2155 deck loud when engaged
 

When I engage the PTO on my 2155 it starts out sounding fine (engine ramps up and I hear the belt moving on the pulleys) but after like 10 seconds it sounds really loud/terrible and the deck itself vibrates a bit once the blades get to full speed.

I removed the deck entirely and inspected both the PTO and deck belts, they seem in good order. Found the left blade had serious wobble so I replaced the spindle bearings. The right blade has no discernible wobble that I can notice. Both blades look the same, not bent or missing metal. Both blades spin freely not hitting anything.

I put the deck back on the tractor and still the same thing, super loud and vibration after 10 seconds of engaging the PTO. I have no experience with front PTO (horizontal shaft engines) tractors, is this normal operation for it to make a lot of noise when engaged? It seems quite loud compared to ones I’m used to with bottom PTO (vertical shaft engines).

The only other thing I can think of is replacing the right blade spindle bearings (even though there isn’t any wobble) and replace the actual blades themselves.

Most likely a bearing.
Just because they're not loose doesn't mean they're not bad.

Take the belt (PTO to deck) off, and turn on the PTO. Is the noise there ??

:bigthink:

That was one thing I did check while the deck was off. No sound at all if I engage the PTO with nothing connected.

The problem lies within your deck. You have some sort of a "dry bearing".

Thanks, that’s why I was thinking. I shoulda just replaced the bearings on both sides and been done with it.

Grease is a replaceable thing to, you know

I did a few pumps of grease in both spindles before putting the deck back on.

I actually used it to cut grass today (previously I was just testing it short term). I guess it’s about as noisy as any other mower, or I just tuned it out and was happy to be cutting with my own mower instead of borrowing the neighbors lol

The bearings in the double deck drive pulley may be bad also.

Check the bearings in the idler pulleys also any dodgy bearing will make a heck of a noise
Additionally the 2 pulleys where the belt does a right hand turn from the PTO to the deck check them , any grinding noise or feel as you turn them the cure is replace
Did you get the deck height fixed?
Oz

Yes, I figured out the deck height issue. It was the anti-scalping wheel messed up and bent. Once I removed it I was able to lower the deck all the way to the ground.

I will try to look at all the pulleys and bearings once it stops raining so much and isn’t as muggy.

Ok I drove the tractor over to my neighbors house and he watched the right side as I engaged the deck. He said the right blade was bouncing up and down he could see it in the discharge chute, so it’s got to be those bearings (that’s the side I thought was good and didn’t replace). I’ll get those bearings replaced and make sure every pulley is lubed up good as well.

Did you take both blades off, clean them of rust and crud, and place them one on top of the other?
They should couple together as snuggly as the spoons in your wifeys fine silverware collection.
Un-matched blaces will give you wobble and vibration also.

Just an update: removed the right spindle bearings and they were literally falling apart. Which is weird since that side had hardly any play in it at all. It’s all good now no more vibration or loud noise after replacing both sides spindle bearings.