By
john7
So I started to do just a little touch up painting on my RMR-32 deck to get ready for mowing season and it just snowballed from there.
I messed up my touch up by wet sanding it down to early, so that led to a "well I'll just take it completely apart and repaint everything". This is where the fun begins. Taking it apart revealed multiple issues:
1) Idler pulley bronze bearing is shot.
2) All 4 spindle bearings are shot.
3) Both cross shaft bearings are shot.
4) Cross shaft is bent.
Here are these issues and the help that I need in greater detail:
1) The Idler Pulley Bronze Bearing:
I mic'd it at 5/8" x 7/8" x 1". This is based on the OD and the length of the Idler bolt (part #1049), and the OD of the exposed portion of the bronze bearing in the idler pulley. Idler pulley (part #1602).
2 Questions:
1) What is the actual size for the bronze bearing?
2) Can this bearing even be replaced? It is in a peculiar place and appears to be held in 2 spots, one spot on either side of the pulley. I can't see inside until I cut the bearing out so it's hard to tell whether or not the is a tube of sort that makes contact with the bearing throughout the pulley, like the axle tube bearings. And it seams like this would, or could be a royal pain to set the new bearing if it only has two points of contact.
2) 4 Spindle Bearings:
Wheel Horse part #1515. I ordered the Toro replacement. Part # 230-045.
Well, I order NICE 1630 DCTNTG18's (3/4" IDx 1-5/8"OD x 1/2"W. The Toro replacement is a sealed bearing on both sides, so that's what I got. However, the originals that were in the deck were metal shielded on both sides. This got me thinking. The idea of the shielded bearing is to allow for grease to make it's way from my grease gun, through the zerk, onto the gears, through the bearings, and then eventually on the ground.
My Question:
Is it a bad idea to have gotten the sealed bearings for the spindles? Or will the sealed be fine fore weekly operation?
3) The Cross Shaft Bearings Are Shot:
I was planning on replacing these with the same sealed NICE bearings. The question is the same as the spindle bearings. The originals were also shielded, so is it okay to replace with the sealed bearings?
4) Bent Cross Shaft (Part #3139):
The bend is extremely miniscule; hardly noticeable at operating speed. I knew this years ago but ignored it. I've now figured out that this is why the cross shaft bearings are bad. Also, since the bearings are harder than the steel cross shaft, the bearings wallard out the cross shaft and they no longer seat properly on the cross shaft. Well, it's ground it down so much that the can't seat at all. Not to mention it's wearing the gears out too.
My Questions:
Is there someone here that has a good one that I can purchase? Or can anyone make one up for me? I've emailed Lowell Scholljegerdes but haven't heard back. He's made several parts for me over the years.
Any help is appreciated.
By john7
By Kastlcj