Cub Cadet spindle parts maintenance/replacement

Recently, I decided to do some deck maintenance on my Cub Cadet Pro Z 100. Two of the spindles (p/n 918-07255) seemed pretty solid. No play in any direction. Before greasing, though, they made a bit of noise when turning the blades. After greasing, they got quiet. The 3rd spindle... had vertical and lateral play. I figure that it's toast, so I ordered a new one. I figure that the housing is worn. Even if it's not, it's not a bad idea to have a spare. But a spindle is just over $150. Yikes! So I want to make sure the other two last.

I've been greasing them every year, but I wasn't getting enough grease in there. This time, I put in grease until it started coming out, and it came out through the bearings. I'm sure that the bearings have grease now. At least, on the good spindles. I didn't see a need to waste grease on the bad one.

The bearings on the "good" spindles got quiet once they got filled with grease, but not before that. Should I replace them? If so, how do I determine the p/n for the bearings I need?

The bearings are not sealed. The spindles have seals that must come out to be able to remove the bearings. See photo.

There's one on the other end of the spindle, too. Can they be removed without damage? I tried prying on them, but couldn't get one out. I was afraid to pry any harder. Are the seals available separately? If so... p/n?

BTW, the mower has about 400 hrs on it. I suspect the spindles do too, but I bought it used, so I can't be sure.

Some people take a small dope needle and inject grease into the black rubber seal. That fills the bearing with grease. Then a small finger dab of sealant or rubber cement to cover the hole. Right where the RED arrow is at in the above pic.

Some spindles not all, have a hollow tube in the middle. Some folks drill and tap for a grease zerk fitting there. Pushes grease up and down towards the bearings. The inner rubber seal needs a small void or totally removed to allow grease into the bearings.

Some grease guns take a needle as well.

The spindles have zerks. On the two good spindles, I filled them with grease, and them pumped a couple of more times, which resulted in grease squirting through the bearings. I think I have a handle now on how to get grease into the bearings.

I managed to knock the bearings and seals out of the bad spindle. To my surprise, the bearings are needle bearings. I was sure that they were ball bearings. The numbers I could find on the bearing: 741-04129 HMS 0715 CHINA. Chinese bearings... great! When I search on 741-04129, I get hits for Cub Cadet spindle rebuild kits. Is this not a standard bearing?

The whole machine is made in China. Cubs are not what they used to be.

slomo said:

The whole machine is made in China. Cubs are not what they used to be.

Click to expand...

Maybe, but all the fasteners not on the engine are SAE. Everything on the Kohler engine is metric. I measured the ID of the bearing. I got 0.750". That's 19.05mm. Is that a common size? It may be built in China, but all of the nuts & bolts (outside of the engine) are SAE, so I expected the bearing to be SAE too.

Is it possible that the 741-04129 bearing is not right for this spindle? When I search on 741-04129, I get hits for spindle rebuild kits, but my spindle is not one of the ones mentioned. And this spindle had excessive vertical and lateral play. I don't want to take the bearings out of one of the good spindles, but I'm thinking I may need to

BTW, thanks, slomo for the replies.

To be 100% sure need the model number from serial number tag but the following is for middle of pack model.

Bearing should be LM11949 cones with LM11910 cups. BTW 741-04129 cones are superseded to 941-04129 which supersedes to 941-04298 cones with cups being 941-04299. These common tapered bearings sets. Even you local auto parts store has them.

The seals are 921-3018A (Rotary 12535).

Here is an Ebay source:

Model # is 53RWEFJA050, DOM - 02/2016.

Does that change anything?

I speculated, "Is it possible that the 741-04129 bearing is not right for this spindle?" I checked another spindle, and it has the same bearing.

Do the cones & cups need to be replaced as sets?

Thanks, StarTech

"Do the cones & cups need to be replaced as sets?"

Never mind. I did a bit of research, and found that they get replaced together. I kinda thought that. My dad was a mechanic in the 70's, and did a bunch of bearing replacements. I seem to recall the cups (aka races) getting replaced too.

Any tips on getting the cups out? I tried on one, and my punch didn't want to "grab on" enough to get it out.