The wheel bearings are worth doing provided the original bushings haven't worn through the axle. If the axle is worn the bearings won't be worth doing until you replace the spindle/axle for both side. Also remove the inner grease seal on the axle bearing so grease can actually get to the bearing when you grease the hub. And in most cases you will need to file or grind the spindle housing some to make enough room to put the C clip back on if you install the PMPS.
I incorporated this improvement on my Craftsman two years ago. I also added a steering wheel "suicide" knob to the steering wheel. I can easily steer and make quick turns with one hand, leaving the other free to operate the controls.
I recently purchased a craftsman garden tractor from marketplace. I was surprised at how difficult it was to steer especially on tighter turns. Ran across this video and thought, why not. I wasn’t expecting great results but just finished the install and a quick trip around the yard showed a drastically improved experience. Thanks!
I just recently was given a 2017 CRAFTSMAN T3100 that was neglected a little ! It was out in the open, under a tree she had trouble starting. She went and bought a zero turn, and gave me the CRAFTSMAN ! I am looking into installing this kit on mine so the wifey can operate it ! Great information Jake !!👍👍✌️😁🇺🇸
You should always use the washers that come with the thrust bearings. One on both sides of the bearing. They are hardened steel for the bearing rollers to roll on without premature wear.
I bought the Amazon kit and installed it on my Craftsman T2200 Lawn Tractor. The wheel bearings were mazing as to how easily the wheels turn now. I only had room for the thrust wheel washer and could not add any additional washers but it still made quite a difference in easier steering. Much thanks for sharing this upgrade idea.
Thanks, I did the bearings on a 2019 Snapper and it was effortless the only thing I had to add was grease fittings. I have to add some caps on the top of the spindle to contain the grease it is a work in progress for that install.
Yes sir one thing i can say about my son is he does make a quality video that is very concise and informative. His videos are all about the repair you only see him normally on the beginning and end, some have called him elusive. Likely why he called his company Eliminator eh?
The washers on those thrust bearings are critical for the life of the bearing! DON'T REMOVE THEM!!! Instead, grab a file or a grinder and remove a bit of the metal off the top of the spindle housing until the E Clip can be installed easily and the washer is free to move. You don't want a lot of play, but it needs to be free to move easily. If you don't use the provided washers, those thrust bearings will eat themselves in 6 months or less of use.
I have the Craftsman YT4500 mower, the same as your video but with a 54" mowing deck. Starting at the 8:00 mark you discuss shimming for the bearing clearance. You should have degreased the top of the arm to inspect the surface. On my axel castings, that surface was not machined flat and it had "bumps" from the original casting process. This did not allow the top washer to sit flat. I used a large rasp file to manually "machine" that surface flat and perpendicular to the shaft. This allowed me to use the original washer on the bottom and the two hardened washers that saddle the needle bearings. I did this process to both spindles, although one side needed more hand machining than the other. I have photos of the before and after but (apparently) I can't post them here. Other than this tip, you produced a great video for the DIYer upgrading the steering system.
Thank you! I was wondering if trimming down the shaft housing would provide the needed clearance for the circle clip. In my head, I was going to go after it with a 4 inch angle grinder because I don’t have the patience to do it with a hand file.
Great video! I’m definitely going it to my Craftsman GT6000! My suggestion is this… if the E clip is too tight because the bearing stack thickness makes it too tight, I’ll just grind some of the top of the spindle knuckle off with my angle grinder!
That is definitely something to consider, I didn't want to grind anything but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt! Grease is definitely the steerings best friend though.
Update! I did do this mod on my GT6000 to lessen steering effort and friction. Yes I also had to grind the top of the spindle to fit the beatings and washers. A few sec
Update!!!! I did this upgrade to my GT6000 and also had to grind a bit off the top of the spindle to make the bearings and washers fit. All the weight is on the bottom bearing so there’s no issue grinding the top. Please see an upcoming video on my channel!
Beautiful looking rider, very nice upgrades and appears this unit will last a long time, the owner will be extremely happy with this repair. Really looking forward to seeing this new innovative grease gun in action. My biggest beef with grease guns has always been the mess and the time it takes to change the grease tubes. Additionally you always have to apply pressure against the zerk to make the grease get into the area you are applying the grease. Not enough pressure against the zerk and the grease does not go in. I checked out Lube Shuttle and they have a locking adaptor i hope that is in your package so we can all see how much easier their product works than the old style grease guns.
