Thanks for Watching! Find a link to all of my "Must Have", Favorite Tools HERE!! www.amazon.com/shop/chickanic?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfchickanic_9ERPFPBNGQ924P8NS63B
There is nothing better for establishing of confidence in the credibility of another, than for that person to say "I was wrong" when they were wrong. I salute you.
not speaking to you directly chickanic, just what I've learned over the years. this is for those die hard seal lip removers lol. the seal lip is designed to keep the grease IN the bearing, so if you remove the top bearing seal guess what happens? the grease will just drop out and leave the bearing dry if the spindle isn't greased regularly, even though they are sealed, and you grease the spindle the grease will squeeze past the seal lip and into the bearing....think of the grease seal like a check valve....when i went to the ayp / dixon update school both manufactures were adamant about this (dixon uses ayp decks).....they also stated that the grease filled spindle will keep moisture out of the spindle especially those folks who like to power wash their machines great video as always! thanks for the shout out!
I concur. I do not recommend tearing sealed bearings apart. I finally got some quality stickers, so send me your address on Facebook so I can send you them and the size of shirts for your and the misses.
I don’t know how you came to that conclusion. I have been saying for my whole career that they actually may have an advantage getting hands into locations I can’t get my large hands into without cuts, scrapes, etc. Need to learn electrical, hydraulic flow and the rest can be figured out.
I like it. You found out more information on a repair you covered and you shared it. Just goes to show ya that you DO go that extra mile. Says volumes about your ethics. Thanks Chickanic You are AWESOME.
You are a good mechanic on small engines and I am 63 years old and I been working on small engines off and on since. Jr. High school. But I still am learning. From you. And. Tary at. Grass rats garage
I like the drinking with us lol I thought about just removing the inside seals but to much pressure would pop off the outside seal but if done carefully who knows? I think the best way is just to manually grease with high temperature grease?
Gotta use high temp grease on bearings I greased one out in the field away from shop with universal Grease and it blew apart and was dry after a few days like it never had grease and I packed it!
Interesting video for me since I got na new Husqvarna about nine months ago. How about a making a video on greasing lawn equipment for those of us like me who a really mechanically inept. I stumbled on you TH-cam channel some time ago and really like it. Your how to videos a clear and precise.
Wow! Here in Uruguay grass happens big time and mowers are way pricey.Poulan Pro @ $3000!! replaced by a Husq 52" zero-turn cost us $9000!!! We grow 500-1000 million year old granite bedrock causing many repairs. You have provided the most concise info of anyone, and I have been looking and in need. Thank you.
Hi Chickanic, Recently saw video where he removed top and bottom bearings on a J Deere riding E 100.. He removed bearing covers and completely cleaned both top and bottom grease free.. He installed bearings on spindles and on to the deck. He packed the spindle housing with GREEN grease. He then ran J. Deere for awhile. Mind you he is sharing this as he un installs spindle housing. He then removes both top and bottom bearings with dust covers still connected. He then removed dust covers from bearings. And both top and bottom had green grease in them. Since seeing this video, I also grease the housing until it sguirts out. I also notice now when engaging mower blades, they engage very smoothly. Hardly or very little vibration. I saw and tried it and it works.. Keep up the great work your putting on You tube. Joe Cruz
I’ve put plastic sleeve (basically a piece of thick wall pipe) inside my spindles. It takes up space to reduce the huge amount of grease otherwise needed.
@mizzouxc So these brilliant Engineers decided to put in zerk fittings but leave the seal on the inside on both the upper and lower bearing eh? Additionally these Engineers decided not to put any grease into these cavities after manufacture ? I like the old Engineers that made auto engines that a normal person could work on and gave you the room to work on it.
Love your content! You've helped me get a few of my small engine machines fixed. Everytime I watch a video & your intro music comes on it reminds me off the movie Mallrats!😂
WoW, A Chick using a 3lb. hammer. I almost stopped the vid. and rubbed the crystal ball. lol You are Genuine and I do learn great stuff from you, thank you!
This is good news. I bought a 42" Husqvarna zero turn this spring. I found your channel 6 months and subscribed after watching the first video. Thanks for what yo do.
a lot of this lawn equipment is made so cheeply , it breaks when you need it the most , you do great explaining the problems with these things and how to solve problems with these things
My daughter has a craftsman 42 inch & I took it apart for service & one side had both bearing's sealed but the other side had a upper sealed bearing but the lower was not sealed. And as far as I know that was the 1st & only time the shafts had ever been in to. Love all your videos, keep'em coming.
One suggestion I have is that the housings come with a steel plate that is fastened to the housings by the same installation bolts to the frame. I made some from an old deck that was shot. Have never had a housing break since. One other thing, I drill out the housings for a pass through bolt and nut. Otherwise the soft bolts provided will break off into the aluminum if attempted removal.
Your videos are so informative ! I love watching them I have a 19 year Dixie Chopper yep sealed bearings. I always greased them because they spin some r's. Had to replace one of them because I screwed it up bought parts the replacement were sealed. the pin was wrong so I took every back and got a whole assembly. Was having belt eating issues crossing my fingers that its fixed .It's been a good one but they don't make them like the used to!!!!! will never buy another on mainly because of dealers !!!!!! Wishing you and your husband a wonder Sunday !!! Thank you again.
