Wow, it sounds like I need to get rid of my LA 145 asap! Mine has an idler pully bearing that is bad and also spindle bearing that is bad. Hasn't melted yet, I have been nursing it along until I get parts. It looks like the idler pully bearing is supposed to be sealed, but has leaked out the grease. I have been putting oil on top of it so that it will soak in. It's funny because when I was looking for the parts, the JD web site suggested to use only genuine John Deere parts because they last longer! What a joke, it's the JD parts that have failed pre-maturely! Only two seasons and this thing is shot!
I thought a shiv was a type of knife made in prison LOL
A bent axle too? I haven't even heard of such a thing on a mower. I have heard that there is no front axle bearings, just bushings that wear out and then the spindle gets ruined. I can't imagine how it would get bent by mowing, must be very cheap piece of junk.
A neighbor told me yesterday that the LA series of John Deer mowers is actually made by MTD. Is that true?