Tiller Restoration Questions

[Wagnerian]

Are chain drive housing gaskets available somewhere? If I have to make them, can someone recommend gasket material?

What's the right method and lubricant to use to re-lube the chain drive?

[Wagnerian]

Not knowing any better, this is what I'm planning. Let me know if I'm stupid.

None of the gaskets/seals appear to be available except the Tiller Lower Felt WM-63715. Messick's showed another gasket available, but after I ordered it I got an email saying they can't get it and canceled my order.

I'm planning to use this material for all the chain drive housing gaskets:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FPB3...t=gasket+sheet

Lubrication:

I'm thinking I'll use John Deere Corn Head grease on the chain and sprockets.

[Wagnerian]

Another question is if I should replace the bearings.

If they were cheap I'd just replace them without thinking twice, but it's pretty significant cost.

The bearings seem to be in good shape, but they're obviously old, and the tine shaft bearings must have taken a fair amount of heat from my efforts at removing the tine tubes.

I don't want to have to take this thing apart again, but I don't want to spend a bunch of money on bearing if I don't need to.

Advice?

[RLause]

I would think that would work. Lots of times I use yellow table back like school Kids used.

[Wagnerian]

Originally Posted by Wagnerian

Another question is if I should replace the bearings.

If they were cheap I'd just replace them without thinking twice, but it's pretty significant cost.

The bearings seem to be in good shape, but they're obviously old, and the tine shaft bearings must have taken a fair amount of heat from my efforts at removing the tine tubes.

I don't want to have to take this thing apart again, but I don't want to spend a bunch of money on bearing if I don't need to.

Fwiw, after inspecting the bearings more closely, I think I should replace them. They all feel gritty, and one of them is visibly damaged from someone prying on it, and you can feel it occasionally hanging up.

Here's what I found as far as replacement bearings:

666589-R91 (666589R91)-> WPS100GPC (available at O'Reilly's)
485259-R91 (485259R91)-> 47577205 (available at Messick's)
471895-R91 (471895R91)-> 700700760->50807->1012KRRB (available on Amazon)

Replacing all the bearings comes out to around $250, based on the replacements I found.

[finsruskw]

All depends on what you have in mind for this piece of equipment.

If for resale??? I'd forget it.

If for your own gardening use for the foreseeable future (years) plus maybe tilling a few gardens every spring on the side for extra cash....only you can make that decision.

Me?,,,,,I usually do between $100 and $150 dollars worth each spring plus my own. Hardly anyone gardens any more though like they used to 60 years ago.

[Wagnerian]

Originally Posted by finsruskw

All depends on what you have in mind for this piece of equipment.

If for resale??? I'd forget it.

If for your own gardening use for the foreseeable future (years) plus maybe tilling a few gardens every spring on the side for extra cash....only you can make that decision.

Me?,,,,,I usually do between $100 and $150 dollars worth each spring plus my own. Hardly anyone gardens any more though like they used to 60 years ago.

For me it's the latter. And, to some extent, it's just because I like my stuff to look nice and be in good working order. Oh well, I already did the deed and ordered the bearings. At least I'll know it's squared away and good to go many years, I guess. It's hard to know where to draw the line, and I usually tend to err on the side of "doing it right", though that often ends up being overkill.

[finsruskw]

Then I'm with you on all counts in this project!!
That's why I spent
a ton on my 149/DanCo loader project a few years ago and it's been paying it's way ever since!!

[eberner]

Agreed, do it right the first time