Glad I just purchased a new Grease gun, I have just started picking up old not being used mowers and fixing them and selling them. And all of you that are supplying all these tips keep up the good work.
My ages old White Horse 50 inch deck came with zirk fittings AND sealed bearings, which I discovered when a bearing failed. Inner bearing seals removed and no more bearing failures. Thanks for the great content!
I have a Husqvarna riding mower about 15 years old. Every time since it was new it backfires when I turn it off. Still runs great and cuts good. But I also have to give it a shot of starting fluid when I start it. But once it's started once it will start every time the day of use. Better than buying a new mower. 👍👍
Most of the spindles I replace for customers are from bad bearings. I live in Missouri and we grow rocks here too. Rarely see cracked spindle housing or completely pooched star pattern. The cheap Chinese aftermarket spindles I usually use are sealed bearings (plastic seal), but I am not going to take them apart to pull off seals. Just pump a bunch of grease in them, at least moisture and dirt/debris is kept to a minimum.
Commercial ( golf) are greased open bearings with a sleeve to space inside inner races too. Grease , grease, grease. Also find the smaller 24” blade hubs more durable compared to the heavier 27” more mass more chance of damage .
My 17 year old Husqvarna was like that when I took the spindles apart. The bottom bearing was sealed on the bottom and open on top. So they’ve been doing it for at least that long, on some mowers anyway. The top bearing had spacers though. Also, if you grease a spindle that has sealed bearings and then and open up the seals you will notice that they will get grease. It’s easy to tell if you use a different color grease, so it’s never been useless to grease sealed bearings, the grease easily gets right around the seals.
In my experience with my Murray ride on, replacement spindles have always come with sealed bearings and yes the grease does indeed get past the seal if pumped up sufficiently but does not receive enough grease before it starts coming out the zerk for this reason I still remove the inner seals.
I love your videos. They are so clear and complete. I also love that you are showing girls that they can do anything. My granddaughter is eleven and likes to tinker. I'm a retired 70-year-old engineer who loves showing her how things work. You are a splendid example for young women to show that they can do anything they set their mind on. I also like that you show how you can make a good living in a trade. I went to college and graduate school long before they became too expensive. We desperately need skilled trade/craftsmen(women). I don't know your educational experience, but I do know you're smart and dedicated to your work. Thank you for showing young women how to succeed in any field.
I admire her but she is still very rare. Generally women aren't interested. No one is denying women this but they have to have the interest from an early age just like most males do.
No, no women can't do anything they set their mind to. Nor can men. And there are some things where men and women are NOT interchangeable. And that's a good thing. But that doesn't stop some delusional people from trying...
If you retrofit these spindles....the most reasonable method I've seen is to take off the inner dust shields on the bearings, drill a hole in the side of the spindles for a zerk(if there isn't one)...but that only gets you grease inside the spindle. How much to put in??? Well, you need a small air hole drilled in the spindle that can have a rubber plug put back when the grease starts weeping out the air hole....like they have on hydraulic floor jacks.
I had an MTD bought around 1991....The spindles lasted a long time....Got my replacements locally from a farm supply that would last one or two seasons....Switched to Dixie supply and their bearing lasted for years as did the original factory bearings....After 25 years of good service, even the seat lasted 20 years, I bought a Husqvarna Z246....That seat lasted 5 years before cracking....
We just bought a Husqvarna zero turn mower in late 2020 hopefully it has the upgraded spindle design. Btw to anyone that needs a new mower never buy it online aways buy from dealer unless you're mechanically inclined cause there is so much stuff you need to adjust and repair on them right out of the box it had an oil leak out of the drain line, control panel where everything is wasnt assembled correctly had to reposition it, didn't track straight had to adjust the speed on the sticks and deck needed to be leveled didn't cut right and will destroy belts. Always buy from a store or dealer
Funny I just watched it and commented on it as well about how the greasing works. The interesting thing is there was no grease in there. The ones I have changed are full of grease and the bearing seal has been removed from the two inside seals. I imagine maybe some were not assembled properly or not replaced properly. I have always worn-out bearings, when they start to roar it's time and quite often had I removed the plugged zerk and put a new one on they would have likely been saved but they are cheap. Again great video helping more people out. I share your channel with everyone who might benefit.
The Husqvarna ZT mowers are the former Dixon designed mowers made in South Carolina at the Dixon plant which they bought in the early 2000's. The rider 'lawn tractors' ARE made by AYP for them (Husqvarna). I believe they also bought Yazoo-Kees around the same time which was a super machine. Husqvarna just killed the brand. I had a chance to buy a 72" Yazoo with a 31hp Kubota turbo diesel a few years back, real low hours. One of the last ones made, 2004 or 05 maybe. It was way more mower than I needed though. Would've loved to spool up that turbo cutting my grass for the neighbors to hear!
I don't have a riding mower but I thought I would mention that not knowing how easy it is to get your grease gun onto that straight up zerk you can get a different end for your gun that slides straight on from the side. It has a slot in the side so you push it on straight instead of trying to get the hose bent to put it onto the top of the zerk when it points up. Very handy. I used to work in auto service and it comes in very handy for low clearance areas where the hose won't bend enough and you just pump grease out and not into the bearing or in my case ball joints. Hope this saves someone some time and frustration :)
I too have watch so many videos that is pro and con on this subject leaving me unsure of what to do, but now that I am hearing it from you, I will definitely get the grease gun out! You are the BEST!
