Rebuilding spindles. 61" deck 725k

[Steve0853]

Let me add my experience with spindle bearings and housings.

I have a 2002 GH 225 with a 61" deck. My comment is that it doesn't take a whole lot of loose play between the spindle housing and the bearings to cause the bearings to go bad very quickly. I was replacing spindle bearing about every 40 hours on a couple of the spindles.

Then I wiggled the blades AFTER I replaced the bearings one time and realized there was still a lot of play. Next time I replaced the housings and presto, no more problems with bearings going out.

Two additional comments: First, in my bearing replacement incidents, I came to like the sealed bearings better. They lasted longer. Second, greasing the spindles WILL quiet the noise for a little while even if the housings do need replacing. But not for long. The grease will escape out the bottom pretty quickly.

If I were sprucing up a used Grasshopper, I would replace housings and all while I was doing the bearings, etc. (Especially with a generous offer like Larry made). It will probably save you going back under there in a short time.

 

[djdicetn]

Let me add my experience with spindle bearings and housings.

I have a 2002 GH 225 with a 61" deck. My comment is that it doesn't take a whole lot of loose play between the spindle housing and the bearings to cause the bearings to go bad very quickly. I was replacing spindle bearing about every 40 hours on a couple of the spindles.

Then I wiggled the blades AFTER I replaced the bearings one time and realized there was still a lot of play. Next time I replaced the housings and presto, no more problems with bearings going out.

Two additional comments: First, in my bearing replacement incidents, I came to like the sealed bearings better. They lasted longer. Second, greasing the spindles WILL quiet the noise for a little while even if the housings do need replacing. But not for long. The grease will escape out the bottom pretty quickly.

If I were sprucing up a used Grasshopper, I would replace housings and all while I was doing the bearings, etc. (Especially with a generous offer like Larry made). It will probably save you going back under there in a short time.

Question for you guys.....if you are better off replacing the housings and bearings after years of service and time to replace, is it that much cheaper to buy the separate components and rebuild them yourself versus buying complete replacement spindles??? Never having replaced bearings in a spindle housing, that's probably what I would first consider unless I could save some significant money doing it myself. Just curious.

 

[Steve0853]

Question for you guys.....if you are better off replacing the housings and bearings after years of service and time to replace, is it that much cheaper to buy the separate components and rebuild them yourself versus buying complete replacement spindles??? Never having replaced bearings in a spindle housing, that's probably what I would first consider unless I could save some significant money doing it myself. Just curious.

I would definitely do the work yourself unless you have no tools, or no good place to do the work, or are physically unable to do the under deck work. Its not a difficult task.

As far as parts, you won't probably won't need to replace the spindles. Unless they are visibly damaged, they will be OK. I bought my bearings at an Agri-Supply place. I am not at home or I could get you the bearing number. They are not Grasshopper specific and were about $3 per bearing. They are all the same size and you will need 6, 2 for each spindle.

The spindle housings ARE Grasshopper specific and I've forgotten the price, but not prohibitive. And while you're under there, be sure to put some freshly sharpened or new blades and new fiber washers. You'll be surprised at how quiet the deck is.

Don't forget to check the belt pulleys for nicks and bent places. And the belt for unusual wear or missing chunks. That will create a lot of noise and a slightly bent pulley can cause the belt to fail. The belt is Grasshopper specific and in my area it costs about $90. OUCH.

Edited to add: I'm not even sure that you can buy the assembly already put together. However, assembling the spindles, bearings, and housing is very easy. Plus, the spindles by themselves would probably be more costly than all the rest of the parts.

 

[MBDiagMan]

I would definitely do the work yourself unless you have no tools, or no good place to do the work, or are physically unable to do the under deck work. Its not a difficult task.

As far as parts, you won't probably won't need to replace the spindles. Unless they are visibly damaged, they will be OK. I bought my bearings at an Agri-Supply place. I am not at home or I could get you the bearing number. They are not Grasshopper specific and were about $3 per bearing. They are all the same size and you will need 6, 2 for each spindle.

The spindle housings ARE Grasshopper specific and I've forgotten the price, but not prohibitive. And while you're under there, be sure to put some freshly sharpened or new blades and new fiber washers. You'll be surprised at how quiet the deck is.

Don't forget to check the belt pulleys for nicks and bent places. And the belt for unusual wear or missing chunks. That will create a lot of noise and a slightly bent pulley can cause the belt to fail. The belt is Grasshopper specific and in my area it costs about $90. OUCH.

Edited to add: I'm not even sure that you can buy the assembly already put together. However, assembling the spindles, bearings, and housing is very easy. Plus, the spindles by themselves would probably be more costly than all the rest of the parts.

Question for you guys.....if you are better off replacing the housings and bearings after years of service and time to replace, is it that much cheaper to buy the separate components and rebuild them yourself versus buying complete replacement spindles??? Never having replaced bearings in a spindle housing, that's probably what I would first consider unless I could save some significant money doing it myself. Just curious.

Well, if you need new spindle housings, at least in she case of grasshopper, the assembled spindle costs only a little more than housings and bearings, but in my case I got an upgraded version. It is indeed all assembled, but it's very simple to assemble them yourself. If the housings are in good shape there's no need to remove them from the deck. Just drive the shaft out of the pulley, change bearings and fiber washers and slip the shaft up through the new bearings, fiber washers and sleeve.

If the housings are in good shape and holding the bearings snugly, it wouldn't cost much, even from the grasshopper dealer to replace only the bearings and fiber washers. As mentioned, most all bearings are standars sizes and configurations that can be had from your local or online industrial supply.

