Mower deck mandrels.

Lou from Wi.

Well-known Member
Years ago we bought a new Sears GT rider with a 20 hp Kohler engine. So far been a real good unit,still looks like new and runs great. As always,with our equipment,grease is a necessity. 2 years ago we removed the mower deck and took out the mandrels (3) pulled them apart, and to our surprise, the housings are high impact plastic, with aluminum races for the bearings to ride on. We cleaned and repacked the whole mandrel units, Works good mower cuts fine. Disappointed in the mandrel assemblies, was wondering what else would fit. Was wondering if anyone else has substituted them? And what did fit? We could order the mandrels from Sears and keep them on hand,but trying to get away from the plastic.Helpful information would be appreciated.
Regards,
Lou
 
I dunno, Lou. If you're not having them break on you too often, I'd stick with the plastic. My old Craftsman with cast aluminum mandrels saw them break way too often, and because they were aluminum, the steel screws corroded in so I would have to grind them off the broken mounting ears. Plastic woulda been nice as it would probably absorb more shock and if it broke, the mounting screws should be easy to remove.
 
Dbeaty thanks for the reply. I 'm thikng alomg the lines of information from Big Fred. Thanks a bunch for the reply. Regards LOU.
 
Big Fred. You gave me food for thought. Never considered impact forces against metal vs High impact plastic. I guess I'm better off where I sit.Garden tractor runs great and now that I'm up in years,a walk through would have been better to have. Hard to swing the legs over the tramsmission gear selector. I passed that chore over to my son who can manipulate his legs . Thanks for the reply. Guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth Regards LOU.
 
Lou ! It sounds to me like you have already got better service, out of your unit than I did. I went to Sears several years ago 2001, I think, and bought a 38" Poulan rider, and within 2 yrs I had replaced two of the spindle's, and when the next one went out, I pulled the deck off and made the tractor into a 16 gallon spot sprayer. Handy little unit around the property! I replaced it with a 42" MTD, also from Sears, and have had a little better luck with it, till the deck went to he!!. 2 mowers in 13 yrs, and now two puddle jumper tractors, to ride around on. I just bought a 84 Wheelhorse Garden tractor, with a 42" mower deck, Hydrostatic tranny, a 36" tiller that raises and lowers hydrolicly, as does the mower deck. All is heavy built, and has grease zerks, where they should be, and a snow plow blade, which I;ll never use, all for $300. instead of $900+ for the Polan, and $1200, for the MTD. The twin cyl Kohler, starts and runs good, and parts and service is redily available.
 
Lou, I must agree with some of the other comments here, if you have satisfactory service from the originals, why change them for another type? Plastic ain't just plastic anymore. What we commonly refer to as "plastic" can be engineered to withstand more strain and vibration than some metals. As the feller says, "If it ain't broke,don't fix it."
 
Get the part # and go to Amazom.com. I have purchased several replacement parts from them and saved around 75%...$45 for a drive belt from Sears an $12 from Amazon.
 
Lou, I've replaced I don't know how many mandrel assys on my Crapsman. I've given up on most of the outfits like Parts Tree or Amazon these days for run of the mill items. I go to Ebay with a part # and usually get it for half what Sears or the L+G places want, plus free shipping!

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. My Crapsman has been and continues to be a nightmare. You done good so far, stick with it.
 
Lou I have 4 garden tractors with MTD decks and three of them have the aluminum mandrels and the tractors are all over 10 years old. I have yet to have any trouble with any of them.Up until a few years ago we were mowing over 5 acres(that included my folks place)I now only mow 3 acres. I never wash a deck out with water I have a way of getting them up in the air and scrape them out and if they are going to be setting idle I spray the underside with oil. I went to doing this about 30 years ago after washing deck out with water and replacing one to two sets of sealed bearing a season. I wish MTD would go back to the greaseable Timken roller bearings that they used back in the mid 70's.
 
I have a Craftsman GT 5000. It is about 9 years old and has aluminum mandrel housings. I have not had a problem with aluminum and I have hit things to the point of stalling the engine.

There are plenty of parts sources other than Sears. I believe my mower was made by AYP.(American Yard Products)
 

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