Mower idler pulley

[ning]

Had an idler pulley start smoking, luckily noticed before it torched the belt along with it

from what I can tell, the bearings don't look serviceable - no snap ring or anything top or bottom - am I missing something? Guessing you'd have to undo the eight big rivets ...

I just ordered replacements for this one and the other two idlers for $40, no huge loss, other than time and "I hate it when you can't fix stuff".

 

[CalG]

It's too late now, but those seals will ALWAYS let lubrication oil into the bearing after a small amount of use.

I make it a practice to clean the bearing first, then just give the top seal surface a squirt of chain lube and a squirt of motor oil. let that creep into the bearing past the seal, and viola! Extended life through lubrication!

 

[ning]

It's too late now, but those seals will ALWAYS let lubrication oil into the bearing after a small amount of use.

I make it a practice to clean the bearing first, then just give the top seal surface a squirt of chain lube and a squirt of motor oil. let that creep into the bearing past the seal, and viola! Extended life through lubrication!

I'll keep it in mind - maybe I can get the replacements to go another 18 years!

 

[Thomas]

"another 18 years!" get that.
Good chance the pully worn from the belt.

 

[anomad]

That reminds me of the pulley on my old Wright a few years ago. It started making an awful noise (even with good earplugs in). The bearing had completely left the chat. I took it to the local mower shop and the parts fella said he had to have a part number... Right... I made a few measurements and had one shipped for like 10 bucks. I made the mistake of using that shop again. That was the last time.

 

[BravoXray]

I had a pulley like that a few years ago on a friends deck that wasn't available. so I drilled out the rivets, the halves separated, popped the bearing out and installed a new one. Bolted it back together and it lasted until he junked the mower several years later.
I think it used a standard 6203 bearing, or something like that, which I had on hand.

 

[ning]

Out with the old

In with the new

The other two idlers were still moveable but I could feel they weren't doing too hot (wait a minute they probably were getting hot) too good either. Had to torch one nut to get it moving and used a cheater on another... about 30 minutes total and then a quick lube of the mower spindles and steering spindles.

The mower deck spindles are replacements already - ten years ago according to my ordering history. These ones seem to be working well still; unfortunately for the originals which didn't get lubed... ever. I know what lube zerks are for since then!

 

[panamaguy]

You got 18 and you are concerned enough to make a post about a 40 buck fix? Unbelievable.

 

[ning]

You got 18 and you are concerned enough to make a post about a 40 buck fix? Unbelievable.

that's what you got from this thread?

 

[5030]

Mower deck pulley's are all planned obsolence parts, I just replace them as required. Least my front mount deck on my Kubota diesel only has 2 and they guide the flat belt as the spindles themselves are drive shaft driven. 40 bucks today is chump change.