Good day Wayne. Many yrs. ago we bought grease by 35 lb.pail bulk. Take top off grease gun & suck it in. Sometimes it would get air, my only younger bro 10 yrs old reach in gun to get rid of air, he had grease up to his elbow. It was a dam pain. Thanks
@@gordbaker896 Correct Gord could have just added the lock nozzle on our grease gun to save money but the idea is getting the Lube Shuttle easy load system with additional features. Actually such a great product we now have 2 so once has low temp grease and the other marine grease or red and tacky
I did the thrust needle washer upgrade and could barely notice the difference. I think the wide tires on the grass are the main area of resistance in most cases. Not much you can do about that. Cheers
If you run a snow thrower in winter you will see the difference by far... another good steering upgrade are 5rib tires (they are still good for turf but have decreased steering force requirements) and 3rib steer tires are great for work tasks that could be muddy/snowy or in a field you don't care about creating ruts in (3ribs give the easiest steering effort and 5ribs are between turf and tri ribs).
Triangular "bracket" is called "Bell crank". Used to change direction and/or ratio of linear travel. Also, flat thrust bearing is called "Torrington" bearing.
@@jakleo337 yes, technically it takes the place of an idler arm on this mower, but the triangular shape of this one makes it, in fact, a bell crank. At least you know what you're talking about! Some ppl commenting on these videos should just focus on Minecraft and/or call of duty... 😆
Washer bearings are called thrust washers and bearings made by many and must be used with the supplied washers matched to that particular Thrust bearing
Torrington Bearings is a manufacturer of bearings bought out by Simpkin they do all manner of bearings so you still have to know what type you want needle roller cage thrust etc. Torrington made bearings but they certainly did not invent them Joseph Resel of Austria was granted a patent in 1829 for both roller and ball bearings.
Great video. I have a Cub Cadet zero turn with a steering wheel (Cub Cadet RZT SX54) and it is tough to turn. I'm going to try the thrust bearings after I take a measurement of the axle diameter. I think this thrust bearing solution will help a lot. Thanks for taking the time to create the video.
Very good information and installation of the spindle kits Jake. I look forward to your grease gun video. I have 3 grease guns and they all suck to load and are very messy! ✌🇨🇦🇺🇸
An alternative to the heat gun would be to drop the caps in a cup of very hot water. I use that technique for working with drip irrigation fittings and hose.
I'm always a little nervous about jacking on the center deck hanger. That is not teal heavy gauge metal and the weight of the engine is mostly on the front axle.
FYI, for viewers, YT is yard tractor, ie, no ground engaging attachments. The LT with the bigger rear rims is designed for ground engaging attachments. This is the one you absolutely need this mod. Imo
My old spindle caps shattered taking them off. Put new ones on, but the only thing holding them on is gravity, lol. Looks like there'd be a way to tighten them up some. Everything else went fine.
Jake is the video guy and me i am just the OLD MAN at EP that you can catch on Top Conkers livestreams Saturdays 2 pm EST but thanks makes me feel more important!
If necessary, you could also grind off 1/16" or so off the top of the spindle housing so all washers would fit. Being easier to steer will also increase the life of the Rack and Pinion. I got the Needle Bearings and washers from Amazon for $8.50 next day delivery. After getting my JD X320 apart I found there was a 1/2" thick Plastic bushing on the bottom of the Spindle which acted as a bearing. I put the Needle bearings and washers on top of the Plastic Bushing. Absolutely NO change in steering effort. Check your machine before doing this. If you have the Plastic bushing below the Axle Boss, don't bother. IF you do not have that plastic Bushing carry on.
If you cannot fit the bearing, use PTFE Teflon bushing (washer). They have low friction and high strength. OR - have a machine shop shave the TOP of the sleeve (non weight bearing surface) down a few thousandths of an inch to get the height you need. One concern using the needle bearing without washers: Are the surfaces of spindle and sleeve hardened, flat and parallel enough to resist galling or deformation from the needles. Bearing needles are HARD. Stay gold.
I ordered the kit for my Troy-Bilt Super Bronco but was disappointed to see there was no thrust washer at all and it was totally welded on! So if there's ever a problem with steering, I have to replace the entire axle shaft...... nice huh
I am replacing existing bushings with bearings. Is it necessary to fill the wheel shaft with grease if my bearings are sealed on both sides? Thanks for the video!