My Wheelhorse had open bearings in it. The replacement one's didn't just take off the covers on one side works good that way u can grease them thanks for sharing. My Wheelhorse is a 1981 they don't make the like that any more. In 1981 I payed 2700 for it. But they are a garden tractor.
On older Snappers the spindle had a zerk in it, however Snapper told me to look at the zerk. I looked and it did not have a bb in the end of the zerk. Was told this was a vent so the pressure didn't push the grease out of the sealed bearings.
Awesome news!! Thanks for sharing this. I remember the Saloon having quite a number of comments and have read a huge amount of forum questions on this subject. I suppose it would be a shame to miss a corny pun opportunity. IE: "The squeaky shaft get the grease!"... Wow, that felt silly just typing it. Ya know cause it would probably be more of a grinding sound... I will stop now. Thanks again Bre!
I had deere 120 48" had to put spindle bearings in it every year. after 5 yrs sold it. got a cub cadet z force grease fitting everywhere, had it 15 yrs no problems
I have a 20 year old 61" commercial Husqvarna that has zerk fittings on the side of the spindle and sealed bearings. I grease them anyway and they are the originals...
Ayp merged aquired by husqvarna some time ago. (Where the t series craftsman tractors came from). Husqvarna has mtd manufacturer most their low end lawn and yard tractors. I've seen it. You can remove the seal cover on inside of the bearings before rebuilding if they have a zerk
I saw your video on what mowers not to buy. I wish you would put a video out showing some of the best mowers still at a reasonable price which have sturdy parts so we can make educated guesses, I have a 18 year old Husqvarna, which is in surprisingly excellent shape, but would like to upgrade to a zero-turn when of these years. My dad purchased a nice gravely, however it doesn't seem to cut grass very good if it's over 9 in tall, and I live in the country and sometimes I'm literally cutting the field. Thanks, love your videos and your expertise.
That's interesting!, I've learned a few things myself about zero turns and that is for the price of the cheaper home owner brands they arent worth it!, I got rid of my cub cadet after 2 yrs I replaced a spindle, belt, deck wheels, and the 2 deck cables!. I mow 15 of our 30 acres mostly with a tractor w/a 6' finish mower my other half mows up around the house and trees with the zero turn!. So I bought a commercial Bob-Cat zero turn, omg its ten times more comfortable for her and after 675 hrs with proper maintenance it's still like brand new and no problems!. Great video!, you do a very good job of explaining and teaching people!.
Awesome...Headed out in a few to look at a Used, 2020, 54" Husky Mower with 85 Hours and New Blades? Now I know what and where to pay closer attention to for impact damage and lousy spindle noise or excessive vibration. This Mower apparently has a 'Less than Macho' reputation for mowing my 3-4 acres of uneven terrain and grass. However, $4,000 for a new one that isn't even made anymore in 2023? Thanks Chick...You Rock!!!
On your fuel test, you did. If you put your plum on the unlock blk button and your fingers on the flat grip and squeeze, it will pour alot better.and stay in control of the container.
I would replace the bearings in my 38 inch cut mower every year, I took the spindle apart took the bearings out, seen a number on them . Went to Tractor Supply bought 4 bearings. Worked good as new. Then I went to a mower shop and wanted to get more bearings, was told, you have to buy the whole spindle, can't get the bearings. So I went to a bearing Supply, gave them the number, and they had just what I needed. Some mower shops may not know the bearings can be changed.
I recently bought an aftermarket shaft and bearings and it had the open bearing and nipple. pita since it's on a friend's mower now and I'll have to make sure it gets greased
I have a 2014 Craftsman, (Husqvarna made) i just replaced one of the 3 spindles on its 54 in deck. All originals, it had the open bottom bearing! But it didnt have the integrated spacer top bearing. So evidentally they have been doing it for a few years.
I do! These are just the ones that everyone sent me out of the kindness of their hearts. I gotta get off my butt and order the other ones. Bwahahahahaha!
As an industrial mechanic, I have seen properly designed and selected sealed bearing last many years ... even decades. On the flip side, over greasing bearings can also become a problem creating excess heat as the churning grease has nowhere to go and can break down due to this excess heat. Me personally, like to see a properly sized/designed sealed bearing as contamination and excess grease issues are eliminated. Either way, I think the final determination is in the design. A properly sized robust bearing will be reliable. Undersized or lower quality bearings in an attempt to lower cost is what, many times, leads to premature failures. I have a Kubota 725 commercial zero turn with sealed spindles that has robust bearings and large spindle shafts that I mow a 7 acre field without problems for a few years now. Just some input. Love your channel. Very good advice on power equipment. For example, I never realized that gas pressure washers were not designed to run for more than a few minutes without expelling water through the wand. And, sure enough, states this right in the manual. Seems that very few people, including me, actually read the manuals .... lol.. www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/28664/dangers-of-overgreasing-
Yes sir, your the one who is correct. #1 reason for bearing failure, over greasing. Sealed bearings have the correct amount of grease for a full life of a bearing. There are more bone headed people than your kind by far. If there is a zerk they are going to use it. I can't tell you how many zerks I've gotten rid of, plugging the hole, to prevent premature failure. Good job, but your advice will surely fall on deaf ears.
