Spindle Spacers between bearings

[injury]

Trying to figure out if I've gotten myself into a pickle.

I was making my first attempt at replacing the bearings on the mower deck ( 2004 Huskey Supreme 50" deck). I found out by accident about 3/4 of the way through that unlike the videos I watched on this process there are two spacers stacked on top of each other between the bearings. Needless to say during my hammering the lower spacer got flipped on its side and one end and the exterior got buggered up a bit.

Do I need to find another spacer or should it be alright as is since it seems to just float in place anyways.

 

[ILENGINE]

You need to find another spacer. the spacers actually set the space between the bearings, and eliminate the side load of the inner race. If the spacer isn't correct can cause side loading of the bearing and failure shortly thereafter.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

If the length of the spacers haven't been altered and the shaft will still go through them with clearance I don't see a problem. If both bearings were a press/drive fit there will be side thrust on the bearings that causes premature failure anyway so it doesn't make much difference. Undue lateral thrust is inevitable with that scenario. If one press/drive fit bearing is installed first, then the spacers with the second bearing being a push fit, that's a different matter. No side thrust

 

[injury]

After ILENGINE's reply I took a closer look at it, and it doesn't appear the actual mating end was altered, rather the rounded shoulder. I think I'll give it a go.

The assembly from top to bottom was bearing pressed in flush, spacer, spacer, lower bearing pressed in, and a lower cap that was pressed as well.

The current gen assembly is MTD 918-04125B

 

[NorthBama]

After ILENGINE's reply I took a closer look at it, and it doesn't appear the actual mating end was altered, rather the rounded shoulder. I think I'll give it a go.

The assembly from top to bottom was bearing pressed in flush, spacer, spacer, lower bearing pressed in, and a lower cap that was pressed as well.

The current gen assembly is MTD 918-04125B

If you live close to a repair shop they may have a spacer in the scrap bin that you could buy at a good price.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

If you live close to a repair shop they may have a spacer in the scrap bin that you could buy at a good price.

There is a shop near me that repaired my BIL's muray that should have an extra spacer that could be made to work. He omitted the spacer during assembly either by accidental error or not realizing the importance of the inner races of the two bearings just kissing the spacer. Either way, the bearings didn't run long and I found the inner race of one welded to the shaft and the outer race egged. If I recall the total number of balls remaining from the two bearings were about 7 and none of them were round.

This brings up the subject of where should the pressing operation stop so the inner races just touch the spacer. Without precision measuring instruments you would have way better odds in Las Vegas.