No, not necessary! If you peel back the inner rubber seal, you can pump them full a grease and they'll last longer. But the 2RS dual seal is easier as they don't require service.
rvalens2 rvalens2 0 seconds ago I did both these modification years ago to my 1997 Craftsman mower before they were offering the kits. It made my old mower not only easy to turn, but also easy to push whenever I needed to manually move it. 26 years later, it's still running strong. I'm surprised that mower manufacturers didn't make bearings in the wheels and steering mechanism the standard for all riding mowers a long time ago.🤓
It is all about ease of operation as we get older Don. Big difference with this done on a rider, pushes around and steers with one finger if you wanted when it is moving.
I have a Toro LX468 that's made by MTD. Do they all have 3/4inch wheel shafts? I'm from Canada, I can't seem to find anything with the thrust bearing washers for the spindles on Amazon. Very good video nonetheless
I have no idea, and honestly don't know if it would be possible and the spindles on those connect on the top and bottom. I guess I'd have to get one in to try it, but I've never worked on one yet!
Not only does it make the steering easier to do, the important thing is that since it steers easier, it puts less stress on the steering gear that wears out so often
I have the same Craftsman tractor, do you know of a kit to get the front tires to track parallel to each other. Over time I have had to replace the steering rods (Purple and Orange) and the tires are never parallel anymore with no adjustability.
Cool vid. You've earned a new subscriber. I have a Craftsman YT 6000 with the Red Hood. My front wheels are both toe out out of alignment are they manufactured that way or are they both supposed to be straight in line with each other?
Supposed to be straight, the spindles can bend over time. Watch how to straighten Husqvarna riding mower steering a guy has a good video he uses a long pipe. But you can buy the adjustable tie rods on Amazon they work great, these factory ones are not adjustable!
@@EliminatorPerformance I saw a video quite some time ago where a guy took a tie rod sleeve from whatever type of vehicle it was I don't remember and was able to correct it. I haven't got around to trying it yet. One of these days I'll get around to fixing it I'm not using it very often
@@michiganmagneto the tie rod kit on Amazon is like $120 Canadian it'll solve all the issues. amzn.to/3qKTPG9 if you need the outer smaller ones they sell them in as a kit too
You showed the JD spindle bearings but failed to show the JD Part Number. I know there's the full Amazon kit but I already have the wheel bearing upgrade. Just want the spindle bearings. I can't find it for my S model or the LA model on the JD website or other parts website.
what is the inner diameter and outer diameter of the trunion bearing for the spindle? would it be the same for a YT 3000 Sears Craftsman? need to know asap.
My Husqvarna rider had a front wheel crooked at less than 60 hours. The wheel bushing had no grease in it. It was worn out already. I did the wheel bearing upgrade. I’ll probably do the poor man’s power steering kit next.
Question I have is...do the specs on the wheel bearings apply for a cc30/cr30 MTD mini rider? I've tried looking for information on different searches, but came up with nothing.
No unfortunately not, you'd likely have to remove the spindle to measure the shaft, that way you can choose the bearing ID. Then measure how much clearance you'd have on the outside of the spindle, and you can pick the OD size of the thrust needle roller bearing.
@@EliminatorPerformance Yowza! I'll have to pull out the ol' dusty calipers then, to do some minuscule measurements. A daunting task, as I have never done this before. I think I'll wait till June, when the mid summer drought begins, to do this. That way, when the machine is disabled, I can properly visit the local supply stores for some technical input. Then I won't have to worry about cutting my overgrown lawn. I'll let you know how well I did, once I get the proper parts.
It's possible, so if that's the case then grinding the axle top would be the only way to increase the available space to give enough room for the washers.
I installed them on my John Deere D155 lawnmower. I notice a small difference in the turning of the lawnmower. Nothing to write home to Mother about. But every lawnmower is different. The only real difference was making small turns, they were easier. Large turns had no effect on turning in my opinion.
Very good question. The only way to be 100% sure is pull the dust cap and measure the diameter of the spindle (top and bottom are the same diameter). This installation makes a big difference many think it does not.
