Greetings,
I just disassembled the spindle on my (~2003) Toro Pro-Line walk-behind mower (mows about 1 acre a week) in order to replace the bearings (original), and the clearances look all wrong to me. After removing the top nut, the spindle just dropped right out, and I was able to lift the top bearing out with my fingers. Using good Starrett tools, I measured 0.0031" oversize on the housing bore and -0.0021" undersize on the spindle, compared to the bearing dimensions. There's no sign of wear on the spindle--you can still see the machining marks clearly, and the diameter is the same all the way down. The housing is steel, and doesn't show damage. Obviously, with those clearances, new bearings are still going to wobble around in there. I suppose it's possible that over time the housing got "hammered" into a larger diameter, but you'd think you'd see signs of damage, and that still doesn't explain the spindle..
I was always under the impression that these things were supposed to be a slip fit or a light press fit. This mower is old enough that it's not worth replacing the spindle housing for ~$300. I'm thinking about replacing the bearings and trying to stuff shim stock and Loctite retaining compound in there to tighten it up. Does this make sense? Is this normal wear, or did the factory screw up?
Thank you!
I just disassembled the spindle on my (~2003) Toro Pro-Line walk-behind mower (mows about 1 acre a week) in order to replace the bearings (original), and the clearances look all wrong to me. After removing the top nut, the spindle just dropped right out, and I was able to lift the top bearing out with my fingers. Using good Starrett tools, I measured 0.0031" oversize on the housing bore and -0.0021" undersize on the spindle, compared to the bearing dimensions. There's no sign of wear on the spindle--you can still see the machining marks clearly, and the diameter is the same all the way down. The housing is steel, and doesn't show damage. Obviously, with those clearances, new bearings are still going to wobble around in there. I suppose it's possible that over time the housing got "hammered" into a larger diameter, but you'd think you'd see signs of damage, and that still doesn't explain the spindle..
I was always under the impression that these things were supposed to be a slip fit or a light press fit. This mower is old enough that it's not worth replacing the spindle housing for ~$300. I'm thinking about replacing the bearings and trying to stuff shim stock and Loctite retaining compound in there to tighten it up. Does this make sense? Is this normal wear, or did the factory screw up?
Thank you!
