QA

Quick Answer: How To Tell If Mower Deck Spindle Is Bad

How do I know if my mower deck pulley is bad?

If a pulley is badly worn, it can cause a bad vibration from the cutting deck on your lawn tractor. To check all your pulleys, start by removing the mower deck. Next, remove the mandrel covers and belt, then check all the pulleys for play and roughness when spinning.

How do I know if my spindles are bad?

Fretting is one of the most common and most noticeable types of wear, and is created by the toolholder slipping inside the spindle. Any toolholders with visible fretting should be replaced and if you notice that the replacement develops fretting quickly, it’s an indication that the spindle is the issue.

How do you stop spinning spindles?

Loosen the clamp on a blade removal tool by turning the handle counterclockwise. Place the removal tool over the end of the blade and the stopping edge over the side of the deck. Turn the handle clockwise to tighten it in place and prevent the spindle from turning.

How do I know if my lawn mower shaft is bent?

Symptoms of a Bent Lawn Mower Crankshaft Excessive Vibration. Even if your crankshaft is just a tiny bit bent, you will notice some pretty serious vibration. Strange Noises When Running. Your Cut Looks Uneven. Trouble Starting Your Mower/Stalling Issues. Tilt Your Mower. Look at the Center Bolt.

Do mower spindles get hot?

My spindles get so hot that they’re burning my fingers after 3 seconds of touching. This is touching the pulley from the top. Both are about the same temp, so I’m assume it’s normal. Doesn’t take long this is only after mowing for 10 minutes.

What causes a mower deck to vibrate?

Deck vibration can be caused by an unbalanced blade, worn pulley or mandrel, bad blade belt or debris caught inside a pulley. Loose nuts or bolts on the pulleys, mandrels or blades can also cause vibration. Remove the mower deck and re-tighten all fasteners. Check for wear on pulleys, mandrels and blades.

What is a mower deck spindle?

The spindle on a riding mower is the post to which the blade attaches and around which it spins when the machine is in action. A riding mower may have one or more spindles, depending on the size of the mower and the way it is manufactured. You may have a problem with one or more spindles at the same time.

Should mower deck blades spin freely?

No, lawnmower blades normally should not spin freely as they are connected directly or indirectly via belts or other means to the engine. The blades should move freely in the housing and not touch the sides anywhere. Blades that produce a crackling sound when spinning sound alarming.

Do lawn mower spindles come greased?

The spindles on a riding or commercial walk-behind mower are attached to the cutting deck and work with the pulleys to turn the blades below the deck so grass can be cut. The rotating parts of the spindle must be greased periodically to maintain smooth operation, and prevent overheating and potential damage.

Can you drive with a bad spindle?

Driving with a bad wheel bearing can cause the axle/hub/spindle to weld itself from friction and heat causing the wheel to lock up and spin you out. More likely, the metal will wear away from the friction and the wheel/hub will become loose.

How often should you grease mower spindles?

The spindles and caster wheels are generally the most often greased. The spindles and castor wheels should be done around once a month because of the moving interior parts. Commercial mowers that put hundreds of hours on their Ferris mower would be looking at greasing the mower everyday depending on usage.

How do you glue spindles?

Apply wood glue to each hole and to the surface of the dowel. Line up the jagged edges of the spindle, push the dowel into one end and squeeze the other spindle piece on. Clamp the pieces together and wipe off any squeezed-out glue with a damp rag. Set the spindle aside to dry for 24 hours.

Why is one side of my mower deck lower than the other?

If the deck on your lawn tractor is lower on one side than the other, the result is an uneven cut. Leveling your tractor’s deck periodically smooths out your lawn. It only takes a few minutes and just a couple of common tools to level your lawn tractor deck.

Why is my mower deck unlevel?

A worn or broken drive belt won’t spin the cutting blades so your mower won’t cut the grass. A worn blade belt can also cause mower deck vibration or uneven cuts. Examine the blade belt regularly and replace it if it’s worn or broken.

Should the wheels on a mower deck touch the ground?

Mower deck gauge wheels should be properly adjusted to prevent scalping grass on uneven terrain. The bottom of the wheels should sit approximately 1/8-1/2 of an inch from the ground, depending on your cutting height.

What causes a bent crankshaft on a lawn mower?

An rpm of around or over 3000 is not uncommon. This means that the blade and crankshaft possess a lot of kinetic energy, which gets dissipated when the mower hits an immovable obstacle. It can result in a bent crankshaft, hitting a hard rock or a tree stump, or a fence.

How much is a new spindle?

How Much Does a Spindle Cost? Spindles can cost anywhere between $75 and $400.

What is flame straightening?

Flame straightening is an efficient, well-established method of correcting the weld distortion without impairing the material. Removing deformations with an oxy-acetylene flame. This process is based on the physical principle that metals expand when heated and contract when cooled.

How hot should a mower deck belt get?

If an industrial belt is properly applied and maintained, it shouldn’t run at more than about 140 °F, assuming an ambient temperature of less than 110 °F.