One guy did a video, filled the spindle with Greece with the berring seals on. The Greece made it through those dust seals and it came out both ends of the spindle. No need to remove seals to get Greece in the berrings, just need a lot of Greece lol
Very surprised to and glad see this video. You are a very special Chickanic. When I commented yesterday about not greasing the spindle, I just assumed that if they included a grease fitting there might have been a reason for doing so. Like I told you in my comment, I don't have a Husqvarna, I have a Toro zero turn. However I do have a Craftsman anniversary 42 inch cut riding mower that took me about 3.5 hours to cut 2 ackers. Again, thanks for the updated video today. Keep up the great informative videos. I still need to tear into my Mccullagh weed Wacker and my lawn boy 22" self-propelled mower that I just can't seem to get started lol.
It's the OLD MAN at EP just wanting you to know i brought this video up on KSE live stream with all the boys as BREAKING NEWS CHICKANIC notifies all of mower deck spindle upgrades that allow grease addition to now work properly. Thanks for this one but i guess will have to check others to see if they have followed suit, highly unlikely.
I have a troy Bilt pony 17 1/2 hp 42 inch cut tractor I bought in 2010 the only thing I've ever done to it was filters changed the oil and plug not even a belt and it runs like a top
I've had a Husqvarna rz5424 for 15 years now. I can tell you all you want to know about them. I mow three acres a week on my property. The 24 hp kohler engine is great. Still doesn't burn oil. Tighten every screw from the factory when you get it. It's not real heavy duty but you don't want it too heavy unless you're going commercial. When one gets stuck or you have to move it by hand (and you will at some point) then you don't want it too heavy. Change the Hydraulic oil every three years or sooner with 15 w 50. I learne dthe hard way. i've replced both sides. It was easy however and about 350.00 a side. They're easy to work on and great for homeowners. You can get parts for them easily. Yes , the spindles are sealed but you can peel back the plastic seal with a utility knife and pack it but bearings themselves,are cheap. You don't need to buy the whole spindle. Just replace the bearing. It's a rip off that they would put nipples on the spinde that has sealed bearings. The deck is easy enough to take off and on.
I recently watched a video where the poster showed that even though they may be 'sealed' bearings, they will still take grease through the grease fitting. Problem is that the manufacturers do not put a lot of grease in the spindles at the factory so, the first time you lube it you have to be sure to fill the housing. Try it, it works. I did. See 'Woodchuck Russ the Deck Dr' here on TH-cam.
Thanks for Watching! Find a link to all of my "Must Have", Favorite Tools HERE!! www.amazon.com/shop/chickanic?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfchickanic_9ERPFPBNGQ924P8NS63B
There is nothing better for establishing of confidence in the credibility of another, than for that person to say "I was wrong" when they were wrong. I salute you.
not speaking to you directly chickanic, just what I've learned over the years. this is for those die hard seal lip removers lol. the seal lip is designed to keep the grease IN the bearing, so if you remove the top bearing seal guess what happens? the grease will just drop out and leave the bearing dry if the spindle isn't greased regularly, even though they are sealed, and you grease the spindle the grease will squeeze past the seal lip and into the bearing....think of the grease seal like a check valve....when i went to the ayp / dixon update school both manufactures were adamant about this (dixon uses ayp decks).....they also stated that the grease filled spindle will keep moisture out of the spindle especially those folks who like to power wash their machines great video as always! thanks for the shout out!
I concur. I do not recommend tearing sealed bearings apart. I finally got some quality stickers, so send me your address on Facebook so I can send you them and the size of shirts for your and the misses.
Takes a BIG person to admit they were wrong . Thank you .We ALL learned.
Hey Chickanick. I'm impressed with that you recommended other lawnmower channels and I will check them out.
Never thought a woman would be good at mechanics. Now you're my number one on the net! You know you're stuff and explain so well.
I don’t know how you came to that conclusion. I have been saying for my whole career that they actually may have an advantage getting hands into locations I can’t get my large hands into without cuts, scrapes, etc. Need to learn electrical, hydraulic flow and the rest can be figured out.
Another great video!😁👍09:06 THANK YOU FOR THE SHOUTOUT!
You're so very welcome!
I like it. You found out more information on a repair you covered and you shared it. Just goes to show ya that you DO go that extra mile. Says volumes about your ethics.
Thanks Chickanic
You are AWESOME.
Thanks Del!
You are a good mechanic on small engines and I am 63 years old and I been working on small engines off and on since. Jr. High school. But I still am learning. From you. And. Tary at. Grass rats garage
Sucking a beer while fixing spindles and drives a corvette.
that’s an Awesome gal.
I truly respect anyone who can openly admit they were wrong , I’m now even MORE attracted to your channel and advice. Thankyou
I like the drinking with us lol I thought about just removing the inside seals but to much pressure would pop off the outside seal but if done carefully who knows? I think the best way is just to manually grease with high temperature grease?
