Deck spindle friction disc's

[ccr147]

Hey guys I've got a question about the spindles on my 48" deck on my 147. I believe the tractor is a late 70 or early 71. I took the blades off to sharpen them and after I put them back on I tested the deck out and I noticed the cut is a little off and it was making a noise. So I looked and the outer blades are spinning when I hold the spindles still. I did tighten them down of cours and the nuts were still tight. I got looking at the parts diagram and noticed the later decks show a friction disc between the spindle and the blade. I've never had those. Can I replace those with a washer for the time being? Is there an obvious way to determine if they should be on there?

Thanks.

Curt

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by ccr147

Hey guys I've got a question about the spindles on my 48" deck on my 147. I believe the tractor is a late 70 or early 71. I took the blades off to sharpen them and after I put them back on I tested the deck out and I noticed the cut is a little off and it was making a noise. So I looked and the outer blades are spinning when I hold the spindles still. I did tighten them down of cours and the nuts were still tight. I got looking at the parts diagram and noticed the later decks show a friction disc between the spindle and the blade. I've never had those. Can I replace those with a washer for the time being? Is there an obvious way to determine if they should be on there?

Thanks.

Curt

All the decks show a washer. Yes, it's just a washer.

If it didn't have them before and it worked, you did something wrong. Or they stuck to the blade and they fell off when you weren't looking. Yes, there is an obvious way to tell if you need them....... the blade doesn't get tight to the spindle with the nut. But, like I said, if you didn't ever have them, then you either didn't get the nuts tight, or you did something wrong.

[Yosemite Sam]

If I'm not mistaken, all of the cast center, triangle shaped decks originally came with the friction disks. I also believe that the decks with the stamped steel spindle housings had a very thick washer above the blade. If the threads on your spindles are good all the way up, the nuts are tight and your blades are still loose, then I suggest that you are missing something.

Without seeing what you have, its impossible to tell if you are missing any parts.

So here's the deal... In the real world, I'm not about to spend $25.00 (per deck) for friction disks. I don't know of any other manufacturer (although there probably are) who use a friction disk on mower deck spindles/blades, for me a 3/4" zink coated flat washer will do the job just fine.

If you do have the stamped steel housing type of spindle and are missing the thick spacers that go above the blade, you should probably find something to replace them with because I don't believe (with the way the lower cup is made) you will ever get them tight.

Pictures of what you have may be helpful in determining why your blades won't tighten up.

[rwairforce]

I noticed the same reference when I replaced my spindle with rebuilt ones. I simply used washers to sandwich the blade and tightened the nut. I have no problems. I also cleaned up all the leftover debris left from the previously mentioned friction disk before using nice new washers.

[DoubleO7]

When the fiberous friction disc on mine finally broke up, I just cut me either some hefty gasket material or even the backboard from a pad of old school paper.
Both seem to work the same as the originals.

[J-Mech]

The reason for the "fiber" was it is supposed to let the blade break free if you hit something. My experience.... if you hit something it really doesn't matter. Mine all have steel washers.

[Mike McKown]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

If I'm not mistaken, all of the cast center, triangle shaped decks originally came with the friction disks. I also believe that the decks with the stamped steel spindle housings had a very thick washer above the blade.

I believe that is correct. After my fiber discs disintegrated years ago, I just used thin steel washers to take up the space.

[ccr147]

Yeah I had never noticed they were not there before.
The tractor had the original blades on it until this spring when I ordered a set of Meg-Mo's for it. I'd been thinking something wasn't quite right and had chalked it up to the old blades being worn out. I was going to hunt down new jam nuts and washers for the spindles since the originals are kinda long in the tooth so I suppose I'll just get 6 washers instead of 3 now.

Thanks guys!