A trip to the mower shop...

[A_Pmech]

Last week the left spindle on my little riding mower blew up, literally. A few too many bricks, rocks, tree limbs and general abuse I suspect.

I took a trip down to the mower shop with plans to buy a new spindle and be up and running by evening. The last time I replaced this spindle it cost about $90 and lasted two years.

At the mower shop I was told the spindles are no longer available, but a "service kit" is available for $68 and change. I ordered one. When I went to pick up the kit I discovered it was a couple of REALLY CHEAP die-cast zinc bearing retainers and a couple of ULTRA CHEAP Chinese bearings. After talking with the parts man, he told me that the kit actually costs him $8, but that the manufacturer tells him to mark it up to $68!

TO HELL WITH THAT! I told him to send it back.

Back home I grabbed some 3/4" plate off the rack along with some 3/4" black pipe. I sawed the 3/4" plate into a couple of circles and then turned those into new bearing retainers. I salvaged the old mounting plate, pulley and shaft. Two new bearings and a bearing spacer made from black pipe and here's the result:

The original bearing retainers were stamped from 16ga steel. I suspect this setup will last a little bit longer.

 

[Randy_che]

Looks sweet. You do some really nice work.

I do not have room for a lathe. That's what I have to keep telling myself so I'm not too tempted to buy one.

 

[jamesemery728]

Very nicely done. Unfortunately that's the plight of most "new stuff". Cheap, stamped out, made not to last, j-u-n-k. Luckily you have the skills and tools to work around the junk. Thanks for posting your solution.

 

[jhn9840]

Your work never fails to amaze me. Looks just like it came frome the factory.

jhn9840
John

 

[OccupantRJ]

AP, a machinist don't need no steenkin' stamped steel machine parts, does he?

 

[A_Pmech]

That's what I have to keep telling myself so I'm not too tempted to buy one.

You need a lathe.

Unfortunately that's the plight of most "new stuff". Cheap, stamped out, made not to last, j-u-n-k. Luckily you have the skills and tools to work around the junk.

Well, a lot of "old stuff" was cheap stamped out **** too. Every era has it's cheap junk. We forget about that stuff because like today it's thrown in the trashcan within a few years and only bits and pieces survive to become "antiques".

Working around the junk is the story of my life.

Your work never fails to amaze me. Looks just like it came frome the factory.

Thanks!

AP, a machinist don't need no steenkin' stamped steel machine parts, does he?

Hell no!

 

[Born_Annoyed]

2nd picture did you rethread or just chase the threads? looks like in the picture not too much thread showing?? Nice work by the way!!

 

[A_Pmech]

2nd picture did you rethread or just chase the threads? looks like in the picture not too much thread showing?? Nice work by the way!!

Hi Born,

Thanks!

The upper and lower bearing retainers are entirely new. Here's a photo right after boring one of the retainers but before drilling and tapping:

There are no bolt threads showing because the bolts end about .03" below the surface of the lower retainer to prevent grass buildup around the bolts. They have about .25" of thread engagement, which is plenty for the job.

 

[Indy_500]

AP is a genius

 

[nate379]

Nah, just a cheap ******* like the rest of us

 

[bchee]

Why bother going to the store if you can make your own stuff?

 

[A_Pmech]

AP is a genius

Dunno about that Indy...

Nah, just a cheap ******* like the rest of us

That's closer to the truth.

Why bother going to the store if you can make your own stuff?

Lots of times I don't. (Bother going to the store.)

 

[Lotek]

Looks sweet. You do some really nice work.

I do not have room for a lathe. That's what I have to keep telling myself so I'm not too tempted to buy one.

I have a one car garage and found room for a Southbend 9x42, there is always room for a lathe.

Dunno, not having a lathe doesn't rise to the level of mancard suspension, but...

 

[cowboy73]

Looks great. That should last a helluva lot longer than the OEM part.

 

[red baron]

Why bother going to the store if you can make your own stuff?

Sometimes to R&D and implement something > the money involved and time savings to just pick one up.

but not always

 

[Nostraquedeo]

I have attempted this fix a couple times. Each time the shaft was slightly bent, causing the blade to spin just a little out of whack and the bearing wore out almost five times faster. Hope you don't have the same problem.