Gotta use high temp grease on bearings I greased one out in the field away from shop with universal Grease and it blew apart and was dry after a few days like it never had grease and I packed it!
Interesting video for me since I got na new Husqvarna about nine months ago. How about a making a video on greasing lawn equipment for those of us like me who a really mechanically inept. I stumbled on you TH-cam channel some time ago and really like it. Your how to videos a clear and precise.
One Thing’s for Sure.
We Always get The Shaft
Even if It’s Not Broken !
I removed the seal on one side of my Gravely spindles and installed zerk fittings. Super smooth now will last forever.
Wow! Here in Uruguay grass happens big time and mowers are way pricey.Poulan Pro @ $3000!! replaced by a Husq 52" zero-turn cost us $9000!!! We grow 500-1000 million year old granite bedrock causing many repairs. You have provided the most concise info of anyone, and I have been looking and in need. Thank you.
Thanks for all the great content from this new high school Small Engines teacher
Hi Chickanic, Recently saw video where he removed top and bottom bearings on a J Deere riding E 100.. He removed bearing covers and completely cleaned both top and bottom grease free.. He installed bearings on spindles and on to the deck. He packed the spindle housing with GREEN grease. He then ran J. Deere for awhile. Mind you he is sharing this as he un installs spindle housing. He then removes both top and bottom bearings with dust covers still connected. He then removed dust covers from bearings. And both top and bottom had green grease in them. Since seeing this video, I also grease the housing until it sguirts out. I also notice now when engaging mower blades, they engage very smoothly. Hardly or very little vibration. I saw and tried it and it works.. Keep up the great work your putting on You tube. Joe Cruz
That's good that those brands listened, maybe, just maybe, John Deere heard the grumbling, too!!!
I’ve put plastic sleeve (basically a piece of thick wall pipe) inside my spindles. It takes up space to reduce the huge amount of grease otherwise needed.
Now that is an excellent idea sir.
@mizzouxc So these brilliant Engineers decided to put in zerk fittings but leave the seal on the inside on both the upper and lower bearing eh? Additionally these Engineers decided not to put any grease into these cavities after manufacture ? I like the old Engineers that made auto engines that a normal person could work on and gave you the room to work on it.
Sounds like a good part to 3d print out of my favorite material. Maybe not, don't know how hot the bearings run, would not want it to melt.
@mizzouxc3824Just thought of that myself as I was thinking about it.
Love your content! You've helped me get a few of my small engine machines fixed.
Everytime I watch a video & your intro music comes on it reminds me off the movie Mallrats!😂
Dear Sensei Chickanic, I applaud your honesty and integrity - traits found to be sadly uncommon. Thank You!
WoW, A Chick using a 3lb. hammer. I almost stopped the vid. and rubbed the crystal ball. lol
You are Genuine and I do learn great stuff from you, thank you!
Beautiful and honest when wrong ! Wow your husband is one lucky man !
This is good news. I bought a 42" Husqvarna zero turn this spring. I found your channel 6 months and subscribed after watching the first video. Thanks for what yo do.
Interesting news!?! Thanks for the shout out. Cheers!
a lot of this lawn equipment is made so cheeply , it breaks when you need it the most , you do great explaining the problems with these things and how to solve problems with these things
My daughter has a craftsman 42 inch & I took it apart for service & one side had both bearing's sealed but the other side had a upper sealed bearing but the lower was not sealed. And as far as I know that was the 1st & only time the shafts had ever been in to. Love all your videos, keep'em coming.
Well, dang... even the experts can be wrong... but it takes a true teacher to admit mistakes.
One suggestion I have is that the housings come with a steel plate that is fastened to the housings by the same installation bolts to the frame. I made some from an old deck that was shot. Have never had a housing break since. One other thing, I drill out the housings for a pass through bolt and nut. Otherwise the soft bolts provided will break off into the aluminum if attempted removal.
Thanks for sharing,I own a lawn mower repair shop,This was good info to have and share with customers.
Your videos are so informative ! I love watching them I have a 19 year Dixie Chopper yep sealed bearings. I always greased them because they spin some r's. Had to replace one of them because I screwed it up bought parts the replacement were sealed. the pin was wrong so I took every back and got a whole assembly. Was having belt eating issues crossing my fingers that its fixed .It's been a good one but they don't make them like the used to!!!!! will never buy another on mainly because of dealers !!!!!! Wishing you and your husband a wonder Sunday !!! Thank you again.
Thanks so much!
I always pop the inboard seal out of any bearing in a greased hsg. when they are apart. Great videos.
Glad I just purchased a new Grease gun, I have just started picking up old not being used mowers and fixing them and selling them. And all of you that are supplying all these tips keep up the good work.
My ages old White Horse 50 inch deck came with zirk fittings AND sealed bearings, which I discovered when a bearing failed. Inner bearing seals removed and no more bearing failures. Thanks for the great content!
I have a Husqvarna riding mower about 15 years old. Every time since it was new it backfires when I turn it off. Still runs great and cuts good. But I also have to give it a shot of starting fluid when I start it. But once it's started once it will start every time the day of use. Better than buying a new mower. 👍👍
Most of the spindles I replace for customers are from bad bearings. I live in Missouri and we grow rocks here too. Rarely see cracked spindle housing or completely pooched star pattern. The cheap Chinese aftermarket spindles I usually use are sealed bearings (plastic seal), but I am not going to take them apart to pull off seals. Just pump a bunch of grease in them, at least moisture and dirt/debris is kept to a minimum.
