It's been two seasons, so as usual, the riding mower needs new blade spindles. In a perfect world, they'd last for a decade, but the world isn't perfect, and with sealed bearings, they will fail after the hard use they receive every season. Each season requires two blade replacements due to the tough Bahia, what we call Pine Ridge Sand, and two acres each cutting.
I ordered the replacements, which are a little different. The bearings will have grease fittings, which means keeping the spindles greased will theoretically prolong the life of the bearing. We'll see, but even if they only last two seasons, I'll be be ahead. OEM parts are four times as expensive, last only two years, and they probably buy them from the same manufacturer I do.
So, they arrived. The old spindles, which were exact matches of the OEM spindles, were done. Out of three, only one spun freely, but trying to save it was a fruitless effort, since the bolts were self-tapping and broke off when the spindle was removed.
The new spindles were threaded, and bolting them on was easy. I put a few shots of grease in the zert just to insure there was grease. After cutting an acre of grass, I'm satisfied. Time will tell how long they last, but considering the cost of buying OEM parts, I could change them every season and still come out ahead.
Wow. Mine are OEM about 20 years old. Different environment.
ReplyDeleteI cut about 2.5 acres at least once each week during cutting season. Depending on the rain, the tough Bahai grass can be brutal on the blades, and the mower. Letting the grass grow tall makes the wear worse.
DeleteThat's a lot of mowing.
DeleteReal different environment.
DeleteWe have a very good grass (St. Augustine) for lawns available, but it doesn't seed, and is only supplied as turf. For small lawns, it's affordable, but still grows thick. The grass is more tender, so it isn't so hard on lawnmowers, but when buying it at $100 dollars for around 450 square feet, it's too expensive for large areas.
DeleteMost people with large areas spread Bahai seed, which grows a grass designed for grazing. It's hardy, recovers quickly from dry conditions, but is tough. Seed is relatively inexpensive, and to most people, the appearance is the same as St. Augustine.
I wouldn't seed bahai grass anywhere! That stuff ain't worth a crap for anything. But it'll grow in dirt where nothing else grows so there's that.
Delete@ Jess, last time I needed spindles I got a complete deck rebuild kit on Amazon for $120. Spindles, blades, belts AND bolts... The bahai grass is unimpressed with the blades. But then again, bahai laughs at lawnmowers.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered if those rebuild kits were good. Since you have had success with them, the next time I need spindles, I'll go that route.
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