So much misinformation in this video and comment section. Spindles wear out from lack of grease, the grease is a carrier for the oil inside which lubricates. You apply grease to the zerk until you see grease come out from either a pressure valve or through a bearing. The seals on a bearing do not prevent pressurized grease from entering, they keep dust out. The metal shield on the lower outboard bearing will prevent contaminant entry. The grease does nothing for the spacer, which is sitting on the inner races of the bearings and rotates at the same speed as the blades, pulleys and shaft. The spacers are there to keep the bearings in the correct position in the housings so that when clamping loads are applied to the shaft, it does not crack the soft aluminum housing. There is rattle and play because it is not a tightened assembly yet. You need to fill the cavity until it you have pressurized the rubber seals on the bearing and the grease forces into the bearing, this can take 50 to 100 pumps from a hand greasegun if you have not properly greased a spindle. Stop when you see grease coming out. It's that simple. 4 or 5 pumps will not accomplish what you desire, you need to fill the empty spaces and force grease into the bearings.
Informational note: The purpose of the sleeve between the two bearings; The sleeve is a spacer so that when you tighten the bolt you don't press the center out of the bearings or slightly misalign it. It holds them in place at a specific distance so they will keep working properly. If that sleeve is loose it was improperly manufactured or the bearings were improperly installed and more than likely one or both bearings will fail. As to putting grease between the bearings, it does not lubricate the bearings nor is it there to lubricate the sleeve. My best guess it is there for the cooling properties for lower grade bearings to help transmit the heat from the center shaft to the outer housing. If I am wrong please explain why I am wrong. 🧔♂️
I enjoyed your video, but why don’t they may the grease go directly into the bearings instead of having to seal bearing this way they’ll never wear out
Not a stupid question at all, I meant to include this in the video and completely missed it. This should be done every 50 hours or annually and also any time your machine is washed with water or is exposed to rain or any other heavy moisture. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
I wish there would be someone who has a transparent spindle and demistrate how and where the grease actually goes within the spindle. That would solve all the issues about the so called sealed bearings, upper & lower. What do you all think?
My 2019 X380 operators manual states use either JD Multi Purpose HD Lithium Complex or JD Grease-Gard Premium Plus. Have a recommendation? There is a cost difference, but I want this tractor to last many, many years. Thanks!
This would be a preference situation. Since both are recommended you are safe with both but if you want the most out of your mower then go with the higher end grease. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Thanks for showing the dissembled spindles, I love seeing as much detail as possible, to help understand why greasing is so important and how to dissemble them for repair.
So, what I am hearing is the grease is not for the bearings. The grease is to keep out water and to protect the spindle housing from being damaged by the oscillations of the spacer on the spindle shaft. Is that what you were saying? I did not hear you say the grease is to lubricate the bearings.
Love your videos. I just ordered my first zero turn a z345r. Your videos helped me decide between Toro timecutter, Cub Cadet, john deere and kubota. I was surprised that the z345r wasn't more expensive than toro or cub cadet. My only worry with the z345r is the frame which I saw from another video can flex. I was leaning towards the kubota z231 but it was out of my price range and the solid roll bar was a turn off since I have trees to cut around. Anyways, what grease do you suggest and how often do you recommend the spindles be greased?
Thank you and I am glad I could help with your decision! Most of your basic greases will work but Ialways suggest the John Deere SD Polyurea TY6341 here is a link if you would like to order some 247parts.com/sd-polyurea-grease-ty6341/. This should be done every 50 hours or annually and also any time your machine is washed with water or is exposed to rain or any other heavy moisture. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
I really enjoy your videos they're very informative but you left out the most important part how much greased do you put in the spindle every time you pump the handle it only spits out a little bit of grease would you say 10 pumps 20 pumps 30 pumps 40 pumps give us an idea
Thank you and yes, you are correct I did leave that out by accident. The best way to do this is by using a hand pump grease gun and start with only a couple of pumps and then stop when you start to feel resistance of the grease going into the spindle. Good question and thanks for watching!
It seems like by the time you feel resistance from pumping grease into the spindle you may have done alot of pumps. Why is it there is hardly any grease in the spindles but in the bearings, when coming right from the factory? Being cheap or ?
