Mower bearings

[John2189 582]

Grease or dont grease. How do you tell if the bearings are sealed?  If sealed, then they should not need to be greased right?  

[WHX?? 55,784]

15 minutes ago, John2189 said:

If sealed, then they should not need to be greased right?  

One would think so. Been discussed here tho the grease put in sealed bearings these days is questionable so many of us pick the seal out. Clean factory grease out and repack with Greasy Pete's red tacky. 

 

Here's where everyone's opinion differs. Put the seal back in and run it or leave the seal out and regrease? 

I vote leave the seal out and re grease but then I have the tendency to over grease. This is on decks that I have gone through and replaced bearings.  

 

If you deck is quiet and no need to replace bearings I would say grease since you don't know what bearings you have in there. 

Edited 10 hours ago by WHX??

[John2189 582]

1 minute ago, WHX?? said:

One would think so. Been discussed here tho the grease put in sealed bearings these days is questionable so many of us pick the seal the seal out. clean factory grease out and repack with Greasy Pete's red tacky. 

 

Here's where everyone's opinion differs. Put the seal back in and run it or leave the seal out and regrease? 

I vote leave the seal out and re grease but then I have the tendency to over grease. This is on bearings on decks that I have gone through and replaced. 

 

If you deck is quiet and no need to replace bearings I would say grease since you don't know what bearings you have in there. 

 

[John2189 582]

I do grease them, but the older I get it is getting harder to get on the floor to grease them. I should say It’s harder to get up off the floor. 

[WHX?? 55,784]

2 minutes ago, John2189 said:

I should say It’s harder to get up off the floor. 

At quickly approaching 70 yer preaching to the quire ther John.  

Edited 9 hours ago by WHX??

[953 nut 64,787]

8 minutes ago, John2189 said:

I should say It’s harder to get up off the floor. 

Being 80 I have learned to plan my work, once on the floor do EVERYTHING while you are down there,      if I can remember why I got down there in thre first place.

[oldlineman 1,662]

Quicking approaching 75 I can completely relate too all comments. 

[pfrederi 20,094]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

Being 80 I have learned to plan my work, once on the floor do EVERYTHING while you are down there,      if I can remember why I got down there in thre first place.

  

I get down there and then remember the tool I need that is up on the work bench

[bo dawg 568]

2 hours ago, pfrederi said:

  

I get down there and then remember the tool I need that is up on the work bench

 

Amen brother on that!!!

[TractorEd 653]

It can be quite cold on the floor.

 

what were we talking about?

[parsonsponyz 309]

I have always removed the seal and then shoot some grease after it's assembled.  I have yet to hear of a bearing failing because it was "over greased."  Get a quality bearing and it should last a long time.  Just my 2 cents.

[JoeM 9,699]

If I have to remove and disassemble a spindle, believe me it is getting new bearings. Pretty cheap insurance.

At one time the bearings were coming with cheap grease, that is long gone and if you use electric motor grade bearings, those have pretty good lube spec.

No need to pop the seal etc. (actually most folks tweak the seals and they just don't seal as good as when new), grease is important but keeping out water and dust is upmost. I have not seen a mower deck bearing fail because of the grease but many are contamination related. String, twine, and mono-filament are mostly what I seen takes out the seal and bang bearing is filled with dirt.  

I have been running sealed bearing in mower decks for several years and no issues. Think about it, the mule drive bearings are sealed and some i have are 40 years young. 

If your deck needs bearings and you have issues with getting down to service them.....go with sealed bearings. they will run along time.