Hello This year has been tough and even with all the fixes I did to the lawn tractor, it still is not working because the belts started smoking when I cut the lawn! See prior fixes. Sears LT-1000 Tractor- Replacing the old rotting rubber feet & rusting metal foot rests? ——— What color spray paint for a sears LT1000 2001 Green Tractor? I finally found it!!! See before & After ———— Prep the mower / deck for the season? What do u do? ————- Craftsman LT1000 Lawn Tractor Seat Upgrade Anyone? ————— Craftsman LT-1000 Tractor not starting up quick and putrid gas smell! ———- How did it work out? Any tips?
It shouldn’t matter if the bolts break you have new ones in the splndles. It might even make things easier if the bolts break. I was concerned about the same thing when I replaced mine but realized I was overthinking things.
Oh thanks for your comments. How did it go? We’re the bolts easy to get out? One of the YouTube vids said an impact wrench may work better than the breaker bar used in order he vid. I do have an impact wrench.
It went easier than I had expected if you have and impact gun you will be good to go. Takes longer to get the deck off than to swap the spindles.
if the new spindles do not have grease zirks add them - the zirks are self tapping provided you use the correct drill bit. i never have had a new mower so i always pull the spindles and take them apart to see where they are at if shafts are worn I replace either the whole assembly or just the shaft depending on bearings and what is the least expensive option. add zerks if not present never have to replace again provided you remember to grease them at least once a season. finally had to give up on my Simplicity 728 deck it was only some 40+ years old wasn't enough left to even weld or braze up areas anymore. Snowblower still cranking on that and the tractor itself is still all orginial.
Well, I dropped the mower deck and pulled it out and I was very surprised at what I found! It is was not I problem with one of the spindles at all! At first I noticed the Nut came off of the left pulley! Luckily it just fell on the deck and was sitting right there! The pulley was really tilted so I removed it and found that small bearing in the pulley was completely seized! So I went to the Turf Depot formally Grantz and they found a new pulley that was almost the same size as the one I had that broke, just a smigin bigger in diameter. Sure enough it did not fit due The the hold up bar that mounts the mower deck to the tractor being extremely close! Luckily the other pulley that was still working is the best cactus same size with more room around it! That gave me an idea !!! So I swapped the pulleys and the new one fit! Bingo! All fixed for $18.00 buckos!!! Pic 1 - Nut fell off pulley onto mower deck. Pic 2-3 - slightly larger new pulley Pic 4 - All fixed with new pulley swapped with working Old pulley and old pulley replacing broken pulley. Tractor is working again.
Typical of idler bearing /pully assembly all makes and models. first indication is mostly badly frayed or burned belt.
However When adding zirks on most mower decks you have to pop the seal on the inner side of the top and lower bearings in the mandrel or it will not help! See video here!!!