I think using that needle thrust bearing without the provided washers is not a good practice. I suspect that using the needle bearing on an imperfect surface will cause the bearing to fail prematurely. The washers that come with the bearings are precision ground so the bearing has a perfectly smooth surface to run on. A better way to go would be to grind a new slot for the clip on the top of the spindle. Or drill the spindle for a cross bolt to secure it, that way you would be able to use the precision washers that go with the bearing.
I'll probably measure and grind down the main pivoting axle shaft next time on the top, which would give me enough room to run the washers. Thanks for watching!
So basically, the bearing doesn't fit with the washers that should be used. I suggest machining the cast axle with a file/grinder to achieve the clearance needed to use the washers. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother to run the needle bearing at all.
That's unfortunate, but check back again usually they restock quite quickly. I linked others so you can purchase just the needle bearings and the wheel bearings separately
To install that bottom bearing WITHOUT 2 washers seems like if the bottom of the spindle is not perfectly smooth it’s going to grind the rollers to smithereens in short order. I, don’t want to appear that I am arrogant, I would grind the TOP of the spindle gradually until the E clip fit and had washer play. Perhaps I misunderstood the procedure for installing the bottom assembly. If I did…. My sincere apologies.
Buy the Steering Kits here (they include wheel bearings);
Craftsman/Husqvarna (Black Dust Caps): amzn.to/41QnDyh
John Deere (Yellow Dust Caps): amzn.to/40Bl0PU
NTA-1220 Steering Thrust Bearings Canada: amzn.to/41B8tNK
NTA-1220 Bulk Pack Canada: amzn.to/3UXfW7r
10 pack of 9040H Wheel Bearings: amzn.to/3N60qUA
9040H Wheel Bearings Canada: amzn.to/3N6QJFz
The wheel bearings are worth doing provided the original bushings haven't worn through the axle. If the axle is worn the bearings won't be worth doing until you replace the spindle/axle for both side. Also remove the inner grease seal on the axle bearing so grease can actually get to the bearing when you grease the hub. And in most cases you will need to file or grind the spindle housing some to make enough room to put the C clip back on if you install the PMPS.
I incorporated this improvement on my Craftsman two years ago. I also added a steering wheel "suicide" knob to the steering wheel. I can easily steer and make quick turns with one hand, leaving the other free to operate the controls.
Yes they do work great, thanks for watching!
One hand to steer....one hand for the beer !!!
@@michaelhirz208you read my mind.
Just finished these mods on my craftsman. Can't wait for cut day to give it a full test.
I recently purchased a craftsman garden tractor from marketplace. I was surprised at how difficult it was to steer especially on tighter turns. Ran across this video and thought, why not. I wasn’t expecting great results but just finished the install and a quick trip around the yard showed a drastically improved experience. Thanks!
I just recently was given a 2017 CRAFTSMAN T3100 that was neglected a little ! It was out in the open, under a tree she had trouble starting. She went and bought a zero turn, and gave me the CRAFTSMAN ! I am looking into installing this kit on mine so the wifey can operate it ! Great information Jake !!👍👍✌️😁🇺🇸
Good luck on the installation basically very simple.
VERY good point about one of the washers is larger for the purpose of holding the dust cap.
You should always use the washers that come with the thrust bearings. One on both sides of the bearing. They are hardened steel for the bearing rollers to roll on without premature wear.
Spot on !
Simply grind some material from the top of the spindle bore. Done. Use both washers on the Torrington thrust bearing.
Exactly!@@gordbaker896
I bought the Amazon kit and installed it on my Craftsman T2200 Lawn Tractor. The wheel bearings were mazing as to how easily the wheels turn now. I only had room for the thrust wheel washer and could not add any additional washers but it still made quite a difference in easier steering. Much thanks for sharing this upgrade idea.
Thanks, I did the bearings on a 2019 Snapper and it was effortless the only thing I had to add was grease fittings. I have to add some caps on the top of the spindle to contain the grease it is a work in progress for that install.
I have seen several videos on this topic - but none as detailed as this one. Thanks Jake for sharing this👍👍
Thanks for watching! And yes I try to include as much info as I can!
Yes sir one thing i can say about my son is he does make a quality video that is very concise and informative. His videos are all about the repair you only see him normally on the beginning and end, some have called him elusive. Likely why he called his company Eliminator eh?
I am doing this, I have a hard steering craftsman. Thanks for great explanation on process
Thanks for watching, and yes for $20 and about 20 minutes of labor (around 10mins each side) this is definitely a great modification!
