Grease seal on a 54" 324 deck.
 

Hello all,

On a previous post, I was clabbering on about my 345 Fan Assisted bagger rubber guard assembly, for the 324 deck I've got. While having the deck off, I thought it would be a good time to grease it up. It has been about 50 hours, or so. when it came to my left side spindle, I got in about 1 squirt, but no more grease would go in. Odd, I thought!
Anyway, came to find out, the grease seal on the top side was not flush with the race casting edge. Tried to beat it in with rubber mallet, block of wood, etc. Seems like this being out a little, rubs against that thick washer/spacer and causes the spindle not to turn freely, like the other spindles. I have it apart now and can't seem to get the undamaged seal in the edge of the race, where it fits. It is a new spindle, as one of my other ones. Are those pressed in, or what? Anyone run across this before?

Thanks in advance,
Vertigo1

I replaced the spindle housing, bearings and seal on my 54" deck this past summer. I hit a stump and destroyed the spindle housing, but the shaft was straight as checked with a dial indicator.

I purchased bearings and seals from eBay. Seals were a snug fit to the housing and fit flush. I loosen the blade nut to allow grease to be pumped into the zerk.

Thanks Bugeye
 

I was finally able to get a different seal to fit flush with the casting. Spindle works great now.

Thanks for your reply,
Vertigo1