Just took the blades off my mtd clone rider, twin spindle 38" cut.
Its just out of warranty
Last time I put them on was with a 3/8 ratchet and nothing spectacular. Took emm off with a anemic 3/8 air gun.
To my shock, no threads past just enough to catch a fingernail!!
Used a lil neverseize..
Anywho, blade and spindle kit was 170$ shipped, so I opted for repair. Tried the blades, and pulled both spindles.. Housing are son cast aluma-zinc crap.
I don't think the spindles are hardened!
A hacksaw blade drug across the top of the spindle shaft above the nut on the pully side cut just a little tougher than cold rolled!.. Not much either.
Anywho, mic'd the shaft, decided 5/8 coarse was my best bet for full threw and strength...
Looking at their old nuts they deformed the heads under just 3/8 hand tools and a wimpy ( even by 3/8 standards) airgun. ( its a lil right angle palm gun for close quarters work.. I can actually pull a ratchet harder than it will tighten, if the handle is 8" and not a shorty.)
Anyway, oil and cut 5/8 coarse threads.. No surprises, except they cut easier than they should have
I was reaching for the gr8 nuts and then said they heck with it and put #2 bright zinc on.. Hopefully they are softer than the spindles.
What gives? Last spindles I replaced were ? 15 us ago and those were hard and had steel shells. One of a pair was stripped on a used Murray i got cheap, and the first couple years I just ran it the same way, cut new threads. ( never had an issue, other than its spindles were a pita to replace). This mtd at least, the spindles are 4 bolts plus 2 for the guards, easy access .. Quite was to remove, for when they eventually wear these new threads??
Its just out of warranty
Last time I put them on was with a 3/8 ratchet and nothing spectacular. Took emm off with a anemic 3/8 air gun.
To my shock, no threads past just enough to catch a fingernail!!
Used a lil neverseize..
Anywho, blade and spindle kit was 170$ shipped, so I opted for repair. Tried the blades, and pulled both spindles.. Housing are son cast aluma-zinc crap.
I don't think the spindles are hardened!
A hacksaw blade drug across the top of the spindle shaft above the nut on the pully side cut just a little tougher than cold rolled!.. Not much either.
Anywho, mic'd the shaft, decided 5/8 coarse was my best bet for full threw and strength...
Looking at their old nuts they deformed the heads under just 3/8 hand tools and a wimpy ( even by 3/8 standards) airgun. ( its a lil right angle palm gun for close quarters work.. I can actually pull a ratchet harder than it will tighten, if the handle is 8" and not a shorty.)
Anyway, oil and cut 5/8 coarse threads.. No surprises, except they cut easier than they should have
I was reaching for the gr8 nuts and then said they heck with it and put #2 bright zinc on.. Hopefully they are softer than the spindles.
What gives? Last spindles I replaced were ? 15 us ago and those were hard and had steel shells. One of a pair was stripped on a used Murray i got cheap, and the first couple years I just ran it the same way, cut new threads. ( never had an issue, other than its spindles were a pita to replace). This mtd at least, the spindles are 4 bolts plus 2 for the guards, easy access .. Quite was to remove, for when they eventually wear these new threads??