1541 Noobie questions
 

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New guy here trying to learn proper care and maintenance.

The couplings with the 4 steel balls that connect the shaft from the engine to transmission have really dried up grease in them. Should I clean these and pre-grease them before putting them back in?

Grease zerks, where are they all hiding? I found a few new ones that I was unaware of on the above mentioned driveshaft and the steering gear.

So other than the obvious grease fittings on the front axle and the mower deck spindles, there are two on the shaft from engine to transmission and one on the steering gear. Are there any others hiding I need to know about?




While working on my 1541 I noticed the engine would move real easily. It was then that I noticed both of the rear spacers under the engine were missing. The starter needed replaced also, so I pulled the engine out. After removing the engine from the motor plate I could see that the front spacers had rubbed down into the mounting plate and also rubbed a ring in the bottom side of the engine, so I made my own spacers from some 1/2" x 1" steel cut 1 1/2" long.




http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...602_183948.jpg

Good to see you doing what should be done to the 1541. If you want a copy of the service manual PM me your e-mail address and I'll send it to you.

Clean out the old grease in the CV joints, repack them and in the future hit the grease fittings on the shaft to grease them. While you have the engine out I'd also clean and re-grease the joint in the steering column behind the battery tray. As far as fittings, pivot on the front axle in the center, the 2 axle spindles, steering box, front wheel bearings and the drive shaft.

Since your doing it right while your changing the trans fluid I'd pull the rear cover off and clean the crud out of the inside.

Keep up the good work! :beerchug:

Is the shaft supposed to be perfectly in line with the crankshaft or is it ok to have some angle on the cv joint? The engine appears to be lined up correctly in the heat shield.

A service manual would be excellent! I'll pm my email to you.


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Some angle is OK. Manual has been sent.