Teddy da Bear62 25 #1 Posted Monday at 12:18 PM (edited) Hello all.... I thought I'd share an accidental discovery. My one spindle on my 48" deck was going bad. This had happened once before. I'd purchased some rotten decks for the spindles in the past. I thought now is the time to cannibalize them. What I didn't realize is how many different spindles and shafts wheel horse used!! There were different housing heights, different length shafts, different diameter for the shafts. Woodruff keys and no woodruff keys. Sheesh! Well, I guess wheel horse didn't ask my opinion to "keep consistent" 😂 I took a spindle assembly off of a 42" deck (didn't realize I had so many!). The spindle and spindle housing were the same length as the 48" spindle that went bad. So I thought I was good to go! Yes and no...... The shaft diameter was overall smaller. I could not use the original pulley. The new spindle shaft also did not use woodruff key as old pulley did. The new spindle also used a smaller diameter pulley! I thought I was out of luck here. But I mounted it anyway in hopes of some kind of ideas to come to me. I also thought with different spindle diameters? The center hole of blade would not work with replacement spindle! Geez... Well as it turned out? The threaded end of replacement shaft/spindle was the same size as the old one! I was able to use the 48" blade after all. Great. I searched my "big ol box of belts" (over 75 random sizes and lengths) until I found a belt that was 1" shorter than the original belt. The difference in pulley sizes facilitated this. I finally got replacement spindle, shaft, pulley, and belt in place and all zirks greased. Fired up Chandler's C-160 and engaged the mower deck. I didn't realize it at first glance..... But the smaller diameter pulley is turning twice as fast as the other two pulleys. (simple geometry) Wow! That thing is really humming! I tried a pass in the thick grass. Cut like butter! And as one unplanned side effect? It was throwing grass twice as far out the side discharge! It was also clearing the grass from under the deck more efficiently! (fewer clogs in heavy grass) I thought to myself... "What an awesome discovery!". The spindle/pulley that was replaced was closest to the discharge side of the deck. Not sure I would get the same effects if it were on the opposite side. I won't be afraid in the future to use a 42" deck spindle on a 48" deck. Just be aware there are some other changes that need to go along with it. I also believe they make sleeve bushings that would allow me to use the original pulley on the deck. But right now? I prefer it this way!! 😂 Edited Monday at 12:29 PM by Teddy da Bear62 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,673 #2 Posted Monday at 02:30 PM You likely are spinning the blade much faster than the ANSI maximum blade tip speed of 19,000 ft per min. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,358 #3 Posted Monday at 02:33 PM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teddy da Bear62 25 #4 Posted Monday at 03:57 PM Half the pulley diameter (roughly) should equate to 2x normal rpm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 2,186 #6 Posted Monday at 05:44 PM 15 minutes ago, lynnmor said: @Pullstart specials?? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teddy da Bear62 25 #7 Posted Tuesday at 04:32 AM 14 hours ago, lynnmor said: You likely are spinning the blade much faster than the ANSI maximum blade tip speed of 19,000 ft per min. Rules were made to be broken (sometimes) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
