Don't know if this applies to the 48" deck spindles as this post and response concerns the 44" deck but I might as well post it anyway just in case. Anywhoooo, from the archives:
<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>quote:</font>
Posted By David Berkstresser (Dberkstresser) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003.
Hi everyone,
I have been reading this forum for about a year. Up until now I have not had a question about my 1650 that I could not answer using my CC manuals. I purchased a used/abused '76 1650 about a year ago. I brought it back from the dead, and have lavished mucho funds on it. My current difficulty is with the 44A mower deck. When I removed the deck and tried to wiggle the mower blades there was a LOT of play, so I fugured my spindles were shot. I got the spindles apart only to find there is virtually no play in the bearing at all, but there is a 1/8 inch gap between the ends of the bearing and the bearing cups, which I assume are supposed to be tight to keep the bearing and spindle tight. Can anybody tell me what might be going on? Thanks guys, I sure enjoy your chats.
This answer was posted By Hydro Harry [aka Elder Harry] (Hbursell) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Dave B - I suppose you already ran out and bought the new upper cup flanges by now, but I'll give you my fix anyway - I've only ever had to swap a few of the upper and lower flange cups and that was because the hole for the bearing shaft was oval'ed. Usually the flange around the cups swells from the pressure of using the blades (I guess). My fix is taking a hammer to em. Really. Put the cup flanges on a flat surface and see if they are truely flat all the way around the flange (where the bolt holes are). Use the hammer to flatten the flange, then put the 2 flanges together and see if they match each other flat together - if not, beat on them some more. Once you get them good and flat, then insert the bearing and see if it fits nice and tight - should be unless the holes for the bearing are oval'ed as I mentioned. If they fit good then re-install, grease'm up and you should be good for another 10 years of service, before you have to do the same thing again.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>