Commercial ( golf) are greased open bearings with a sleeve to space inside inner races too. Grease , grease, grease. Also find the smaller 24” blade hubs more durable compared to the heavier 27” more mass more chance of damage .
My 17 year old Husqvarna was like that when I took the spindles apart. The bottom bearing was sealed on the bottom and open on top. So they’ve been doing it for at least that long, on some mowers anyway. The top bearing had spacers though.
Also, if you grease a spindle that has sealed bearings and then and open up the seals you will notice that they will get grease. It’s easy to tell if you use a different color grease, so it’s never been useless to grease sealed bearings, the grease easily gets right around the seals.
Then the seals were designed NFG
In my experience with my Murray ride on, replacement spindles have always come with sealed bearings and yes the grease does indeed get past the seal if pumped up sufficiently but does not receive enough grease before it starts coming out the zerk for this reason I still remove the inner seals.
I love your videos. They are so clear and complete. I also love that you are showing girls that they can do anything. My granddaughter is eleven and likes to tinker. I'm a retired 70-year-old engineer who loves showing her how things work. You are a splendid example for young women to show that they can do anything they set their mind on. I also like that you show how you can make a good living in a trade. I went to college and graduate school long before they became too expensive. We desperately need skilled trade/craftsmen(women). I don't know your educational experience, but I do know you're smart and dedicated to your work. Thank you for showing young women how to succeed in any field.
I admire her but she is still very rare. Generally women aren't interested. No one is denying women this but they have to have the interest from an early age just like most males do.
@wnc817 Bare foot and pregnant, eh.
No, no women can't do anything they set their mind to. Nor can men.
And there are some things where men and women are NOT interchangeable. And that's a good thing.
But that doesn't stop some delusional people from trying...
If you retrofit these spindles....the most reasonable method I've seen is to take off the inner dust shields on the bearings, drill a hole in the side of the spindles for a zerk(if there isn't one)...but that only gets you grease inside the spindle. How much to put in??? Well, you need a small air hole drilled in the spindle that can have a rubber plug put back when the grease starts weeping out the air hole....like they have on hydraulic floor jacks.
I had an MTD bought around 1991....The spindles lasted a long time....Got my replacements locally from a farm supply that would last one or two seasons....Switched to Dixie supply and their bearing lasted for years as did the original factory bearings....After 25 years of good service, even the seat lasted 20 years, I bought a Husqvarna Z246....That seat lasted 5 years before cracking....
I love my Husqvarna mower. Had them for years and they are great machines.
We just bought a Husqvarna zero turn mower in late 2020 hopefully it has the upgraded spindle design. Btw to anyone that needs a new mower never buy it online aways buy from dealer unless you're mechanically inclined cause there is so much stuff you need to adjust and repair on them right out of the box it had an oil leak out of the drain line, control panel where everything is wasnt assembled correctly had to reposition it, didn't track straight had to adjust the speed on the sticks and deck needed to be leveled didn't cut right and will destroy belts. Always buy from a store or dealer
Funny I just watched it and commented on it as well about how the greasing works. The interesting thing is there was no grease in there. The ones I have changed are full of grease and the bearing seal has been removed from the two inside seals. I imagine maybe some were not assembled properly or not replaced properly. I have always worn-out bearings, when they start to roar it's time and quite often had I removed the plugged zerk and put a new one on they would have likely been saved but they are cheap. Again great video helping more people out. I share your channel with everyone who might benefit.
After watching other's complaints about Husqvarna issues and the way the Husqvarna dealers treated them, I wouldn't spit on one.
I like the sealed bearings much better than the open side ones
I am glad I saw this video. Time to start greasing. Here in this part of Texas we break and bend towers and blades.
Lol time to start greasing and bending and breaking things in hillbilly land
The Husqvarna ZT mowers are the former Dixon designed mowers made in South Carolina at the Dixon plant which they bought in the early 2000's. The rider 'lawn tractors' ARE made by AYP for them (Husqvarna). I believe they also bought Yazoo-Kees around the same time which was a super machine. Husqvarna just killed the brand. I had a chance to buy a 72" Yazoo with a 31hp Kubota turbo diesel a few years back, real low hours. One of the last ones made, 2004 or 05 maybe. It was way more mower than I needed though. Would've loved to spool up that turbo cutting my grass for the neighbors to hear!
As soon as you popped the shaft assembly out I spotted the open style ball bearings!
Good eye!
I don't have a riding mower but I thought I would mention that not knowing how easy it is to get your grease gun onto that straight up zerk you can get a different end for your gun that slides straight on from the side. It has a slot in the side so you push it on straight instead of trying to get the hose bent to put it onto the top of the zerk when it points up. Very handy. I used to work in auto service and it comes in very handy for low clearance areas where the hose won't bend enough and you just pump grease out and not into the bearing or in my case ball joints. Hope this saves someone some time and frustration :)
Omg. I think I’m in Love.
