Craftsman 48" mowing deck troubles

[notamustang]

Craftsman 48\" mowing deck troubles

I have the GT 5000 and while I bought it used (very little use) I still feel this problem was all my doing. I mowed about 100' of tall grass that was not completly dry with smooth soil and had the middle blade holder (the piece that houses the shaft and bolts to the mower deck)and pulley blow the heck up. Broke all four mounting tabs on the holder and oblonged the center of the pulley. I dont know what to think at this point. I am going to order the parts Monday but wondering if I am just lucky or is this kinda common? Thanks for your help /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Steven

 

[Molerj]

Re: Craftsman 48\" mowing deck troubles

It sounds like a bearing went out & the damage was the result of that. Not common to come apart but it is common for the bearings to go bad. Those parts don't have to be ordered from Sears. Any mower repair shop will be able to get them for you & more than likely save you some money. If you would like to know the manufacturer of your mower, post the MN off of the tractor. I can then tell you the pn's that you need. BTW, the spindle assy. is not going to be cheap /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[shvl73]

Re: Craftsman 48\" mowing deck troubles

I have the GT5000, a 2003 model with the 48" deck as well. I was using it (abusing it) as more of a brush mower when I broke the same part. The stuff I was cutting was 1"+. This was also prior to buying my Mahindra. I bought the spindle, the pulley, and the aluminum housing for around $50+- at Sears. The new spindle has a grease zerk, unlike the original. The aluminum housing was not tapped for the mounting bolts, fortunately I have a tap set. The repair was quite simple.

 

[Molerj]

Re: Craftsman 48\" mowing deck troubles

The bolts that go into the housing are self tapping bolts. If you are reusing the old bolts, you may have to tap as the bolts may have lost a little of their self tapping feature. Don't use an impact wrench to install the bolts as it will strip the threads. New self-tapping bolts can be bought from a hardware store.

 

[notamustang]

Re: Craftsman 48\" mowing deck troubles

Thanks for the offer getting the part numbers, I have found some on the internet and I have a lawn mower repair shop not to far from the sears parts house so I should be coverd.

Dont use an impact, you mean there are differnt types of wrenches /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

shvl73 Thanks for the install info /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[frank_f15]

Re: Craftsman 48\" mowing deck troubles

sounds like MOLERJ is actually more knowledgable than me, but i have had my sears 18HP gt starting its 14th year and the only thing i have repalced on the mower deck is belts and 1 idler pulley spring, and i use my GT very hard and very much, averaging about 100 hrs per year.

 

[notamustang]

Re: Craftsman 48\" mowing deck troubles

An update. I ordered the housing from sears and it was 25 bucks. I found three (single auction) of the units on ebay for 29.99 start and got them for 32.00 these are identicle to the factory ones and now I have some spares. They are complete with with shafts and bearings. I might pull the races on the inside of the bearings and put a zerks in, not sure about that yet though.