Anti-Scalp Roller Mod's?

[GregW]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

44trxfun,
Good point on the Massey, there's a small dealer up the road from me. I will pay him a visit and see what he has that might work.

Thanks
Greg

 

[jlbota]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

What I have done from day one on my BX deck rollers is to spray WD40 on either side of the deck rollers before I mow. The deck wheels slide back and forth just a bit on the axles and I just slide it over enough to get the nozzle in between the axle and the wheel ....I do this on both sides of each wheel and give each wheel a spin and you can feel them loosen up. I do this before each mow and I have about 85 hours of just mowing so far. Seems to work for me so far.
I was surprised like everyone else that they would make such a cheap wheel choice for the BX. These are the same type wheels used on the cheaper AYP and MTD products you see at Sears and TSC. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Hootie]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

You go Ret, we are waiting!!!

Hootie /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[RET]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

Anybody know any hardware sites other than McMaster.com that may have axle bolts? I don't think the ones at McMaster are gonna be the right size (mid way down pg 1196 - the ones with grease zerks). Anybody going to Lowes/Home Depot today? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I guess I could make my own out of steel rod, but that's generally some soft steel (?)
r

 

[surfran]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

Maybe Grainger? Tractor Supply Co?

 

[rosey]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

CHECK MOWERAXLE.COM.....LARRY IS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO THIS FORUM AND HE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP AS HE IS A MACHINIST AND HAS A BX.

 

[Junkman]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

I made some for my Bolens deck out of round head carriage bolts by drilling down the center with a 1/8" drill and then drilling into the side of the bolt. Then I drilled and tapped the head for a grease fitting. It took a lot of time, but it seems to work. Don't know the hardness of the bolts that I used... they were general hardware store variety...

 

[Junkman]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

Picture of overall wheel assembly. I installed a flange bearing in each side of the wheel before putting it back into the holder and inserting the modified axle. These have worked for me for about 4 years now. I just retired this mower deck and tractor in favor of the new BX-22. I am also looking into the possibility that I can do the same thing with the original BX wheels. My other thought is to buy some solid polyurethane bar stock and having it turned into wheels of the same configuration as the originals and installing a bronze bushing or some type of bearing into the wheel. I am aware of the problems with the wheels, but to date mine have not worn out. It all comes down to cost and convenience. I don't mind spending $100 a year to replace them if neccessary, but if I can spend $200 on a replacement that will give years of service, then it would be worth it for me in the long run.

 

[RET]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

R^2 - couldn't find what I needed at Grainger or TSC. Thanks for the tip though...had forgotten about those 2.
Rosey - Thanks for the tip about Larry @ moweraxle.com. Got his website open right now. Going to e-amil him and see if I can entice him to help me out.
Junkman - drilling is on my list to do if I can't find off-the-shelf. I'm trying to put together a parts list that requires no additional modification....just installation....so if anybody else wants my 'ultimate solution', they don't have to schedule-in additional shop time...just order the list of parts I will supply. If I have to drill, I suppose I'll try considering if I can drill diagonally through the wheel first (installing the grease fitting on the side of the wheel) before tackling the much more skillful method of drilling through the bolt (I ain't got no skill, I'm a dumb, barefooted Tn. born hillbilly /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif).
thx for the input!
roger

 

[moweraxle]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

RET e-mailed me the other night about his anti-scalp wheel problem and I have what may be an easy fix. I will be glade to work with RET to solve this problem for all of us at TBN.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

Larry,

We ARE ALL waiting for an answer, u will sell many I would think. You can make it a package deal, axles and wheels! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RET]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

Larry,
I'll try to catch up with you tonight via e-mail or whatever.
Was busy all weekend preparing for a mardi-gras parade I was in last night. Didn't get close to a computer all weekend.
Wish I had found you earlier...might have reduced the length of this thread considerably.
thx
roger

 

[moweraxle]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

I have been working on a solution to this problem and have come up with this. The wheels will be reworked so they will have bronze bushings with bronze thrust washers on each side of the wheel. The axle bolt will be drilled and tapped and grease fitting installed. I believe that one pump of grease after each use (that will push out any water) that they will last a life time. I hope to have a couple of sets by the end of the weekend and will post a picture or two.

 

[Henro]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

<font color="blue"> I wonder if this wheel [for $6 each] might work for those of us who are not crashing into the ground a lot, but are worried about lack of a bearing in the wheel? </font>

Looks like a half inch bolt (with a bushing on each side to increase it in size to match the kubota deck) might work as the axle...

Hope to be stopping at the Grizzly showroom on Wednesday...will check these out if I remember...