The washers on those thrust bearings are critical for the life of the bearing! DON'T REMOVE THEM!!! Instead, grab a file or a grinder and remove a bit of the metal off the top of the spindle housing until the E Clip can be installed easily and the washer is free to move. You don't want a lot of play, but it needs to be free to move easily. If you don't use the provided washers, those thrust bearings will eat themselves in 6 months or less of use.
Thanks for the info, we'll have to keep an eye on them!
the hard needle bearings will eat the soft spindle plate
they are called torrington bearings
Hey guys, why does the kit include qty.4 thrust bearings??
@@truck-stop_abortionclinic2bearings per wheel
I know what I'm doing over the 4th of July holiday. Upgrading my two lawn tractors.
I have the Craftsman YT4500 mower, the same as your video but with a 54" mowing deck. Starting at the 8:00 mark you discuss shimming for the bearing clearance. You should have degreased the top of the arm to inspect the surface. On my axel castings, that surface was not machined flat and it had "bumps" from the original casting process. This did not allow the top washer to sit flat. I used a large rasp file to manually "machine" that surface flat and perpendicular to the shaft. This allowed me to use the original washer on the bottom and the two hardened washers that saddle the needle bearings. I did this process to both spindles, although one side needed more hand machining than the other. I have photos of the before and after but (apparently) I can't post them here. Other than this tip, you produced a great video for the DIYer upgrading the steering system.
Thank you! I was wondering if trimming down the shaft housing would provide the needed clearance for the circle clip. In my head, I was going to go after it with a 4 inch angle grinder because I don’t have the patience to do it with a hand file.
Great video! I’m definitely going it to my Craftsman GT6000! My suggestion is this… if the E clip is too tight because the bearing stack thickness makes it too tight, I’ll just grind some of the top of the spindle knuckle off with my angle grinder!
That is definitely something to consider, I didn't want to grind anything but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt! Grease is definitely the steerings best friend though.
All the wear is on the bottom of the spindle bearing, so grinding off a little on the top of the axle to get the E clip on won’t effect a thing.
Update! I did do this mod on my GT6000 to lessen steering effort and friction. Yes I also had to grind the top of the spindle to fit the beatings and washers. A few sec
Update!!!! I did this upgrade to my GT6000 and also had to grind a bit off the top of the spindle to make the bearings and washers fit. All the weight is on the bottom bearing so there’s no issue grinding the top.
Please see an upcoming video on my channel!
Beautiful looking rider, very nice upgrades and appears this unit will last a long time, the owner will be extremely happy with this repair. Really looking forward to seeing this new innovative grease gun in action. My biggest beef with grease guns has always been the mess and the time it takes to change the grease tubes. Additionally you always have to apply pressure against the zerk to make the grease get into the area you are applying the grease. Not enough pressure against the zerk and the grease does not go in. I checked out Lube Shuttle and they have a locking adaptor i hope that is in your package so we can all see how much easier their product works than the old style grease guns.
Thanks for watching, and yes I'm looking forward to trying it out!
Good day Wayne. Many yrs. ago we bought grease by 35 lb.pail bulk. Take top off grease gun & suck it in. Sometimes it would get air, my only younger bro 10 yrs old reach in gun to get rid of air, he had grease up to his
elbow. It was a dam pain. Thanks
Put a new locking nozzle on your grease gun. You can also replace zerk fittings.
@@gordbaker896 Correct Gord could have just added the lock nozzle on our grease gun to save money but the idea is getting the Lube Shuttle easy load system with additional features. Actually such a great product we now have 2 so once has low temp grease and the other marine grease or red and tacky
What a beauty of an idea to steer with ease. Finally. Great job jake
Thanks for watching, I gotta catch up on your videos! Will sit down tonight and watch them
I did the thrust needle washer upgrade and could barely notice the difference. I think the wide tires on the grass are the main area of resistance in most cases. Not much you can do about that. Cheers
is your toe set right?
My experience was exactly like yours - no difference.
If you run a snow thrower in winter you will see the difference by far... another good steering upgrade are 5rib tires (they are still good for turf but have decreased steering force requirements) and 3rib steer tires are great for work tasks that could be muddy/snowy or in a field you don't care about creating ruts in (3ribs give the easiest steering effort and 5ribs are between turf and tri ribs).
