Giles2 0 #1 Posted May 9 I'm partway through fixing/restoring my 36" deck but have a problem with the central spindle housing - the lip has gone. Perhaps it's worn away or been pushed off, but it's not there any more, just some flecks of cast iron. Spindle housing is a 105074, the new spindle bearings are the Stens 230-078 ones. I'm in the UK, they have to be shipped over from the USA. So far as I know, it's impossible to get new spindle housings these days. It's a 50-year-old Wheelhorse C160 so it's not entirely a surprise. But any thoughts on what I could do to resolve this? I assume it's best to do it at the lip (bottom) end, rather than from the other (top) end. Picture for illustration, showing how the spindle bearing can be pushed through out of the bottom of the housing. I don't think I can do nothing - the spindle would just drop through with the vibrations. Perhaps loctite/stronger adhesive would work. Or some kind of circlip. Or a couple of tapped grub screws. Perhaps welding a couple of lumps (but I really don't want to weld cast-iron). I have the old spindle bearing tube: perhaps I could cut 5mm off that, and secure in place with adhesive/JB-weld? Has anyone managed to do this successfully? Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,104 #2 Posted May 9 Welcome!! The spindle shafts are hardened thru - to add a groove for a circlip IS possible by precision grinding... I douby a carbide cutter that small would work. Anerobic sealants (Locktite) and ball bearings do not play well together - if the liquid migrates into the bearing, it's done for. My 2 cents.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giles2 0 #3 Posted May 9 Thanks ri702bill. It's the lip on the cast-iron housing which has gone. I was thinking perhaps a circlip inside the cast-iron housing, where the lip was, which would stop the spindle bearings falling down. Hopefully someone had this problem before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 40,877 #4 Posted May 9 Could you insert the outside race of an old bearing and hold it in place with a couple set screws tapped in the housing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brockport Bill 1,844 #5 Posted May 10 unless i am misunderstanding your questions and proposed solutions, I was under impression that spindle housings as well as full spindle units were available including from some of the vendors here on Red Sq? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giles2 0 #6 Posted May 10 Brockport Bill, I was under the impression that the spindle housings weren't available any more. Certainly in the UK, the only source of the spindle bearing unit is from the USA (Stens, via Amazon); the housings appear impossible to find? I think I'll have to drill & tap a couple of small side holes for a pair of grub screws, to pin the spindle bearing unit in place. There just isn't much space to add a ring below it, it looks like the lip has completely gone. Here's a pic showing one "good" housing, where the spindle bearing unit is firmly trapped inside. The other 2 photos show the "bad" housing, where the spindle bearing unit is free to slide down and out. It actually slides surprisingly well with some copper grease, I was concerned it was going to be a nightmare to push the replacements back into the housing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 10,453 #7 Posted May 10 Your grub screw idea should work one of our vendors K&B Horse Parts @76c12091520h has complete spindles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 11,161 #8 Posted May 10 (edited) Giles : Send me your UK mailing address and I will send you one or two of these. I have two 36 inch decks that use the same housing and spindles bearings. I kept some spindle housings for future projects etc. No charge to you. I am a big fan of keeping good relations with the rest of the world! Bearing housing is not perfect but still has most if the lip and can be cleaned up, Looks better than the one you showed us. Lane Ralph Greencastle, Indiana PM. Sent Director to GILES2! Edited Tuesday at 03:25 PM by Lane Ranger 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giles2 0 #9 Posted Wednesday at 08:13 AM (edited) Lane Ranger that is most kind of you! I will respond to your PM (and apologies for missing the reply to this post). Maybe one day we'll be able to 3d-print these items in (cast) iron (they are amazing gadgets - I could do one in plastic/nylon today easily). Edited Wednesday at 08:20 AM by Giles2 add mention of cast Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
