I recently got a ss5060 and saw the front casters (axles) were made with steel bushings riding on a steel sleeve over a steel bolt. Got to thinking ball bearings would be better.
Replacing the front wheel bushings was easy.
You will need:
4 ball bearings, I used General Bearing Co #32262-88, these are rated at 915lbs each, I think plenty strong.
4 - 1/2" fender washers from Lowes
A 2 lb hammer, a steel bar 3/8" dia, 12" long
19mm wrench and a crescent
A stand to rest the front of your mower on, I used a 5 gallon plastic bucket.
Position the plastic bucket under the front lip of the mower, rasie the mower and slide the bucket under the lip, don't pinch your fingers. Raising the mower probably takes 40lbs to lift the front wheels off the ground.
Remove the front axle bolt. Slide out the axle and catch the tire. Remove the spanner (#119-3475) and set it aside.
Take the metal bar and hammer and drive out the pressed in bushings, mine came out with 2 whacks each. My slidehammer bearing puller would not pull the bearings out.
Clean out all the blue grease from inside the wheel hub. This was the worst part.
Push the bushings in, if they are loose, I used a large socket that is tapered on the inside and used the hammer to slightly swage the hub smaller.
Place the fender washers in place just outside the bearing as you reinsert the wheel and axle bolt.
Put back together and make sure tire rotates freely.
Easy to do, took about 1 hour other than getting bearings and washers..
Replacing the front wheel bushings was easy.
You will need:
4 ball bearings, I used General Bearing Co #32262-88, these are rated at 915lbs each, I think plenty strong.
4 - 1/2" fender washers from Lowes
A 2 lb hammer, a steel bar 3/8" dia, 12" long
19mm wrench and a crescent
A stand to rest the front of your mower on, I used a 5 gallon plastic bucket.
Position the plastic bucket under the front lip of the mower, rasie the mower and slide the bucket under the lip, don't pinch your fingers. Raising the mower probably takes 40lbs to lift the front wheels off the ground.
Remove the front axle bolt. Slide out the axle and catch the tire. Remove the spanner (#119-3475) and set it aside.
Take the metal bar and hammer and drive out the pressed in bushings, mine came out with 2 whacks each. My slidehammer bearing puller would not pull the bearings out.
Clean out all the blue grease from inside the wheel hub. This was the worst part.
Push the bushings in, if they are loose, I used a large socket that is tapered on the inside and used the hammer to slightly swage the hub smaller.
Place the fender washers in place just outside the bearing as you reinsert the wheel and axle bolt.
Put back together and make sure tire rotates freely.
Easy to do, took about 1 hour other than getting bearings and washers..