Shh. Don’t tell my wife 😅
I too have watch so many videos that is pro and con on this subject leaving me unsure of what to do, but now that I am hearing it from you, I will definitely get the grease gun out! You are the BEST!
That's good information right there, I was wondering about the grease zirk yesterday, I never had any on my mowers. Thanks for sharing this.
Always looking for answers and you help
Thanks for watching Tom!
Nice beer. Leffe is one of my favorites :)
My Wheelhorse had open bearings in it. The replacement one's didn't just take off the covers on one side works good that way u can grease them thanks for sharing. My Wheelhorse is a 1981 they don't make the like that any more. In 1981 I payed 2700 for it. But they are a garden tractor.
On older Snappers the spindle had a zerk in it, however Snapper told me to look at the zerk. I looked and it did not have a bb in the end of the zerk. Was told this was a vent so the pressure didn't push the grease out of the sealed bearings.
wow, never heard that one! And years ago I heard a lot from my Snapper distributors!
Thanks for this video! I broke down my 2021 48" Husqvarna mower deck and found three of these spindles!
I always have the zert I used. Thx Bre!
you enjoy your zert
GROW ROCKS HERE😂
LOVE LEARNING FROM YOU ❗️
Awesome news!! Thanks for sharing this. I remember the Saloon having quite a number of comments and have read a huge amount of forum questions on this subject. I suppose it would be a shame to miss a corny pun opportunity. IE: "The squeaky shaft get the grease!"... Wow, that felt silly just typing it. Ya know cause it would probably be more of a grinding sound... I will stop now. Thanks again Bre!
I had deere 120 48" had to put spindle bearings in it every year. after 5 yrs sold it. got a cub cadet z force grease fitting everywhere, had it 15 yrs no problems
as a machinist i just machined new housing assemblies out of steel. they have been problem free since and quieter.
Not only a good and entertaining mechanic...but also a connaisseur of good beverage........
At least you have a cold snack to help you through your day
I have a 20 year old 61" commercial Husqvarna that has zerk fittings on the side of the spindle and sealed bearings. I grease them anyway and they are the originals...
Thanks Bre! Great presentation, as always, but now I have a craving for some Belgian Ale.
Ayp merged aquired by husqvarna some time ago.
(Where the t series craftsman tractors came from).
Husqvarna has mtd manufacturer most their low end lawn and yard tractors.
I've seen it.
You can remove the seal cover on inside of the bearings before rebuilding if they have a zerk
You might not always be right, but your NEVER wrong!
Thanks Tom!
I saw your video on what mowers not to buy. I wish you would put a video out showing some of the best mowers still at a reasonable price which have sturdy parts so we can make educated guesses, I have a 18 year old Husqvarna, which is in surprisingly excellent shape, but would like to upgrade to a zero-turn when of these years. My dad purchased a nice gravely, however it doesn't seem to cut grass very good if it's over 9 in tall, and I live in the country and sometimes I'm literally cutting the field. Thanks, love your videos and your expertise.
Thank you! I love your videos, keep up the great work! I just bought a new Husqvarna YTH22v46 about a month ago.. :)
That's interesting!, I've learned a few things myself about zero turns and that is for the price of the cheaper home owner brands they arent worth it!, I got rid of my cub cadet after 2 yrs I replaced a spindle, belt, deck wheels, and the 2 deck cables!. I mow 15 of our 30 acres mostly with a tractor w/a 6' finish mower my other half mows up around the house and trees with the zero turn!. So I bought a commercial Bob-Cat zero turn, omg its ten times more comfortable for her and after 675 hrs with proper maintenance it's still like brand new and no problems!. Great video!, you do a very good job of explaining and teaching people!.
Absolutely cracking me up with this video. Corporate pulled a fast one!
Awesome...Headed out in a few to look at a Used, 2020, 54" Husky Mower with 85 Hours and New Blades? Now I know what and where to pay closer attention to for impact damage and lousy spindle noise or excessive vibration. This Mower apparently has a 'Less than Macho' reputation for mowing my 3-4 acres of uneven terrain and grass. However, $4,000 for a new one that isn't even made anymore in 2023? Thanks Chick...You Rock!!!
Some bearings are "Shielded " not sealed , its sometimes difficult to tell the difference.
Agreed!
On your fuel test, you did. If you put your plum on the unlock blk button and your fingers on the flat grip and squeeze, it will pour alot better.and stay in control of the container.
No one's perfect we all make mistakes thanks for your help
Good video. Show’s integrity to correct a mistake.
Just bought one. TS348 and it has sealed bearings! 5/18/24
Had my daughter rebuilding motorcycle carburetors at 6 years old. No more complicated than a beginner jigsaw puzzle.
Set her up with her own business she can make a small fortune just working on carbs!
Lol sucks to be your daughter. Making a man out of her are you?
I heard the new transmissions are plastic...I need to keep my old riding mower.. Retired Larry in Indianapolis..
You know your stuff, great informative channel!
I would replace the bearings in my 38 inch cut mower every year, I took the spindle apart took the bearings out, seen a number on them . Went to Tractor Supply bought 4 bearings. Worked good as new. Then I went to a mower shop and wanted to get more bearings, was told, you have to buy the whole spindle, can't get the bearings. So I went to a bearing Supply, gave them the number, and they had just what I needed. Some mower shops may not know the bearings can be changed.
