Looking for some help on deck

Loganvilledude · #1 08-20-2013, 04:26 PM

Well I thought I would restore the "O"'s deck and get the project completely done. I was disassembling the deck so I could change out the bearings and get it blasted and painted etc. I got to the point where it is completely apart with the exception of one spindle.

In the Cub parts catalog (CPE-2) they call the deck and blade assembly the "Main Frame and Knife unit". the part number is 471 068 R1 and is called the Block Blade Drive #27 in the book. There is a 1/4" square x 1/2" long key that is giving me some trouble and is seized in this key way. You cant use a puller because the bolt is threaded. Amazingly the other key basically fell out when I removed the bolts and the blade.

I have tried to tap it both ways and this is just stuck and almost like it is welded in there.

So the question is how do I manage to get this out. It was and is soaked in PB Blaster for 24 hours now.

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Yosemite Sam · #2 08-20-2013, 08:11 PM

Several ways to attack these spindles, try clamping the blade adapter in your vice and twisting the pulley back and forth (with your hands only) the key could be starting to shear and sometimes part of the key gets pinched between the pulley and the shaft. If you look closely you can probably see where the keyway in the pulley and the keyway in the shaft are slightly out of line with each other.

IIRC, the "O" deck spindles will come apart from either direction, you should be able to take the blade adapter off of the bottom and tap the shaft upward through the casting and bearings (don't mess up the threads).

Might try taking the grease zirk out and either put a small bolt in the hole so that the head of the bolt rests on the end of the shaft and then tap the head of the bolt and "drive" the shaft out of the pulley.

Gotta be careful with the cogged pulleys though, they are pot metal or some other fairly soft metal and they can bend/break easily.

gmbadgley · #3 08-20-2013, 08:19 PM

Usually a sharp punch or small cape chisel will break them loose. Just get it between the shaft & key, you may need a little heat but I have never had one that would not move.

Loganvilledude · #4 08-22-2013, 11:17 PM

Thanks for the responses Yosemite and Gmbadgley.

I finally got the shaft removed through the two bearings. I tried the heat with a torch and getting the key out, but it never happened. Now I can try from the opposite side while mounted in the vise and tap this key the opposite way.

Now the plan is to change all of the bearings out. I don't have a press, but was curious if I can just tap the bearings through the shaft of the spindle? On my mule drive I used a impact socket and tapped those two bearings out, but these were just single bearings on each pulley.

There is a bushing that is between the two bearings and just want to know if you just drive the whole assembly out from one side to the other?

Thanks again!

Yosemite Sam · #5 08-23-2013, 04:43 AM

I rebuilt several "O" spindles (some years ago) and don't remember any of the bearings being very hard to get out, in fact it has been my experience that they are much easier to get out than getting the races out of the newer spindles.

You should be able to tap each of them out from the other side.