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Guest skinner

spindle - blade clearance

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Guest

Hey, I was wondering if anyone else has noticed clearance issues between the bore of the mower blades and the spindle shaft on any of their 48" or 42" mower decks. I just bought a stens blade kit for my 48" and they have the 3/4" holes but they don't fit snug on the spindles - they're a bit loose, more than I feel comfortable with. The orignial Toro blades have the same gap. It's about 1/32" for all three. Could this be due to corrosion at the spindle threads? I can't imagine that I have the wrong blade. Is there a sleeve or shoulder that I could be missing that fits over the spindle thread and centers the blade? Do I need new spindles? :hide:

Are the blades supposed to be centered over the actual threads on the end of the spindle or should they be setting on a ground surface? The former seems like a bad design to me? It doesn't seem right for the bore to ride on threads, they will get beat up.

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Guest

I guess it was just bad lighting. I looked at the spindles today and the threads have just been mashed in to the point where they don't center the blade anymore. I bet I'm not the only one with this problem. It might be the elusive source of vibration for some one else. Might pay to check your spindle threads.

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Duff

I guess it was just bad lighting. I looked at the spindles today and the threads have just been mashed in to the point where they don't center the blade anymore. I bet I'm not the only one with this problem. It might be the elusive source of vibration for some one else. Might pay to check your spindle threads.

Hmmmm....I wonder if that was the source of the vibration problem truckin88 was having with his deck and Gator blades. :hide:

Will, wanna chime in here?

Duff :WRS:

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Guest

I ended up buying a used deck at the dealership yesterday, and while I was there the Toro mechanic told me it happens sometimes on these WH decks when people don't tighten the nuts correctly. Funny because I usually see just the opposite condition - spindles wrenched so tight that the washers get bashed in like peanut-butter.

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matt middleton

ive got the same problem. my deck vibrates something firce. i went to go get my blades balanced at a local shop and he said he doesnt balance blades. looks like i have to do it myself. i replace all the bearings, but now im wondering if its becase of that gap skinner was talking about.

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gwest_ca

ive got the same problem. my deck vibrates something firce. i went to go get my blades balanced at a local shop and he said he doesnt balance blades. looks like i have to do it myself. i replace all the bearings, but now im wondering if its because of that gap skinner was talking about.

You can make yourself a very accurate blade balancer by using a ball bearing that is commonly sold as a pilot bearing for a woodworking router bit. They come with OD sizes that match the blade center holes. Mount one on a vertical surface and hang the blade on the bearing. These bearings have a very light lubricant so turn very easy.

Grind the heavy end until balanced.

Garry

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rick

Thanks, Garry! A wonderful idea, and far cheaper than the expensive "pro" balancers.

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