Retired Sparky 526 #1 Posted March 25, 2016 (edited) Today started out with a cold icy rain. I started a fire in the shop and looked in the garage to see what I could get into today. Jacked up the front of the and found the front left wheel had excessive play. Pulled the left front tire off and stuck my finger in the outer bearing to find it was shot. With a 1/2'' dowel and a hammer I knocked out the outer bearing. While I was at it I did cleaned and repacked all the front bearings. I made a few calls, the first to my local Motion Indust. Dist. They were the lowest @ $9.56. Only problem was they were out of stock. Fastenal had a price of $15.63 for the 3/4'' x 1 3/8'' flange bearing needed for my front tire. I went back to the dealer that sold me my 30 yrs. ago. $11.75. This is a third generation operation. This is the sticker that was placed on my tractor back in 86'. Today's receipt. Obviously they no longer have a fuel business. The new bearing placed in position and with the help of a piece of oak and a 20 oz. hammer the new bearing was soundly driven in place. All parts cleaned, plus new cotter pins, assemble began. . Both wheel on. grease was added to the complete construction. Now if the sun would be my friend. I would like to go out in the back yard tomorrow and do something constructive. You know what I mean, Vern. This amounts to everything I did today. I hope it helps somebody. Good night everyone. Edited April 7, 2016 by Retired Sparky 15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #2 Posted March 25, 2016 You made it look easy. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,675 #3 Posted March 25, 2016 Wonder how many of the Big Box store units with their plastic bushing front tires will be around 30 years from now. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phatboy 565 #4 Posted March 25, 2016 Thanks for all the pics and an step by step buddy !!! Yea i also had plans today was gonna sand and repaint my tiller as the paint is faded,, but being 36 degrees here in PA ,, to cold out there lol.. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,044 #5 Posted March 26, 2016 Who says you don't need a hammer and piece of wood to do mechanic type stuff. I probably to check bearing on the whole herd. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #6 Posted March 26, 2016 1 hour ago, AMC RULES said: You made it look easy. It was, because it was basic and straight forward. (some of my best work is with a BF hammer. . Just kidding. ) It's the same thing I used to do on Uncle Sam's planes. Basic maintenance. I no engine mechanic. You will not see me doing an engine tear down. Not my thing. (Although I guess I could learn again. I did it in H.S. That was 50 yrs. ago. ) If I can help in some way with basic maintenance I feel I have added to this forum. You know what I mean, Vern. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #8 Posted March 26, 2016 Just now, AMC RULES said: That's my boy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #10 Posted March 26, 2016 You guys have no limits. How do you save all this stuff???????????????? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 611 #11 Posted March 26, 2016 I would have been leery about putting those tires back on, look a little weather cracked, but then again I never miss an opportunity to buy tires 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pollack Pete 2,273 #12 Posted March 26, 2016 Don't get me wrong.I love Wheel Horse tractors,but those front wheel bearings are absolute junk.One of Wheel Horse's short comings for sure.I've got 3 Bolens 1250 tractors.They have tapered roller bearings on the front wheels.Castle nut to adjust them.Cotter pin to lock the nut.Plus a real automotive type inner seal.But like I said,I love Wheel Horse tractors. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 611 #13 Posted March 26, 2016 5 minutes ago, Pollack Pete said: Don't get me wrong.I love Wheel Horse tractors,but those front wheel bearings are absolute junk.One of Wheel Horse's short comings for sure.I've got 3 Bolens 1250 tractors.They have tapered roller bearings on the front wheels.Castle nut to adjust them.Cotter pin to lock the nut.Plus a real automotive type inner seal.But like I said,I love Wheel Horse tractors. I totally agree. Simplicity/Allis also uses tapered timken automotive type bearings. I go to a four bolt hub on many of my machines because it saves wear and tear on the steering sector or column, the tie rods and the spindles, it makes it almost like power steering and if used with a narrower or taller tire, lowers turning radius and improves ground clearance. The stock 18x8.50-8 with junk utility cart bearing is no match for a cast iron 4 bolt hub with timken bearings on a 5.70-10 6 ply commercial trailer tire that was designed to go on the road and load rated over 1,000 lbs 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #14 Posted March 26, 2016 1 hour ago, Pollack Pete said: Don't get me wrong.I love Wheel Horse tractors,but those front wheel bearings are absolute junk.One of Wheel Horse's short comings for sure.I've got 3 Bolens 1250 tractors.They have tapered roller bearings on the front wheels.Castle nut to adjust them.Cotter pin to lock the nut.Plus a real automotive type inner seal.But like I said,I love Wheel Horse tractors. Well you might think the bearings are junk, I managed to get by for 30 yrs.with them. The bearing didn't fail do to lack of maintenance, the bearing was full of grease. How much do you pay for those four bolt hubs. Where they hard to find???? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 611 #15 Posted March 26, 2016 etrailer has them from 16-25 dollars, they are called dexter hubs and they fit on 4-1/4" spindles on D series, on shorter spindles I use billet aluminum 4 bolt hubs from BMIKart, about 32.00 each. Calling them junk was misleading, the older ones were not junk, but the newer ones aren't nearly the quality as the older ones, none of these type of bearings is a quality bearing for a big machine though. The weight of a big kohler single (or ONAN twin) over the axle and the stresses the bearing takes in turns wears more on the steering system as the bearings themselves 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digger 66 3,476 #16 Posted March 26, 2016 9 hours ago, tractorhogg said: I totally agree. Simplicity/Allis also uses tapered timken automotive type bearings. I go to a four bolt hub on many of my machines because it saves wear and tear on the steering sector or column, the tie rods and the spindles, it makes it almost like power steering and if used with a narrower or taller tire, lowers turning radius and improves ground clearance. The stock 18x8.50-8 with junk utility cart bearing is no match for a cast iron 4 bolt hub with timken bearings on a 5.70-10 6 ply commercial trailer tire that was designed to go on the road and load rated over 1,000 lbs Me likey that ^^^^^^^^^^ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #17 Posted March 26, 2016 (edited) On 3/26/2016 at 9:38 PM, tractorhogg said: I would have been leery about putting those tires back on, look a little weather cracked, but then again I never miss an opportunity to buy tires I know they are bad,they have tubes inside. Edited April 7, 2016 by Retired Sparky Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tractorhogg 611 #18 Posted March 27, 2016 Thats good, I just don't want to pay 8-10 dollars for a tube and 6 dollars to have it and the tire remounted, that's at least half the cost of a brand new tire. Right now I don't have the equipment and I am not well enough to change tires. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites