914A Mower Deck Help

[SacandagaBrad]

The top nut on the left side spindle on my 60" side discharge deck keeps loosening slightly. I can tell by the "rattling" sound that develops while mowing. The drive pulley can be rocked/wobbled side to side by hand, and there is play between the blade and pulley indicating the key is loose. I can tighten it down and all is smooth and quiet, there is no binding or grinding like a bearing is going even when turning it by hand. I can mow for about an hour before it starts making noise again. I do not have a torque wrench handy.

Am I to the point of needing to apply some LocTite or do you think I am on my way to putting a new set of bearings on that side?

Mower and tractor are 8 years old, tractor has 750 hours and I mow about 1.5 acres from late April thru October around here. It has always been well lubed.

I'm leaning toward giving the LocTite a try first for obvious reasons, just wondering if anybody else has experienced these symptoms.

Thanks - Brad

 

[RickB]

My money is on a worn spindle shaft, pulley, or both. You can dope it up with red loctite, install a new locknut above the pulley and hope for the best while saving up for new parts. If the spindle turns freely and smothly when tightened properly, the bearings are probably OK for now.

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Thanks Rick. That's the kind of info I was looking for. I'll probably tighten it up to get a couple more mowings and then take it apart for a better evaluation when I put it away for the winter. Thinking I can remove the 3 bolts and remove the housing and spindle, rebuild as necessary and put it back together in the spring. Hopefully just needs a new pulley.

Brad

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Pulled the pulley off and then the spindle out of the bearings, pulley definitely wobbles on the spindle. Going to stop at the dealer some day soon and see what they think, hoping it will just need the pulley. The spindle doesn't show and visible wear, but I know that doesn't mean much.

 

[JAMMERGT]

I am trying to remove pulley from my 914A mower deck now - cannot loosen top nut with ANYTHING! Just a sanity check - these are right hand threads, correct?

 

[jwstewar]

Yes, the nuts are normal right hand thread.

 

[phila4x4]

How did you remove the pulley? I see there is a key in the shaft, did you remove the bolts after removing the top nut? My deck is a 914 not 914A if that makes a difference

 

[jwstewar]

Trying to remember how I did it. It has been a couple years. I believe I removed the top nut. Don't think I used a puller to pull they pulley. I'm thinking I just used a pry bar, but can't swear to it. I don't remember a key in the shaft, but honestly don't remember. I would think it would otherwise I think the pulley would/could slip on the shaft.

 

[phila4x4]

Thanks for the feedback, I needed to reassemble it to mow my grass. I'll look into it further in the fall after I'm done mowing.

 

[FloGrown81]

Where did you get the spindle from, messicks is expensive, and another place carries them, but out of stock, for $400. Im in N.E. Fla.