Mechanos
Veteran Member
While working on my JD 272 project, I've discovered two of the three idler sheaves have bad bearing that need to be replaced. One of them has a replaceable bearing, but the other one is a "non-servicable" unit. It's basically to halves of a sheave riveted together that sandwiches the bearing between them. Why anyone would think this method of construction was a good idea is beyond me. Bearing wear out and need to be replaced... I don't understand why a part would be designed so it can be serviced. This is not the first time I've run across this on JD mower decks.
I've though about removing the rivets and splitting the two halves of the sheave to get at the bearing, replace it and then just bolt the two halves back together... just at this point, I'm not sure if doing all that and then sourcing the bearing, etc. is worth $34 of my time. If I do end up replacing the sheave, I will save the old and split it some rainy day when I'm looking for something to do. The third idler sheave is identical, so I would then have a spare on the shelf ready to go.
I've though about removing the rivets and splitting the two halves of the sheave to get at the bearing, replace it and then just bolt the two halves back together... just at this point, I'm not sure if doing all that and then sourcing the bearing, etc. is worth $34 of my time. If I do end up replacing the sheave, I will save the old and split it some rainy day when I'm looking for something to do. The third idler sheave is identical, so I would then have a spare on the shelf ready to go.