Jump to content
Ifixoldjunk

Spindle damage.

Recommended Posts

Ifixoldjunk

So, as some of you may know, I finally got around to replacing my rusted, welded mess of a mower deck on my 310. 6F15E143-40EF-4F8F-89DE-A73A2F0FAFD4.jpeg.a6742ab62dec28ed5fdd553ff3032354.jpeg

If you look closely at the spindle nearest the shoot, you’ll see it has a chunk missing. And that chunk just so happens to be where one of the four bolts should be. Would it be possible to rob a spindle off my old 42 rear discharge? They seem to have the same dimensions. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Ifixoldjunk

Also how would y’all go about getting the stuck spindle pulleys off? I’d like to save as many parts as possible as my budget wouldn’t allow for many replacement parts. 
Also, would any of you recommend even using this deck in its current state? I don’t really think the spindle will come flying off unless I hit anything. Besides many new mowers only have 3 bolts to begin with.

 

 

Edited by Ifixoldjunk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Stepney

Long as it lines up you'll be fine. WH was very universal.
For what it's worth, I've been running a similar bad spindle on a 48SD for many years. I placed the broken hole opposite of the direction the belt pulls. It's never bothered it. 

  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Handy Don

If it were my deck, I'd be happy to have a spindle "in the bin" that fits and works. I'd have it in there ASAP and then enjoy a nice cup of coffee as a reward.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
76c12091520h

Spindle housings will share the same bolt pattern and can be swapped from one deck to another; the pulleys may or may not not interchange depending on what vintage your decks are. 

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
daveoman1966

Remove the pulley.  With pulley off, remove the four (3) mounting bolts and turn the 'chunk' so that it is on the side toward the chute.  Bolt it back on in that position and reinstall the pulley.  This is the best way to maintain stability of the spindle under belt tension.  It should last for years and years...and years.  You could, of course, swap out the spindle from another 42 (or 48") deck, but the pulleys may or may not interchange....depending on vintage.

    

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
pacer

:text-yeahthat:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
71_Bronco

 

  • Thanks 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Ifixoldjunk

@71_Bronco @Handy Don Thank y’all for your help. I ended up following your advice and pulled the spindle off the parts deck. After getting them swapped, I sat back and enjoyed some coffee too.😅

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Ifixoldjunk

8C0E3A37-C223-4888-A84A-862641479E4B.jpeg.cc15338e5c05f2c3b678f72af02f7f8e.jpegSo I swapped over the spindles tonight, as it turns out the bearings were shot too, so swapping them was a necessity. It has a pretty nasty chunk missing off it.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
kpinnc

Wet grass is the most corossive stuff on earth. Even steel spindles fall to it eventually. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Ifixoldjunk
10 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Wet grass is the most corossive stuff on earth. Even steel spindles fall to it eventually. 

Yeah, it’s some nasty stuff. But this was caused by the previous owner trying to mow his rock garden.🤣

  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
kpinnc
37 minutes ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

Yeah, it’s some nasty stuff. But this was caused by the previous owner trying to mow his rock garden.🤣

 

Can't imagine that being an issue...:confusion-scratchheadyellow:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Jeff-C175
11 hours ago, kpinnc said:

most corossive stuff on earth

 

A lot of the aluminum damage I've seen appears that it could be from electrolysis.

 

Aluminum is sometimes used as a sacrificial anode.

 

Put aluminum and steel together in the presence of an electrolyte (the acidic wet matted grass) and you get an electrolytic reaction.  The aluminum 'sacrifices' itself to protect the steel.  Of course it's not supposed to do this as it would in a water heater for example.

 

It's all about 'ion exchange'.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_anode

 

 

Edited by Jeff-C175

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Ifixoldjunk
8 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

A lot of the aluminum damage I've seen appears that it could be from electrolysis.

 

Aluminum is sometimes used as a sacrificial anode.

 

Put aluminum and steel together in the presence of an electrolyte (the acidic wet matted grass) and you get an electrolytic reaction.  The aluminum 'sacrifices' itself to protect the steel.  Of course it's not supposed to do this as it would in a water heater for example.

 

It's all about 'ion exchange'.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_anode

 

 

Wow, never knew that. That’s probably why some of these decks are still so nice. The aluminum eats itself first. Thanks man.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Jeff-C175
2 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

The aluminum eats itself first

 

The weird thing is why are SOME decks steel all rusted out and the spindles OK?  

 

And others the opposite...

 

If the aluminum IS in fact acting as a sacrificial anode, why does it not do so on ALL decks?

 

And some, no problem at all?  Presumably these are the ones that get maintained, the one I rebuilt last year didn't suffer from the aluminum corrosion at all, but the spindles WERE all ground off on the bottom from what I believe to have been sand and grit and 'stuff' packed into the bottom of the cup at the bottom of the spindle.  

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
Ifixoldjunk
57 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

The weird thing is why are SOME decks steel all rusted out and the spindles OK?  

 

And others the opposite...

 

If the aluminum IS in fact acting as a sacrificial anode, why does it not do so on ALL decks?

 

And some, no problem at all?  Presumably these are the ones that get maintained, the one I rebuilt last year didn't suffer from the aluminum corrosion at all, but the spindles WERE all ground off on the bottom from what I believe to have been sand and grit and 'stuff' packed into the bottom of the cup at the bottom of the spindle.  

 

 

Honestly I think it comes down to mowing habits and grass type/soil conditions. I’d imagine someone with more acidic soil would probably go through more mowers than someone without that. More so, does the owner mow damp grass frequently? Do they clean the build up? Probably thousands of variables to how the decks weather the years. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...