Triangular "bracket" is called "Bell crank". Used to change direction and/or ratio of linear travel.
Also, flat thrust bearing is called "Torrington" bearing.
Also called an 'idler arm' on old chevys.
@@jakleo337 yes, technically it takes the place of an idler arm on this mower, but the triangular shape of this one makes it, in fact, a bell crank.
At least you know what you're talking about!
Some ppl commenting on these videos should just focus on Minecraft and/or call of duty... 😆
Washer bearings are called thrust washers and bearings made by many and must be used with the supplied washers matched to that particular Thrust bearing
@@onlythetruthfull yup, and every single thrust bearing on earth is a Torrington bearing.
We are both right.
Torrington Bearings is a manufacturer of bearings bought out by Simpkin they do all manner of bearings so you still have to know what type you want needle roller cage thrust etc. Torrington made bearings but they certainly did not invent them Joseph Resel of Austria was granted a patent in 1829 for both roller and ball bearings.
That kit makes a lot of sense, reduce friction, reduce effort.
Thanks for sharing. 😊
Easy to install and not that expensive and yes it makes a big difference
Great video. I have a Cub Cadet zero turn with a steering wheel (Cub Cadet RZT SX54) and it is tough to turn. I'm going to try the thrust bearings after I take a measurement of the axle diameter. I think this thrust bearing solution will help a lot. Thanks for taking the time to create the video.
great video, I will be looking to do this to a rider sometime this summer. Thank You
LOVE this production as usual, Quick, Detailed no bs !
It’s a fact they do improve the turning and every one I’ve done are very happy with the results
Wheel brging kits at the same time is even better
It is the way to go 100%
I've done this, and it works very well. Thanks for sharing the links!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks to this, it frees up my other hand so I can hold a beer while mowing.
Yeah those cup holders are worthless. Just makes your 🍺 flat!
Very good information and installation of the spindle kits Jake. I look forward to your grease gun video. I have 3 grease guns and they all suck to load and are very messy! ✌🇨🇦🇺🇸
Thanks for watching Roger!
Thanks for the video! It is very thorough and nicely narrated.
I did this last year and it was well worth it! 🐺🔧
Thanks for watching!
Very well explained & illustrated! Thx
An alternative to the heat gun would be to drop the caps in a cup of very hot water. I use that technique for working with drip irrigation fittings and hose.
Good point but the heat gun is faster and more convenient for us. Thanks for watching.
I'm always a little nervous about jacking on the center deck hanger. That is not teal heavy gauge metal and the weight of the engine is mostly on the front axle.
Great idea to make the steering of the lawn tractor/ garden tractor there Jake
Thanks for watching Robert!
@@EliminatorPerformance your welcome young man 👍😎
FYI, for viewers, YT is yard tractor, ie, no ground engaging attachments. The LT with the bigger rear rims is designed for ground engaging attachments. This is the one you absolutely need this mod. Imo
My old spindle caps shattered taking them off. Put new ones on, but the only thing holding them on is gravity, lol. Looks like there'd be a way to tighten them up some. Everything else went fine.
I never knew this existed. Thanks Eliminator.
Thanks for watching!
I have a YT4500 and the kit I purchased the wheel bearings are larger than the hole in the wheels.
Good to hear from you again
Thank you for information and advice
Very helpful and what it takes to make it easy to turn from older folks
Thanks for watching!
Very good video and attention to details
I'm going to look into that tool thanks for the show buddy 👍
Thanks for watching! And wait for the video we're working on a discount code for viewers!
@Eliminator Performance I sure will buddy thanks 😊
Dude!! Awesome idea and video !! UDABESS. 👍
That's a good upgrade!
Great Video!👍
Thanks for watching!
Great video Jake and Wayne
Thanks for watching!
Jake is the video guy and me i am just the OLD MAN at EP that you can catch on Top Conkers livestreams Saturdays 2 pm EST but thanks makes me feel more important!
If necessary, you could also grind off 1/16" or so off the top of the spindle housing so all washers would fit. Being easier to steer will also increase the life of the Rack and Pinion. I got the Needle Bearings and washers from Amazon for $8.50 next day delivery. After getting my JD X320 apart I found there was a 1/2" thick Plastic bushing on the bottom of the Spindle which acted as a bearing. I put the Needle bearings and washers on top of the Plastic Bushing. Absolutely NO change in steering effort. Check your machine before doing this.
