So I had to use my gigantic slip joint pliers (gripping the lower spindle cup) and the cordless impact wrench with a 1-1/4" deep socket on the pulley nut (deep socket a must b/c zerk) to spin the shaft and cut threads into the lower cup to get it to spin off the shaft. Whoops. I tried my 3-arm pulley remover tool and it just bent the cup. All three lower cups are ruined; but I got everything apart and wiped down of old grease.
A couple things I noticed on the cleaning of each spindle.
1) Bearings don't appear to be extremely bad off. Races and machined surfaces are free from gouges or metal burrs.
2) Zerk fittings are shot. All three had malfunctioning retention balls and consequently a clod of dirt blocking the grease shaft.
3) All three lower bearing races (side facing grass) are moving off their seat.
Left side 1/16"
Center 1/8"
Right side (can completely pull it out)
Upper races are solid and don't move at all (except the center which moves 1/16")
I am not a seasoned bearing repair veteran, but my understanding is that usually when races spin in the housing or pull out freely the assembly is shot.
I hope that isn't the case here since all three spindle housings have moveable races.
Is this business as usual with a spindle or are the housings shot?
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