing in the mule drive related belt drive set up , 12 bearings NO WHYINING  NOISE , pto outer cone bearing available at NAPA ,imagine that ? the lucas marine grease is also very good , 570 deg flash point , once I started getting after deck problems , the critical failure point  was consistently lubricant failure , my mule drive belt easily rotates the deck, BY HAND , also lightly feed in the PTO LEVER  , to start engagement , no screaming / squealing clutch burning start . experience based on REPEDITIVE FAILURE , is what you want , to show you the way  , like many W/H  issues , original intent was good , its the finish DETAILING  on FUNCTIONAL  OPERATION  , that make them amazingly  easy to use ,  my own experience , pete  

Thanks for the info.

[jamesfranklincollins7@gma 2]

11 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Most decks have grease fitting in the center of the pulley on top of each spindle. The only bad thing about using this is there is a large cavity to fill with grease between the two bearings.  Some of us have used sealed bearing with good success, when installing new bearings. Pop the sealed bearing shield off, clean out the stock grease and repack with a good high temp grease. Put the shiel back on and your good to go. 

These are the solid ones with no fittings in the end. They are on the 36in. deck. A solid outer race with a roller brng. at each end.

[peter lena 8,671]

@jamesfranklincollins7@gma  your first photo , with upper needle bearing exposed ,  since cleaning out and lightly lucas greasing  , my pto inner needle bearing , have also eliminated the clutch brake pad set up , all related movement is effortless  and very quiet , also did a , pto lever enhancement , gold mine for improvement area , eliminated  , lever slop , note washer fill in , and also 2 bolt flange bearing  for steering column . every area , touched , was improved for function , also very easy  try , test , try , that pto lever heim end joint is effortless in its intended follow , battery tender plug in , added engine grounding , all areas  are now consistent with function  , I like that , pete