Finish mower bearings.

[gschones]

I have a King Kutter FM60 which has only been used twice. It has already shelled a bearing in one of the spindles. I ordered a bearing set online but they were typical Chinese bearings and they did not look to be very high quality. I went to my local Fleck Bearing company and had them match them up. They sell industrial bearings for machinery and transmissions. They had high quality bearings that were about the same price. However they were sealed bearings as where the original bearings were open since they are greased by the spindle. The guy at Fleck said that I can pop out the seals on his bearings if I want them open but he recommended that I just leave them sealed with the grease inside. He is convinced that they will out last the others if I leave them sealed. Has anyone ever had any experience with this? I am leaning towards popping the seals out of his bearings and greasing up the spindles. What do you think? Gary

 

[torqotrac]

Popping is an overstatement (plastic seals only). Usually just the tip of a pocket knife. I have done it many time on vacuum cleaners, alternators , drill motors. If you can be sure the zerks will service the bearings use them. Otherwise you could repack after lifting off the plastic seals

 

[gschones]

Popping is an overstatement (plastic seals only). Usually just the tip of a pocket knife. I have done it many time on vacuum cleaners, alternators , drill motors. If you can be sure the zerks will service the bearings use them. Otherwise you could repack after lifting off the plastic seals

Thanks. I think that I will remove the seals and let the grease zerks do their job. I don't see how the sealed bearing could hold up. The guy also told me that putting too much grease in the spindles can cause the bearings to fail. That may have been my problem to begin with.

 

[JKR]

I would leave the new baring sealed. When you open the end to add grease you also add DIRT. Dirt is what kills mower barring. That's my .02 cents of info.

 

[gschones]

I would leave the new baring sealed. When you open the end to add grease you also add DIRT. Dirt is what kills mower barring. That's my .02 cents of info.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. I have zero experience with this so it all helps. I am on the fence on this. I am curious if anyone else has run into this.

 

[Eric C]

I will take my chances on over greasing everyday.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

leave them sealed. They will last until the seal wears out.

 

[gschones]

leave them sealed. They will last until the seal wears out.

Good point. I can leave the sealed and still put grease in the spindle right?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Good point. I can leave the sealed and still put grease in the spindle right?

No need.

 

[gschones]

I will give it a try. Thanks Kyle.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

cheap bearings are just that, cheap bearings. They usually last for a while. OTOH, sometimes a brand new bearing will fail, usually in the first 20 minutes or so. Rare, but it happens.
Your better bearings are American or Japanese made, or at least American or Japanese companies holding the quality levels up.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

For a point of reference, I was replacing various american and Japanese greasable bearings in my zero turn decks approx every 3 years. I bought a Bobcat Procat in early 2011 with sealed deck bearings (I was skeptical) and have used it in about the same manner and hours as previous mowers and the original bearings are still quiet and easy spinning.

So... A high quality sealed bearing can last as long as a greasable bearing, if not longer, in this application. Just try to keep from wrapping wire or string around the spindles.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I've been real fortunate on RFM bearings. Never replaced one in 23 years. Land Pride and Woods mowers. I don't know how much longer my luck will last. I guess they use good bearings to start with and I grease them regularly.

 

[gschones]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I am going to leave the sealed. Your advice is awesome. Gary

 

[gschones]

I've been real fortunate on RFM bearings. Never replaced one in 23 years. Land Pride and Woods mowers. I don't know how much longer my luck will last. I guess they use good bearings to start with and I grease them regularly.

I got good quality Japanese bearings this time. The bearings I got from the dealer were Chinese and I decided not to use them.

 

[gschones]

For a point of reference, I was replacing various american and Japanese greasable bearings in my zero turn decks approx every 3 years. I bought a Bobcat Procat in early 2011 with sealed deck bearings (I was skeptical) and have used it in about the same manner and hours as previous mowers and the original bearings are still quiet and easy spinning.

So... A high quality sealed bearing can last as long as a greasable bearing, if not longer, in this application. Just try to keep from wrapping wire or string around the spindles.

Thanks. This is basically what the guy at the bearing distributor told me but I needed to hear it from someone who has used it on this application. I appreciate it.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I have had two KK finish mowers. The first one a 6' I bought brand new. They are good mowers but have lousy bearings in the spindles. I replaced bearings in all three spindles twice. First time with greasable type. They lasted for about a year. So I asked around and was told to put a non greasable bearing in it. They do cost more.
I did not replace any bearings again untill I sold the mower about 4 years later.
Then I bought a used 7' KK finish mower. There were a couple of bearings bad so I replaced them all with sealed type and have not touched them again in 3 years.

 

[Gem99ultra]

My experience is that 'sealed' bearings generally are not. I've popped the seals on them and repacked them, then put the seals back on. That has seemed to work well. I do think that the seals help keep the dirt out some, but 'sealed' doesn't mean permanent.

My problem is that I haven't learned to tell 'good' bearings from cheap. But spindles aren't cheap, so a little extra grease sure won't hurt.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Gravely has utilized "sealed spindles" for years on their mowers. But anyone who uses them will tell you that the service life of those bearings vary. I still can't get in my mind the idea that a sealed spindle is better than a bearing with a grease-able Zerk. Guess it was the way I was brought up.

 

[gschones]

I have had two KK finish mowers. The first one a 6' I bought brand new. They are good mowers but have lousy bearings in the spindles. I replaced bearings in all three spindles twice. First time with greasable type. They lasted for about a year. So I asked around and was told to put a non greasable bearing in it. They do cost more.
I did not replace any bearings again untill I sold the mower about 4 years later.
Then I bought a used 7' KK finish mower. There were a couple of bearings bad so I replaced them all with sealed type and have not touched them again in 3 years.

I am going tor rebuild the spindles with the new high quality Japanese sealed bearings this week. I am wondering if it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and shoot some grease in the zerks anyway.