 

[RET]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

Got an e-mail from Moweraxle a few days ago. He's working hard on modifying the existing wheels. Looks like between the 2 of us, we will end up with 2 good options.
I just got my wheels in from Castercity.com today. Attached is a pic. These are some SERIOUS wheels. 1000 lb load capacity. Resin impregnated with ground up canvas for strength/chip resistance. 5"dia X 2" width X 3/4" axle. $15 each, including shipping. The bore thru the wheel is 1", but the brass 'hat' bushings bring the ID down to 3/4". NOTE: If the bushings had brought the ID down to 5/8", then the OEM axles would be the PERFECT fit...OEM axle has just enough length to allow for a couple of washers.
I'm leaving to fly down to Fl. to spend a week with Mickey Mouse early in the morning. So, I won't be able to do anything until the week of 3/1. I'm going to try to find a suitable axle on the web before bedtime tonight and get it ordered so I will have it when I get back.
These wheels are the real deal....I'm very impressed. The owner of the company included a personal note in the shipping box asking for me to call him and let him know how things are going. He sold me the wheels at a loss just because he got interested in this application.

Happy Mardi Gras!
Be back week of 3/1.
roger

 

[RET]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

The flanged bushings on the wheel pic on previous post are 1"od by 3/4" axle.
Well, I decided not to go with the 3/4" axle. Will go with the 5/8" OEM axle. Can't find a 3/4" axle that steps down to the OEM 3/8" threads. If I bore out the OEM threaded hole to 3/4", then I'm not left with much metal for strength.
So, just ordered 1"OD by 5/8" ID bronze sleeve bushings and a variety of thrust bushings (i.e. washers). Should be here by the time I get back from Disney. If this all fits, then the total cost for 4 wheels should be in the $90 ballpark. Should be a LONG time before I wear these brutes out.

Qty | Part Number/Description | Unit Price | Total Price | Shipping Info
+-----------+---------------------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------

4 6381K151 - SAE 660 Unmounted $3.45 $13.80 Monday morning
Plain Bronze Sleeve Bearing For
5/8" Shaft Diameter, 1" OD, 2"
Length

8 5906K545 - SAE 841 Bronze Thrust $0.97 $7.76 Monday morning
Bearing For 5/8" Shaft Diameter,
1-3/16" OD, 1/8" Thick

8 5906K541 - SAE 841 Bronze Thrust $0.75 $6.00 Monday morning
Bearing For 5/8" Shaft Diameter,
1-3/16" OD, 1/16" Thick


Merchandise Total: $27.56

 

[moweraxle]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

RET the OEM axle bolt is not SAE, it is metric 16mm body with 10mm thread. 16mm is .6299 dia in inch. 5/8 is .625 dia in inch. I had to buy a special size reamer to ream the bronze bushings in my wheels so we could use the OEM axle bolt.
10mm dia. is .393 so a 3/8 (.375) thread will work, may be hard to keep tight. Good luck

 

[5030]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

Moweraxle:

Why buy a sized reamer when you could get an adjustable one?? Better yet, just chuck the wheel and bore the bushing. That is, if you have a lathe with that much capacity. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[GregW]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

RET,
I appreciate all your research into our mower wheel problem, I really want to replace the OEM wheel with a better quality wheel/bearing or an oil/grease sleave design.

I have kept up with the other thread concerning modifying the OEM wheel by Moweraxle, But I really want a whole new design....not just a modification to the cheap OEM wheel.

That being said I will say the I appreciate Moweraxle's hard work as well.

RET, please let us know I you suceed in geting the heavy duty wheels to work/fit correctly.

Hope you are enjoying you vacation.

Thanks
Greg

 

[DannyWilliams]

Re: Anti-Scalp Roller Mod\'s?

OK, I've been away for a while, however, I got back on the site and noticed this thread and began reading. I must say that I experienced the same problems with my wheels.

I fixed my el cheapo anti-sclap wheel problem a while back. I even made a post offering to sell the upgrade to fellow BX'ers, but, there were no takers. I used a rubber wheel with stainless steel roller bearings. I've used the wheels for about a year and a half and they are doing great. I don't have any pictures handy right now, but if you go the the link below you can take a look at some of my other BX projects. You can also see the wheels in a couple of shots. If anyone is interested and would like a little more info, I'll try to accomodate. I'd have to look through the cob-webs in my head and locate all the pieces that I used....New grade 8 bolt, spacers, etc.

http://community.webshots.com/album/64671033wFJmcn

I can be reached at dannywilliams_52@hotmail.com