LA165 stripped mower blade mounts

[lumbee]

Hey guys. I was doing some mowing this moring, and after disengaging the blades, then re-engaging I heard a crazy rachet. I got the mower up on blocks, and found one of the blades was spinning freely on the mount bolt. It looks like the teach in the mount and blade are stripped. I'm thinking I ran over something that caused this. I've spent the last 30 minutes searching and can't find the blade mount online. Any idea what the part is callled? Thanks in advance.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Spindle Assembly for John Deere GY20454 GY20867 GY20962 GY21098 | 285851

 

[lumbee]

$40...outch!

Thanks Senior. So Do ya'll think I must have hit a large rock/stump to cause this? Do those teeth act as a sort of sheer pin, so you damage something bigger?

 

[SeniorCitizen]

$40...outch!

Thanks Senior. So Do ya'll think I must have hit a large rock/stump to cause this? Do those teeth act as a sort of sheer pin, so you damage something bigger?

No, the star configuration isn't designed as a shear pin. If it was it would be replaceable.

I would think you would know it if you hit something with enough force to do that. For the moment the only other thing that comes to mind is possibly the nut wasn't torqued to specifications or near there which would include someone running the nut up but forgetting to torque the nut.

 

[lumbee]

No, the star configuration isn't designed as a shear pin. If it was it would be replaceable.

.

Agreed! I'll check the torque on the other nuts while I'm under there.

I'm assuming I'll need to drop the deck to replace the spindle?

 

[Nwatson99]

Agreed! I'll check the torque on the other nuts while I'm under there.

I'm assuming I'll need to drop the deck to replace the spindle?

Those spindles are quite easy to change, do you have a Mojack or anything to pick up the front end of the mower?
If you cannot get the front end up, then yes it is best to slide the deck our from underneath the machine.

 

[lumbee]

Well, after your response about the nut just loosening up, I went back out and re-torqued the nut on the blade, and the mower runs and cuts fine. While the teeth are definetely stripped on that spindle, I won't sweat it unless it starts acting up.

Thanks for the help Senior!

 

[SeniorCitizen]

If it has a thick cupped flat washer those stripped stars aren't really needed with the correct nut torque applied. IDK about now but a few years back Murray had nothing to keep the blade from slipping but that thick cupped spring washer applying friction.

One concern I had for yours was if it was so bad the blade couldn't be centered resulting in a unacceptable vibration.

Glad you got er fixed and thanks for the feedback.