JD 135 spindles

Fish

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Looking at the front wheels on your unit, has the oilite type "bushings" so they have no seals, I misread your post. I still cannot imagine 1/4" flat spots on either though
as the wheel is rotated constantly in the bushings, so if they had bad wear, they would just be wallowed out badly and real sloppy. You might contact JD directly
and see if they had any problems, but if the parts were replaced by someone other than a dealer, I doubt that they would do much. See if you can round up the parts
and take some pics, and I will show them to our local JD dealer and see if he has had anything similar.
 

gatorblade

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Fish
Glad we are on the same page. I will try for some spindle pictures thursday. Iv'e not done pics, but my wife is good at that. Thanks!
 

Fish

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Those are rough as hell, looks like someone used valve grinding paste instead of grease!!!!!! I would definitely contact Deere, but if the dealer didn't see it or do the work, they might not be helpful, but then again, they might!!!
 

gatorblade

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Hi Fish
Talked to a JD service manager from a big dealer in Indianapolis. He said that kind of wear would be the norm for 300 hrs. even if they were greased proper. I said the mower has 193 hrs. He said that was in the mid wear range, so there must bent rods causing the wheel angle to be off. Said they can be straightened or buy adjusting rods to get the perfect alignment. My father-in-law said he would be selling before he buys anything else for the mower. Before he runs on the new spindles this spring, we will find the problem. Like I said, having to take off the wheel and hand grease the spindle on the mowers without the grease zirks, I never have seen any wear close to this. My father-in-law won't complain or ask questions, if he thinks it's not right or wears out to soon, he simply buys a different brand. I'm holding him back though for now, but look out this spring! Thanks for your input. gatorblade
 

gatorblade

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A friend just replaced the front 2 spindles and wheel races on his JD 135 after his second mowing season. He mows a half acre. He greased at least every 3 mows. The spindles each had 1 flat spot about 1/4 worn. Just out of the warranty. The spindles had to be soft . Anyone had this problem? thanks Gatorblade
I have pics on page 13.
 

Fish

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There is a link to pics on post #13
 

Fish

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Hi Fish
Talked to a JD service manager from a big dealer in Indianapolis. He said that kind of wear would be the norm for 300 hrs. even if they were greased proper. I said the mower has 193 hrs. He said that was in the mid wear range, so there must bent rods causing the wheel angle to be off. Said they can be straightened or buy adjusting rods to get the perfect alignment. My father-in-law said he would be selling before he buys anything else for the mower. Before he runs on the new spindles this spring, we will find the problem. Like I said, having to take off the wheel and hand grease the spindle on the mowers without the grease zirks, I never have seen any wear close to this. My father-in-law won't complain or ask questions, if he thinks it's not right or wears out to soon, he simply buys a different brand. I'm holding him back though for now, but look out this spring! Thanks for your input. gatorblade

I have worked on this stuff a long time, and that kind of wear I have only seen on tractors with bent axles or similar damage. For him to say that this is "normal" is
mind blowing. Is the wear similar on both sides, or just the one side?
 
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