Center spindle wobbles
 

I was re-belting my 44C deck and noticed that the center double pulley spindle would move a small amount when pushed on from any direction. CC parts site lists the rebuild kit at $217 dollars and I have a request in to Rich at Patton acres for a used one. Is there something in between these two choices? Is a rebuild something that any of you would do AGAIN? I rebuilt a 4 spd Ford Top loader tranny once but not again! It wasn't that hard but it required a large clean work area and attention to details that I don't have. Any ideas would be great.

Thanks.
Rudy

If they are rebuildable and have tapered bearings:

they are Part #: LM11949 & LM 11910 from
most any front outer GM wheel bearing from mid 60's up.

I have not rebuilt a spindle and can't verify the info, but if you have a bearing removed and it is tapered, take it to any car parts store and try those numbers and see if they are the same. Will be much cheaper than Cub parts.

I think the 44C has the sealed unit, and the price they're quoting you is for the whole assembly. They're not serviceable as far as the bearings themselves, but I have seen notes here and there about snugging up the assembly by bending the caps a little.

Here's a pic of one of the sealed units that Diz Jr broke open.

So if that's the one you have, then yeah - the bearings themselves are not serviceable.

I bought one when they were under $100 (showing my age!!) and that taught me the importance of synthetic grease.

I haven't lost one since I switched to full synthetic Mobil 1 and Castrol synthetic.

I get which ever he has, he gets dented tubes etc...

The grease is expensive, but, cheap compared to $650 for 3 spindles!!

It doesn't matter whether or not synthetic grease is used, as long as it is used often. I grease my decks every third use or so, but most POs of my tractors would only grease it once every third year or so, judging by the condition of the bearings in some of the decks I have had. It's kind of like engine oil...everyone has a particular type/brand that they swear by, but I've never heard of a particular brand causing a bunch of people to have engine failures; every blown engine I've come across was run out of oil. Just like every worn-out spindle I've dealt with contained dirty, dried-up grease that was probably in there longer than I've existed.

And BTW, CCC's newer replacement spindles with aluminum housings have the cheap-to-replace tapered roller bearings.

CC parts spindle diagram
 

Here is the parts diagram from their site. I have a 44C deck and they show a rebuildable spindle. How do I tell if this is the same ones I have?

Look at it. If it has a cast iron or aluminum housing, it's rebuildable. If it is stamped steel, it is not.

Here is the parts breakdown from the IH CPE-2 Parts Manual for the 44C mower deck. Item #4 is the ST-745 bearing.

Checked my spindle today
 

I got under my deck today to see what kind of spindles I have and they appear to be aluminum. They have several ridges from the outer to the inner and there is a steel cap on the very bottom of the aluminum housing at the bottom. If it is rebuildable does everything in there have to be replaced? From the diagram it looks like and awful lot of pieces. Also, does the double pulley just come of like a harmonic balancer or gear? I have a gear puller and was wondering if there is any trick to getting it off. Thanks for the help.