@@toddrhine7648 you are exactly right on this, grease is not cheap, well it's less expensive when you are buying it by the barrel, but still the profit is made by not using it in the first place. You have conflicting interests, you want your equipment to last 10 years, mfg wants to sell a price of equipment with a high a margin as possible. So it's on you to buy a grease gun, and fill those spindles with the 3 to 6 ounces of grease it will take to fill the void and get grease into the bearings. These bearings are usually pre greased, but that will not last forever. They will only last you about a hundred hours. Then you will be replacing them, but don't let them fool you, you can get just the bearing and replace it for roughly 6 bucks a bearing vs 120 a spindle. But to get long life, just accept that you are going to have to pump grease, depending on model it might be 40 pumps, maybe a hundred... pump till you see grease exit a bearing.
10:00 we all know JD thinks the owners of a 100 series are half morons so they put sealed bearings since nobody’s gonna grease it properly. That way it lasts the warranty and it’s not their problem.
Looks like on the S130 the grease fitting are on top of the shaft like the commercial spindle shown in the video. Did you check there? I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
hi Turbo Force decks . Try Toro Grounds Master spindles 1-1/8 to 1-1/4 shaft Cast iron housing 10 inch diameter . Blade location is u shape blade carrier welded to end of spindle . About 750hr overhaul. The later units are even tougher
My John Deere D140 has three blades with the 48" cut. Would all three spindles be the same size and I would just order three of them or are they different sizes? Have not pulled the mower deck off yet. I just lifted it up enough to get under it to change blades. but I did get new blades. I couldn't get the nuts back on and so I must need new spindles.
They would be all the same but I am curious as to why the nuts won't go back on. I wouldn't think you would need new spindles. To the ends of the spindles, where the nuts go on, look like they are messed up?
@@WesternEquipment Yes and threads must be screwed up. I got it all taken care of and almost finished mowing when the new belt snapped. I wonder if I did not get the pulley’s back in in same position. Would that cause the belt to snap? Grass was not high & I didn’t get branches or anything under or over the deck….
I appreciate video. Thank you. I would want to know specifaccly how much grease and timing for 900 series? What indicator would I look for to know spindle is full? Thank you for your time.
@Phil McCoy and @Traveling Unhinged Great questions and definitely one I meant to hit on in the video. Greasing should be done every 50 hours or anytime you use water to wash your machine. As far as how much it will depend on the amount of usage. Use a hand pump grease gun and start with just a couple of pumps and stop as soon as you start to feel resistance of the grease wanting to go into the spindle. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!
I have had to replace my bearings twice over the las 7 years because they are sealed on both sides. Removing the inner seals will not work because you need to have a way for the old grease to get out to be replaced by the new grease, while keeping dirt and water out. Any ideas on how to do that? Greasing the shaft does NOTHING, but it won't hurt anything. I have never greased the shaft and it is fine and so is the bearing pocket in the housing, not oversized or worn at all.
So just remove and re-pack both bearings every year? If the inner seal was removed on the lower bearing then at least the grease could churn around and warm grease might flow downward into the bottom bearing. For the upper bearing I don't know.
GREASE IN THE SPINDLE BUT HOW MUCH AND WHERE WILL IT COME OUT OF A SEALED BEARING ? CAN YOU BLOW OUT THE SEALS IF YOU OVER GREASE? THIS NEEDS SOME CLARIFICATION ON YOUR PART . THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO
The zerk fitting is totally useless both bearing are sealed bearings, so you are just wasting your time and grease, with sealed bearings there is no way the grease can lubricates the bearings
You can( if you're so inclined) take the spindle apart and pop out the inner bearing seals so that the grease reaches the bearings better. If you choose to do this though I'd suggest more frequently greasing them than the suggested 50 hour intervals.
My question is: Does John Deere remove the shield on the inner side of spindle bearings? If so when did they start? Ande on what models? Because both my L120 had the shields on the inner side of the spindle bearings.
From what I have seen, all of the 100 series spindles have sealed bearings on both sides. Once you move up into the X300 series mowers this starts to change and then it varies from model to model. Good question and thanks for watching!