Drill out the mounting hole for the spindle and use bolt and nut to mount it. No more broken ears, no more wobbled deck holes.
I have a 2004 craftsman rider with probably around 500 hours and no problems with spindles. No zerks, so no greasing.
I recently bought an aftermarket shaft and bearings and it had the open bearing and nipple. pita since it's on a friend's mower now and I'll have to make sure it gets greased
I have a 2014 Craftsman, (Husqvarna made) i just replaced one of the 3 spindles on its 54 in deck. All originals, it had the open bottom bearing! But it didnt have the integrated spacer top bearing. So evidentally they have been doing it for a few years.
Thanks Bre. You need to get a "Taryl Fixes All", and a "Steve's Small Engine Saloon" sticker
I do! These are just the ones that everyone sent me out of the kindness of their hearts. I gotta get off my butt and order the other ones. Bwahahahahaha!
Steve's the Man! Even tell you how many beers it takes to fix something. You sure dont want to run out in the middle of a job, lol
Aaannnddd, the perfect update. Thanks again!
As an industrial mechanic, I have seen properly designed and selected sealed bearing last many years ... even decades. On the flip side, over greasing bearings can also become a problem creating excess heat as the churning grease has nowhere to go and can break down due to this excess heat. Me personally, like to see a properly sized/designed sealed bearing as contamination and excess grease issues are eliminated. Either way, I think the final determination is in the design. A properly sized robust bearing will be reliable. Undersized or lower quality bearings in an attempt to lower cost is what, many times, leads to premature failures. I have a Kubota 725 commercial zero turn with sealed spindles that has robust bearings and large spindle shafts that I mow a 7 acre field without problems for a few years now. Just some input. Love your channel. Very good advice on power equipment. For example, I never realized that gas pressure washers were not designed to run for more than a few minutes without expelling water through the wand. And, sure enough, states this right in the manual. Seems that very few people, including me, actually read the manuals .... lol..
www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/28664/dangers-of-overgreasing-
Yes sir, your the one who is correct. #1 reason for bearing failure, over greasing. Sealed bearings have the correct amount of grease for a full life of a bearing. There are more bone headed people than your kind by far. If there is a zerk they are going to use it. I can't tell you how many zerks I've gotten rid of, plugging the hole, to prevent premature failure. Good job, but your advice will surely fall on deaf ears.
One guy did a video, filled the spindle with Greece with the berring seals on. The Greece made it through those dust seals and it came out both ends of the spindle. No need to remove seals to get Greece in the berrings, just need a lot of Greece lol
Very surprised to and glad see this video. You are a very special Chickanic. When I commented yesterday about not greasing the spindle, I just assumed that if they included a grease fitting there might have been a reason for doing so. Like I told you in my comment, I don't have a Husqvarna, I have a Toro zero turn. However I do have a Craftsman anniversary 42 inch cut riding mower that took me about 3.5 hours to cut 2 ackers. Again, thanks for the updated video today. Keep up the great informative videos. I still need to tear into my Mccullagh weed Wacker and my lawn boy 22" self-propelled mower that I just can't seem to get started lol.
It's the OLD MAN at EP just wanting you to know i brought this video up on KSE live stream with all the boys as BREAKING NEWS CHICKANIC notifies all of mower deck spindle upgrades that allow grease addition to now work properly. Thanks for this one but i guess will have to check others to see if they have followed suit, highly unlikely.
Craftsman and Husqvarna were made by the same company in South Carolina. Craftsman pulled out from this arrangement and is now made up north.
I have a troy Bilt pony 17 1/2 hp 42 inch cut tractor I bought in 2010 the only thing I've ever done to it was filters changed the oil and plug not even a belt and it runs like a top
I've had a Husqvarna rz5424 for 15 years now. I can tell you all you want to know about them. I mow three acres a week on my property.
The 24 hp kohler engine is great. Still doesn't burn oil. Tighten every screw from the factory when you get it. It's not real heavy duty but you don't want it too heavy unless you're going commercial. When one gets stuck or you have to move it by hand (and you will at some point) then you don't want it too heavy. Change the Hydraulic oil every three years or sooner with 15 w 50. I learne dthe hard way. i've replced both sides. It was easy however and about 350.00 a side. They're easy to work on and great for homeowners. You can get parts for them easily. Yes , the spindles are sealed but you can peel back the plastic seal with a utility knife and pack it but bearings themselves,are cheap. You don't need to buy the whole spindle. Just replace the bearing. It's a rip off that they would put nipples on the spinde that has sealed bearings. The deck is easy enough to take off and on.
I think that we all have spit feathers after eating crow. Nice to see someone admit it! Great job Bre!
Always grease up the spindles on the Toro Wheel Horse, haven't had any issued yet.
I recently watched a video where the poster showed that even though they may be 'sealed' bearings, they will still take grease through the grease fitting. Problem is that the manufacturers do not put a lot of grease in the spindles at the factory so, the first time you lube it you have to be sure to fill the housing. Try it, it works. I did. See 'Woodchuck Russ the Deck Dr' here on TH-cam.