Idler recommendations?

[GEOD998 2]

Can anyone recommend a replacement for a 78-8250 idler pulley.Its on a 0538SS02 deck hanging on a 244H, and I'm not trying to spend a fortune on it. Can I rebuild the old one somehow?Its just a little noisy and if time involved has anything to do with it-I've done what turned out to be a concours restoration on the deck-LOL! So I'm figuring might as well.I've done the spindles no problem ,but, I'm not sure how to attack this idle its welded together. I see cheap replacements ($12-$25)for everything else on amazon and ebay...just wondering if anyone had any luck with an "off book" aftermarket. Thanks Much -George

Edited July 12, 2021 by GEOD998
forgot

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

https://www.psep1.biz/arinet.asp#/s/TO//92-7082//1/

[Achto 27,511]

1 hour ago, GEOD998 said:

I'm not sure how to attack this idle its welded together.

 

I have drilled through the spot welds on some pulleys to separate the two halves. Then read the part number on the edge of the bearing. Replaced the bearing with the correct part number and bolted the the 2 halves back together. Time consuming, but usually low budget.

[GEOD998 2]

4 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

I have drilled through the spot welds on some pulleys to separate the two halves. Then read the part number on the edge of the bearing. Replaced the bearing with the correct part number and bolted the the 2 halves back together. Time consuming, but usually low budget.

thats sounding like a great idea. I wasnt sure if there were actually bearing in there or bushings...either way they are cheap and easy to source. No offense intended,but $70+ dollars (while a better price than toro) is still more than I want to spend- . I've even considered going to a different brand deck for a little more width. Gotten for free or close to it,  I can fab and weld, so I dont know why it would be that bad. There are only 3 interfaces with the mower.-Thanks Much

Edited July 12, 2021 by GEOD998

[peter lena 8,584]

@GEOD998did some looking around on that pulley , they are pricey , as long as you come up with the same size , and function, if you were going to rebuild it , my main experience on similar , problems is how wide are the bearing side seals? chances are its a  # 6203 bearing , with original generic grease fill , it will fail , with wider side grease shields , that pop off with a pocket screwdriver , carefully wipe out original grease. refill with LUCAS ECTRA HEAVY DUTY , POLYUREA , HI TEMP ,ANTI SLING GREASE, WALMART $ 5 . FOR A BOMBPROOF BEARING , that will not fail. do you have a " bearing distributor  " store near you ? they would probably have a bigger bearing same set up pulley , that would let you upgrade the original. my experience has brought me here , and I  make a point of  upgrading original bearings , no failures and quiet solid operation . look around , pete

[GEOD998 2]

19 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@GEOD998did some looking around on that pulley , they are pricey , as long as you come up with the same size , and function, if you were going to rebuild it , my main experience on similar , problems is how wide are the bearing side seals? chances are its a  # 6203 bearing , with original generic grease fill , it will fail , with wider side grease shields , that pop off with a pocket screwdriver , carefully wipe out original grease. refill with LUCAS ECTRA HEAVY DUTY , POLYUREA , HI TEMP ,ANTI SLING GREASE, WALMART $ 5 . FOR A BOMBPROOF BEARING , that will not fail. do you have a " bearing distributor  " store near you ? they would probably have a bigger bearing same set up pulley , that would let you upgrade the original. my experience has brought me here , and I  make a point of  upgrading original bearings , no failures and quiet solid operation . look around , pete

absolutely Pete !!! I did that with the bearings I replaced in the spindles. Then I left the inner seal out ,since the spindles are greasable. The grease the sealed bearings com with is a joke for sure...not even up to vaseline grade. And,they hardly put any of that in there! I have good greases I use in my now retired to the homestead heavy equipment. I have found some idler pulleys online that are close in size...most are a little shorter. Wondering how important the size actually is (within reason)...providing the belt works, or you get a belt that works,and that would seem to mean a big difference in pulley size(way less difference than I'm seeing sold cheap). Bolt hole has to be right naturally.  Any thoughts on slight (approx 1/2 ")diameter and height variances? Thanks -GEORGE 

[daveoman1966 3,745]

4 hours ago, GEOD998 said:

Can anyone recommend a replacement for a 78-8250 idler pulley.Its on a 0538SS02 deck hanging on a 244H, and I'm not 

  I have the OEM Idler pulley for a 38" deck.  Here it is.  Bearing is smooth with no wobble or drag.  It is 4" dia and 1-1/8" with on a 3/8" dia offset center shaft.  Yours for $25...shipped.  ps..the NEW pulley is over $70 bux.  

[peter lena 8,584]

@GEOD998 , something else I  have done , is to find exact size pulley . type / size with like a 5/8 or 3/4 "  ID  bearing and then press in a BRONZE BUSHING  to same fit settings on original bearing , those work well too. hope you find your , answer , pete

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Many pulleys now are welded at the seam in the pulley flat or V so you can not successfully split them.

Click on the picture in the link and look through the samples.

 

[peter lena 8,584]

@GEOD998, as stated if you have a bearing distributor , near you that is your best chance to find your exact size pulley with a larger bearing / seal , that way a bronze bushing insert will easily make up your pulley, and you can also upgrade grade the grease . my failures with generic grease , makes me always look for another cure to that issue . why install the same failure  ? why not upgrade it while you are there ?  pete

[Lee1977 6,648]

Some idlers the bearing can be replaced, there are some with the bearing built as part of the idler. The ones I have replaced use a 1623 2RS bearing, 1 3/8" OD 5/8" ID and 7/16 wide.

You can tell with type you have by looking at both sides of the idler. It comes with a 5/8" spacer pressed in the bearing.

Here is a picture showing the idler with the pressed in spacer.

Here is the other side you can see the spacer is pressed into ther bearing, and a new 1623 2RS bearing beside it.