If you have the Plastic bushing below the Axle Boss, don't bother. IF you do not have that plastic Bushing carry on.
Yes but I figured it was best not to modify it too much, the fact that the bearing itself fit was good enough for me. Thanks for watching!
@@gordbaker896 just have to figure out the sizes I guess, these Craftsmans are NTA1220 standard 3/4" ID 1.25" OD thrust needle roller bearings
Perfect How To Video.
Thanks for watching!
disc grinder top of the axle off a bit so all your washers will fit
THANK YOU! GREAT JOB
If you cannot fit the bearing, use PTFE Teflon bushing (washer). They have low friction and high strength. OR - have a machine shop shave the TOP of the sleeve (non weight bearing surface) down a few thousandths of an inch to get the height you need.
One concern using the needle bearing without washers: Are the surfaces of spindle and sleeve hardened, flat and parallel enough to resist galling or deformation from the needles. Bearing needles are HARD.
Stay gold.
What keeps the needle bearing from collecting dirt and dust etc.
Can't do this on the JUNK new Troy Bilt. They welded it at the top!
Nice video Jake, I have the bearing bushings on one of my tractors but not the roller bearing. I bet that would make it a lot nicer. Thanks
Yes it does make a noticeable difference, thanks for watching!
Anytime brother
I ordered the kit for my Troy-Bilt Super Bronco but was disappointed to see there was no thrust washer at all and it was totally welded on! So if there's ever a problem with steering, I have to replace the entire axle shaft...... nice huh
Yeah that sucks eh?
I am replacing existing bushings with bearings. Is it necessary to fill the wheel shaft with grease if my bearings are sealed on both sides? Thanks for the video!
No, not necessary! If you peel back the inner rubber seal, you can pump them full a grease and they'll last longer. But the 2RS dual seal is easier as they don't require service.
Great show brother 👏 👍
Thanks for watching!
With the 2 rs bearings you can't grease them from the grease zerk because the seals won't let it in .
Thank You!
rvalens2
rvalens2
0 seconds ago
I did both these modification years ago to my 1997 Craftsman mower before they were offering the kits. It made my old mower not only easy to turn, but also easy to push whenever I needed to manually move it. 26 years later, it's still running strong. I'm surprised that mower manufacturers didn't make bearings in the wheels and steering mechanism the standard for all riding mowers a long time ago.🤓
They don’t because $20 😝
Good day Jake Interesting video. We had a farm tractor that had no power steering, so I don't think might rider is hard to
operate. Thanks
They're not hard to steer, but it's even easier now!
It is all about ease of operation as we get older Don. Big difference with this done on a rider, pushes around and steers with one finger if you wanted when it is moving.
It's about unwanted wear and tear on your components.
@@brandonrobertson6327 100% correct Brandon
I have a Toro LX468 that's made by MTD. Do they all have 3/4inch wheel shafts?
I'm from Canada, I can't seem to find anything with the thrust bearing washers for the spindles on Amazon.
Very good video nonetheless
Yes most are 3/4" I updated my links!
Buy the Steering Kits here (they include wheel bearings);
Craftsman/Husqvarna (Black Dust Caps): amzn.to/41QnDyh
John Deere (Yellow Dust Caps): amzn.to/40Bl0PU
NTA-1220 Steering Thrust Bearings Canada: amzn.to/41B8tNK
NTA-1220 Bulk Pack Canada: amzn.to/3UXfW7r
10 pack of 9040H Wheel Bearings: amzn.to/3N60qUA
9040H Wheel Bearings Canada: amzn.to/3N6QJFz
Great tips
Thanks for watching!
Nice video thanks
Thanks for watching!
Would this be worth doing or make any improvements on a "turn tight" steering system?
I have no idea, and honestly don't know if it would be possible and the spindles on those connect on the top and bottom. I guess I'd have to get one in to try it, but I've never worked on one yet!
If you start from one side and put it on like a sour cream container lid you do not need to heat gun your dust caps. Its easy.
I like your analogy using a sour cream container lid.
Does that work when they are extremely hard as well?
@@waynestefinashen239 If you have thumbs like mine it should.
That's a great idea with the bearings in the wheel.hoq much so u rhink qirh power steering and wheel bearings raise rhe price??
