42" SD mower deck spindle rebuild confusion

[MKTWW 4]

I picked up this mower deck in the middle of a rebuild. The previous owner bought all new spindles for it, all I did was buy new bearings and oil seals. 

 

I'm currently having issues with the bearing cavity spacing. I've got the new bearing seated all the way, I confirmed this by measuring the other spindles with dial calipers and measuring the bearing width. The spacer with the two notches in it should sit much deeper into the spindle cavity. This thread shows how this should look:

So did the previous owner buy the wrong spindles? Did they make different spindles that require thinner bearings? Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

 

Bearings used: 6203 2RS 12

 

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,040]

I don't know if this will help. Do you know what model of deck you have?

These decks all use blades with a 3/4" center hole.

1977 model 75-42MS02 replaced by (Do not have operator manual)

1978 model 85-42MS01 (Do not have operator manual)

1979 model 95-42MS00 (Do not have operator manual)

1979 model 95-42MS01 (Do not have operator manual)

1980 model 05-42MS01 (Have operator manual)

1981-1983 model 05-42MS02

1984 model 05-42MS03 - Last year for bearings with 3/4" ID

[ebinmaine 67,401]

@c100rider is this anything like the spindles you dealt with?

 

[MKTWW 4]

Unfortunately I have not been able to find the exact model number of the deck, I couldn't locate a factory sticker or nameplate with that information on the deck. I printed out the manual for a 95-42MS01 to reference. This deck came with my tractor that I bought just over a month ago, I bought a 1979 C-161 Twin Automatic. It has the fiberglass black hood and the Briggs twin. I believe this deck to be original with the tractor, however the previous owner started on the rebuild but did not keep the old spindles so I don't have those to reference unfortunately. 

 

The new spindles also do not have part numbers stamped into them, and the stickers that were originally on them are all ripped off, so I can't double check what they are either. It's challenging picking up a project like this in the middle of it, plus I don't have any part numbers to reference. 

[peter lena 8,606]

@MKTWW 6203 with wide grease shields  ? you are right there , why not eliminate , noisy whyining  bearings ? my decks , move by hand at the PTO / MULE  drive belt point ,  just my own set up  , pete 

[76c12091520h 3,615]

Not 100% certain because I can't tell from the pictures, but you may have the wrong spindle housings to go with those shafts. 

[ebinmaine 67,401]

I have a couple parts decks here that are from the mid 70s I believe. If it would help, I'd be happy to show pics.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,040]

The 6203-2RS-12 bearings have a 3/4" ID. That is what the -12 means. 12/16"=3/4"

The later bearings used following the above did not have the -12. They were the standard 6203 with a metric ID of 17mm or .669". A 6203-2RS has 2 seals - a 6203-RS has one seal.

 

If you go to the illustrated part list (IPL) of one of the decks listed in my previous post there is a couple of pages there showing what spindle assemblies replaced the original assemblies for that deck.

[daveoman1966 3,750]

 Comments withdrawn.  

Edited September 16 by daveoman1966

[Goldnboy 910]

Here are my quick 2 cents...measure the spindle shaft length..if 6 & 1/4" long it's a close to that it's for a 36" deck..the ones for a 42/48" deck are about 1" longer. 

 

I can't seem to find a spindle cross section digram to confirm 

[MKTWW 4]

I measured the spindle shaft, it is 7" long. I measured the new spindle housing as well and that was 4" long. 

 

Maybe I can track down some drawings of some different spindle housings and see if the ones I have are the right ones/ were machined correctly?

[Goldnboy 910]

Well with those dimensions...you now narrow down to if you have the correct bearings...which are... 6203-2RS 

There is still the possibility the center spacer tube is homemade and to long.

 

 

[daveoman1966 3,750]

I think the problem lies, not in the spindle shaft or the bearings, but in the MACHINING of the housing itself.  If I recall correctly, the older housing is machined DEEPER for the top-end bearing by 1/4" or so to accommodate the top seal.  That is to say, the more recent housing which uses a 5/8" dia shaft is not milled as deep for the top bearing as a top seal is not used on this style.  I'm suggesting that the NEW housing shown is for a shaft of 5/8" dia on top---not the 3/4 shaft.   Here are two schematics... 05-42MS01 and 05-42MS05..  They ARE different.  Note the difference in part numbers too... especially ITEM #24--

       

 

 

Edited September 17 by daveoman1966

[MKTWW 4]

@daveoman1966 --- I think you might have just nailed the problem. What you recall, and what the drawings show are exactly what my issues. I measured my cavity depth with my calipers, I was getting ~0.600-0.610". I'm guessing on the spindle housings for the 3/4" shaft, it's deeper to accommodate the spacer and the seal. Does anybody have the correct spindle housing around and could measure the depth of the cavity to confirm? What I think is tricky is that between those two drawings, the spindle housing is the same part number, even though we suspect the machining can be different on them. 

 

Another issue I have is that because my bearing doesn't go in deep enough, my spacer tube (Part #24) is very loose inside of the spindle housing. I'm guessing the new spacer tube (P/N 110145) is longer to take up the extra space left by the shallower cavity. 

[daveoman1966 3,750]

Part # 110145 TUBE is 3" long (75mm)...11/16 ID(17mm).  The shorter part # 106069 SPACER is 2-1/2" long with 3/4" ID.  Either one of these tubes/spacers are designed to PINCH the bearing races together to preclude crushing the HOUSING.  To the extent of this part dimension difference, I confirm that the housings are machined differently.  I have each of these parts...   

 

[daveoman1966 3,750]

I CONFIRM that the SAME housing is machined differently for the bearings...  These housings are 4" tall but the 'shelf stop' for the bearing is 5/8" on one and the other is machined to 1-1/8".  

Edited September 18 by daveoman1966

[76c12091520h 3,615]

Correct part numbers for the spindle housings are shown in the photos. #106063 is for keyed spindle assemblies,  # 114568 is for the newer  "metric " spindle assemblies. Externally they are identical. 

Edited September 17 by 76c12091520h

[Lee1977 6,655]

Do you have the internal snap ring in the housing below the bottom bearing.

[MKTWW 4]

@Lee1977 -- Yes that snap ring is below the bottom bearing. 

 

Just want to say thank you to everybody who helped me understand my issue, really appreciate all of the wisdom and pictures! Nice to know there is a community out there so willing to help others. I ended up getting some new spindle assemblies from that 8Ten company. From a few threads on this forum, members seem to think they are of pretty good quality and they are well priced. I will hold onto my current spindle housings, I can probably adapt them to work in the future if needed. 

[ebinmaine 67,401]

6 minutes ago, MKTWW said:

@Lee1977 -- Yes that snap ring is below the bottom bearing. 

 

Just want to say thank you to everybody who helped me understand my issue, really appreciate all of the wisdom and pictures! Nice to know there is a community out there so willing to help others. I ended up getting some new spindle assemblies from that 8Ten company. From a few threads on this forum, members seem to think they are of pretty good quality and they are well priced. I will hold onto my current spindle housings, I can probably adapt them to work in the future if needed. 

 

 

Please do keep us posted on your opinions and experiences with the new spindles, or if you do anything with your existing ones.