Larry

 

[djdicetn]

Well, if you need new spindle housings, at least in she case of grasshopper, the assembled spindle costs only a little more than housings and bearings, but in my case I got an upgraded version. It is indeed all assembled, but it's very simple to assemble them yourself. If the housings are in good shape there's no need to remove them from the deck. Just drive the shaft out of the pulley, change bearings and fiber washers and slip the shaft up through the new bearings, fiber washers and sleeve.

If the housings are in good shape and holding the bearings snugly, it wouldn't cost much, even from the grasshopper dealer to replace only the bearings and fiber washers. As mentioned, most all bearings are standars sizes and configurations that can be had from your local or online industrial supply.

Larry

Thanks for addressing my sidebar question(sorry for hijacking the thread:0)
The only experience I had was, after 16 years, having a spindle go out on a True Value Lawn Chief lawn tractor. For about the first 15 years of ownership there was a local hardware store that could get me original OEM replacement parts(True Value was bought out by Ace in the mid-90's and the Lawn Chief mowers were discontinued), but even they could not get spindle parts. My father-in-law located a compatible replacement spindle for $100 which was the complete spindle assembly. We just removed the old one and bolted in the new one. My son used that Lawn Chief for another 3 years but the deck hanging system began falling apart and rust began to be a real problem with the tractor and the deck. Still, 19 years of service was definitely my money's worth(and the 16hp B & S Vanguard engine still ran like day one:0)

 

[tmar04]

It appears that the 9552 deck used four bolt spindle housings from 1996 through 2002, all the years that they were built.

Block the front of the deck up about a foot and support it firmly before removing blades and attacking spindles. Be safe!
Larry

Larry, I greased h---- outta the spindles , replaced all blades and both belts and 80% of noise disappeared ! Now, my problems continue. Need to replace kohler engine , and have located one couple yrs newer , and 27 hp v 25 hp however , spec number is different. This newer one had 1 7/16 shaft instead of 1 1/8, no prob on clutch end cause I can locate clutch got 1 7/16 shaft, but will front of crankshaft connect ok to existing power shaft assembly?? Any thoughts?

 

[MBDiagMan]

Larry, I greased h---- outta the spindles , replaced all blades and both belts and 80% of noise disappeared ! Now, my problems continue. Need to replace kohler engine , and have located one couple yrs newer , and 27 hp v 25 hp however , spec number is different. This newer one had 1 7/16 shaft instead of 1 1/8, no prob on clutch end cause I can locate clutch got 1 7/16 shaft, but will front of crankshaft connect ok to existing power shaft assembly?? Any thoughts?

I wish I could help with your question TM, but I've never had one apart to such a level. What is wrong with the engine to require replacement? There is probably someone on the repair forum that can answer hat question though.

Larry

 

[tmar04]

It appears that the 9552 deck used four bolt spindle housings from 1996 through 2002, all the years that they were built.

Block the front of the deck up about a foot and support it firmly before removing blades and attacking spindles. Be safe!
Larry

Notice u refer to 1948 Cessna . I used to own and fly , 1946 Globe Swift. All metal , elec flaps, retract gear, 2 seater. Lived in Durant okla then. Flew it all over north Texas! Little off subject, but thought I'd mention it. Cheers, terry

 

[MBDiagMan]

Notice u refer to 1948 Cessna . I used to own and fly , 1946 Globe Swift. All metal , elec flaps, retract gear, 2 seater. Lived in Durant okla then. Flew it all over north Texas! Little off subject, but thought I'd mention it. Cheers, terry

Was it called Eaker Field in those days? That's a really nice little airport with a smooth as glass runway. Where all did you fly in those days? I hangar at Bonham Jones Field, a WWII basic flight training base, about 21NM South, SouthEast of Eaker.

My Dad supervised airframe construction of the Globe Swift at Temco in Grand Prairie right after World War II. He probably had his hands on your aircraft at one point. Great little plane, but there are few of them left in the air today. There are a few polished, beautifully restored examples in the Texas Antique Aircraft organization. Their annual fly in is next month and I try not to miss it. It's like a car show for airplanes. The most painstakingly restored, spit and polish aircraft you can imagine go there. My plane is not bad, but it looks like a rag when tied down at that gathering.

Larry

 

[tmar04]

Was it called Eaker Field in those days? That's a really nice little airport with a smooth as glass runway. Where all did you fly in those days? I hangar at Bonham Jones Field, a WWII basic flight training base, about 21NM South, SouthEast of Eaker.

My Dad supervised airframe construction of the Globe Swift at Temco in Grand Prairie right after World War II. He probably had his hands on your aircraft at one point. Great little plane, but there are few of them left in the air today. There are a few polished, beautifully restored examples in the Texas Antique Aircraft organization. Their annual fly in is next month and I try not to miss it. It's like a car show for airplanes. The most painstakingly restored, spit and polish aircraft you can imagine go there. My plane is not bad, but it looks like a rag when tied down at that gathering.

Larry

Your reply sure brought back memories. I just didn't fly enough to retain profiency. Swift is very unforgiving air craft . One mistake and can be all over. So, I sold mine. Got 3k for it!! All polished, but still had 6 cyl continental . Underpowered!!

I put new blades on and wiggled the spindle while under deck and sure enough, has sme play in 2 of them. If offer stands on those spindle housings u have, tell me how much shipping to 31023? Thanks so much .
Terry