Better, more robust deck spindle?

T

tonykarter

Member
I'm rebuilding the 48" deck on my '09 Exmark Quest QST20BE422. Does anyone make a more heavy-duty spindle? I already rebuilt it once, and not that long ago.
 
I agree with StarTech.

Disassemble the spindles, then open the bearing plastic side covers and pack EP2 moly grease in them. This adds years of service to the bearings.
 
You know, I SHOULD HAVE known this. Back in the day, I worked for Motion Industries right out of college, and previously for Behring's Bearing Service. Back then, apparently, they contained enough grease as I never remember getting one back. Then a few weeks ago I ran across a vid of a guy jacking the side seal off of a 202/203/or 204 and greasing them as you said. Armed only with info from 45 years ago, incredulous, I was like, "WTF is he doing that for?" Now I know. I guess everything ain't what it used to be. The 203 bearing is truly the bearing of the masses. Given my choices, I wish these spindles had 204's in them instead. Side Story: Our local papermill had roll-out racks that were all 203 bearings to roll on. Thousands of 203's, and in that environment they only lasted a few months. We were prime vendor for the mill, so we had to keep tens of thousands on hand. They specified unshielded and unsealed bearings, OPEN bearings. Motion could buy the 203's in bulk with the metal shielded sides cheaper than they could buy the unshielded 203's. Ask me HOW MANY nights I worked over pulling shields off THOUSANDS of bearings. I can field strip a 203 faster than Forest Gump, faster than but only a few on this planet. All things considered, one of the few things I am a bad-azz at...
 
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Auto Doc's said:
I agree with StarTech.

Disassemble the spindles, then open the bearing plastic side covers and pack EP2 moly grease in them. This adds years of service to the bearings.
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Typical scenario: When you buy a new spindle, and the bearings are shielded, and then you use a grease gun and pump about 100 pumps before grease starts coming out relief or from seals. Do you think the pressure of the grease gets past the plastic shields on bearing and into the bearing, or are you just helping with water intrusion and making yourself feel better? This scenario is another big controversy on the internet.
 
Yep, they put grease fittings on the mandrel housings so people can waste grease that the actual bearings will never get. It gives the illusion that the machine is serviceable. Other than that, it is just a cheap sales tactic.
 
Auto Doc's said:
Yep, they put grease fittings on the mandrel housings so people can waste grease that the actual bearings will never get. It gives the illusion that the machine is serviceable. Other than that, it is just a cheap sales tactic.
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I have seen videos on YouTube where the person takes the spindles apart after greasing, and takes the shield off of the bearing and shows that grease got into the bearing . That is why I am asking for people’s input on this.
 
Tiger Small Engine said:
I have seen videos on YouTube where the person takes the spindles apart after greasing, and takes the shield off of the bearing and shows that grease got into the bearing . That is why I am asking for people’s input on this.
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Well I have tried repacking using bearing grease packer and all the happens is the metal rubber coated seal get crush into the bearing race. Now the metal only shield [trash seals] can be repack if you are carefully. But metal rubber coated are meant to keep things completely out. Nad you can't over pack them as the grease can force the seals out during operations from the expanded grease pressure.
 
This video shows a spindle with sealed bearings getting greased, and then the bearing seals removed, showing new grease in the bearings. Those plastic seals aren't capable of keeping out grease pressurized from a grease gun. Just make sure you keep putting in grease until it squirts out.
 
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