Belleville Spring Washers

MTD Belleville Spring Washers

MTD bell Washer part # 736-0242
736-0242 Bell-Wash. .345" I.D. x .88" O.D.

Are you kidding me? Is the MTD 7360242 bell washer gold plated? Does it contain 0.06 grams of Gold?
There are 14 - 5/16”x7/8” bell washers on my MTD 38” deck.
MTD wants $2.57 for one washer. That’s $35.98 for 14 the washers.
Jack’s Small Engine $2.14 each
Parts Tree $2.37 each
Did an internet search and found a manufacture that sells stainless bell washers, of the size that I’m looking for, for $0.09 each. The problem is you have to buy a minimum of 5,000 washers.

Does anyone know of or have a source that will sell these washers to the general public at a reasonable cost of say around 30 cents each?

When I removed the blade spindles, to rebuild them, half the bell washers were broken and the remaining washers are flattened out.
Went to the local box store and asked the isle attendant if he had any bell washers. I got that dumfounded look as he says “Never heard of them, don’t know what they are, and if we do carry them they will most likely be in the electrical department next to the door bells and chimes”. I then ask him if they had any 3/4”x5/16”–24tpi grade 5 bolts. He says “Yea there right here” as he points to a bin of 5/16”-18tpi standard grade bolts. I just shook my head and walked away thinking this guy is an idiot and knows next to nothing about the hardware he’s selling. I was afraid to ask him if he had any hair pin clips thinking he might send me to his Barber. I sure do miss the mom & pop hardware stores that these big box stores drove out of business.

By the way Hell is going to have to freeze over before I pay $36 plus shipping for 14 small washers. I replaced all 14 bell washers with split spring lock washers for less than $0.50.
BBM

You might want to try here next time, (sold in packages of 12) Check their catalog for the correct sizes you need .

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/81433302

BB. Are you sure they are spring washers and not just cupped like an auto bar link washer? Are they hardened? Once a source bags and tags anything the price soars.Think H Depot or Lowes.

I usually get all that sort of stuff from s specialist fastener shop ( Boltmaster down here )
While a single bolt s always more expensive than our Lowes equivalent once you get into bigger numbers the price drops dramatically.
For things like washers I buy them by the box ( usually around 200 ) which generally works out around 10% of the single bolt price.
In fact I buy most bolts by the box load so I can charge them out at 50% of the mower shops price.

A LHT spindle bolt for a Husqvarna rear catcher ride on was $ 27.50 from the mower shop & $ 6 from the fastener shop.
Charged the customer $ 15 each for the one I fitted + spare and he was over the moon as he was quoted $ 30.25 by the mower shop + a special order fee + delivery.

You can also go with a high tensile flat washer ( thicker ) and a plain spring washer which will do the same thing.
I gather these are the ones that hold the spindle to the deck ?

Boobala said:

You might want to try here next time, (sold in packages of 12) Check their catalog for the correct sizes you need .

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/81433302

Click to expand...

Thanks Boo;
I forgot about MSC Industrial and I had link to them in my hardware bookmarks. I have checked with Grainger Industrial Supply, Fasteners Inc., Dodge, Fastenal, Industrial Depot, and a host of others.
Woo! Those washers that your link points to is a bit of over kill don’t you think, load at flat 1501.80 Lbs.
BBM

motoman said:

BB. Are you sure they are spring washers and not just cupped like an auto bar link washer? Are they hardened? Once a source bags and tags anything the price soars.Think H Depot or Lowes.

Click to expand...

Hello Motoman;
Yes; I’m sure they are belleville spring washers. They are made from tempered spring steel and flatten out when compressed.
The auto bar link washer, that you mention, I suspect is a cup washer made from mild steel and is designed to hold a rubber bushing in place it does not flex when loaded.
BBM

bertsmobile1 said:

I usually get all that sort of stuff from s specialist fastener shop ( Boltmaster down here )
While a single bolt s always more expensive than our Lowes equivalent once you get into bigger numbers the price drops dramatically.
For things like washers I buy them by the box ( usually around 200 ) which generally works out around 10% of the single bolt price.
In fact I buy most bolts by the box load so I can charge them out at 50% of the mower shops price.

A LHT spindle bolt for a Husqvarna rear catcher ride on was $ 27.50 from the mower shop & $ 6 from the fastener shop.
Charged the customer $ 15 each for the one I fitted + spare and he was over the moon as he was quoted $ 30.25 by the mower shop + a special order fee + delivery.

You can also go with a high tensile flat washer ( thicker ) and a plain spring washer which will do the same thing.
I gather these are the ones that hold the spindle to the deck ?

Click to expand...

Thanks Bert;
I’m no stranger to buying in bulk for the price break. I in fact over the years have collected enough boxes of nuts, bolts, washers, screws, nails, & other miscellaneous hardware to probably open up my own hardware store. I still invariably, and I think you will agree, never seem to have the proper size nut, bolt, or item for the project that’s currently being worked on.
I know that this washer is custom manufactured to MTD engineering specs and is not an off the shelf item. It just irks me that an item, that cost less than a penny to manufacture, commands such a high retail price.
Yes; the washers are used to hold the spindle to the deck. They are also used to fasten the angle iron, which the lifting mechanism attaches to, onto the deck. And yes that’s what I did; I replaced the bell washers for a flat washer and a split spring lock washer. I get the same results as the bell washer for a fraction of the price.
BBM

Yes I can identify with your situation.
The nut & bolt drawer unit quickly became units became shelves & eventually cabinets.
The washers would cost a lot more than a std bevelle washer due to lower volumes.
However the killer is warehousing and distribution costs through the dealers network.

Having been in transport I have a good understanding just how expensive this can be and how a 50¢ item can end up being $ 5 when you get your hands on it while everyone in the supply chain has actually made a loss getting it to you.
The last warehouse I managed picking costs were $ 4.25 per item be it a bag of 10,000 washers, a box of 200 , a carton of 20 x 10 packs or a single washer.
It cost another $ 3.40 to unload it place it on the pick face and do the paperwork to adjust the inventory.
So we are now up to $ 7.65 if it came in yesterday and went out today, storeage then comes into play and of course oppertunity costs in using the space for a more profitable higher volume item.

All small parts I get from my wholesale supplier come in packs of 10 ( min ) for this very reason.
Then there is invoicing, credit and payment costs and of course transport.
Then the dealer has a pack of 9 parts sitting on a shelf for 3 years before he has sold the first 5 and broke even on his original purchase price.
A silly example is hand held fuel filters.
They come as a 10 pack of card mounted retail packs at $6 to $ 25 each.
Workshop packs of 25 at $ 2 to $ 7 each
In workshop 100 packs at 45¢ to $ 2 each

Now people buy bigger packs at even better prices and flog them all over the web at $ 1 to $ 5 each.
Bought directly from the factory in China they go as low as 9¢ each ( in 2000 orders )
Thus to look like I am not ripping off my customers I have to either buy them in 100 packs or sell them at a loss.
I keep 12 different filters as stock items ( there are 32 different ones ) all bought in 100 packs thus I have $ 1800 alone tied up in hand held fuel filters.
In a good year I might sell 50 of them , 24 years supply.
I could have done a lot with the $ 1900 over 24 years.

So while it might stick in your mouth having to pay over $ 2 each for then there is good reason for that.