2182 mower deck spindle question
 

Helped my FIL get the deck back on his 2182 after taking off the snow blower. He had picked up new blades and put them on the deck last week.

The 2182 fired up fine (love that 3cyl kubota) but the blades would not activate when the PTO was on. The PTO would spin, but the pulley for the center blade would not turn at all.

I determined that if the nut on the center blade spindle was loosened the pulley turns fine. If the center blade nut is tightened then the spindle is locked in place. Loosen it and the blade will not turn with the spindle. The other two blades are fine, nuts on each are nice and tight.

I took one of the side blades off and also took off the spindle cup. The only difference I see between the middle and one side spindle is the height of the 'shoulder' that surrounds the threaded spindle and that the cup sits on. The center spindle has about 1/8" and the side spindle has about 1/4". Is this shorter shoulder height causing the blade to clamp down that spindle or am I going the wrong direction?

Here is a pic of the center spindle with the cup removed so you can see the 'shoulder' height.

oops...i see i got this in the wrong GT forum....could it be moved to the MTD GT forum?

I moved your post for you.

I would pull the spindle and disassemble it to see what's going on. My guess is you have a bearing that has seen better days or the spacer between the bearings is missing.

Bearing numbers LM11949 / LM11910 cup and cone - will need two of each. Might think about new seals since saving them is tricky 10-12535 - need two. Just did this on my 3185 48in. Nut torque 90-110 lbs. The spacer (middle ) should set the bearing load as just a slight drag. On one of my sets of bearings (import) had to shave .006 in off spacer. Bob

Got a chance to take the spindle all apart today and the upper cup and bearing were packed with gunk and corrosion locking it in place.

Cleaned up the lower and upper bearings and cups and greased them up real good. I will be getting grease fittings for the top of the spindles. Not sure if they were there at one time and broke off or not. The spindle shaft has a threaded port and there is a hole halfway down the shaft for the grease to come out to lube the bearings.

Its back together and cutting real good again! :beerchug: