This morning I checked the idler pulley on the deck and the mule drive pulleys. One mule drive pulley had a slight squeak as it turned. I removed it and found that it was rubbing the arm at one point (12 o'clock in picture), I put a washer between the arm and the pulley and it now runs quiet. I decided to take the center spindle apart, it was just to loose and noisy. Both bearings and races have rough places on then, I took a picture of one race after cleaning it with carb cleaner. The bottom seal was turned out but the lip was torn off it (picture), the top seal was better but both spacers where the seals run have grooves. The bearings are Timken LM11949, I assume all three spindles use the same bearings. Do I need to just use Timken or whatever the bearing house has. The small spacer between the bearings, I've never seen one used on a car except the crush spacer on Chevy rear ends. I think at this point I might as well take the other spindles apart and replace all the bearings and seals, opinions.
Cannon

do I need to remove the pulleys from the shaft for any reason?
Cannon

Probably not. Looking at your second pic you better plan on replacing the races also, they look like they are in pretty bad shape. You can get them out with a BFH and a punch. Try to drive them out straight by hitting on each side. You'll see a notch that you can get the punch in so you hit on the bearing. I'd also remove the housing so that you can clean it good before putting it back together. It's also easier to work on when it's out of the deck shell.

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I drove one of the races out after my earlier post to verify the number. I called the bearing house in Chattanooga, they only had 2 but they were $13 for a bearing and race. I was going to do some more checking but looks like George has that covered. At one time I had a piece of brass that I used to drive in some wheel bearing races but I haven't seen it in years. I'll go ahead and take the housings out of the deck and clean them up.
Cannon

This morning I ordered the bearings and races in Georges post from ebay. They won't be here until next week. I should spend that time sandblasting and painting but I never seem to get stuff like that done.
Cannon

I went out and starting removing the spindle housings, it has not gone well. The center spindle came off by just taking an impact to the 3 bolts. The two outside spindles have apparently lived most of their life under the covers full of wet grass. The nuts were so rotten I had to split them with a cutoff tool. Some of the nuts on the support plate are the same way, I can't bring myself to leave them like that. This may turn into a long term project. One of the outside spindles did not have the center spacer or I managed to loose it. One spindle housing has some of the top lip rotted away, the seal was tight in it so I think it will be alright.
Cannon

Glad to see you doing the right way. Plenty of Never Seize when it goes back together. :beerchug:

I got everything off the deck housing today. I guess it time to start sandblasting of going at it with a wire wheel. I found the missing bearing spacer stuck in a grease rag in the garbage can.
Cannon

Aww that makes it easier, always like a happy ending