Thanks
Your very welcome
I can't imagine a lawn mower being so hard to steer that it requires this. Tho I appreciate the video.
Not necessarily hard to steer, but this makes it significantly easier!
Much easier for us old guys eh!
You don't have a riding mower do you?
@@patrickbodine1300 Yes the YT4000 you interested at $1500 Cdn? We use customers lawnmowers to cut our lawn as a test LOL!
Not only does it make the steering easier to do, the important thing is that since it steers easier, it puts less stress on the steering gear that wears out so often
I have the same Craftsman tractor, do you know of a kit to get the front tires to track parallel to each other. Over time I have had to replace the steering rods (Purple and Orange) and the tires are never parallel anymore with no adjustability.
You could try this, these are upgraded adjustable ones: amzn.to/3oklMnh
Cool vid. You've earned a new subscriber. I have a Craftsman YT 6000 with the Red Hood. My front wheels are both toe out out of alignment are they manufactured that way or are they both supposed to be straight in line with each other?
Supposed to be straight, the spindles can bend over time. Watch how to straighten Husqvarna riding mower steering a guy has a good video he uses a long pipe. But you can buy the adjustable tie rods on Amazon they work great, these factory ones are not adjustable!
@@EliminatorPerformance I saw a video quite some time ago where a guy took a tie rod sleeve from whatever type of vehicle it was I don't remember and was able to correct it. I haven't got around to trying it yet. One of these days I'll get around to fixing it I'm not using it very often
@@michiganmagneto the tie rod kit on Amazon is like $120 Canadian it'll solve all the issues. amzn.to/3qKTPG9 if you need the outer smaller ones they sell them in as a kit too
@@EliminatorPerformance thanks I'll look into it.
👍👍👍 Definitely a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ tip. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Alright 5 stars plus the thumbs thanks
You showed the JD spindle bearings but failed to show the JD Part Number.
I know there's the full Amazon kit but I already have the wheel bearing upgrade. Just want the spindle bearings.
I can't find it for my S model or the LA model on the JD website or other parts website.
Have you got any ideas how to incorporate a bearing on that steering Shaft spindle?
Will the kit work on a Cud Cadet Riding mower?
Yes just make sure the size of the spindle shaft will fit the inside diameter of the bearing
Question mine had a plastic insert on the shaft? Yours didn't? Is is ok to remove it? Thanks
That's a good point, I'm not sure. I'm sure you could try it? If it works leave it, if not reinstall it.
Thanks bud !!!!!
Thanks for watching!
This a cool hack! 👍
Is that the factory seat with arm rests or is it aftermarket? If aftermarket can you share a link
Great tip my friend, lol yes a mess for sure.
Thanks for watching!
what is the inner diameter and outer diameter of the trunion bearing for the spindle? would it be the same for a YT 3000 Sears Craftsman? need to know asap.
Will the recommended kit work on a 2007 Craftsman DYS4500?
I can't find these on Amazon. Could you send me the link for them. The only thing I can find doesn't have the bearing
My Husqvarna rider had a front wheel crooked at less than 60 hours. The wheel bushing had no grease in it. It was worn out already. I did the wheel bearing upgrade. I’ll probably do the poor man’s power steering kit next.
Does this kit work with the Troy Bilt Super Broncos?
The kit is sold out any other links?
Keep looking, you may have to buy the thrust needle roller bearings and the wheel bearings separately, I know lots of people have been buying them.
Question I have is...do the specs on the wheel bearings apply for a cc30/cr30 MTD mini rider?
I've tried looking for information on different searches, but came up with nothing.
No unfortunately not, you'd likely have to remove the spindle to measure the shaft, that way you can choose the bearing ID. Then measure how much clearance you'd have on the outside of the spindle, and you can pick the OD size of the thrust needle roller bearing.
@@EliminatorPerformance
Yowza! I'll have to pull out the ol' dusty calipers then, to do some minuscule measurements. A daunting task, as I have never done this before.
I think I'll wait till June, when the mid summer drought begins, to do this. That way, when the machine is disabled, I can properly visit the local supply stores for some technical input. Then I won't have to worry about cutting my overgrown lawn.
I'll let you know how well I did, once I get the proper parts.
Will that poor man power steering system work on a Club Car 6 passanger golf cart?
Hard to say, I've never done one. You'd have to take it apart and measure shaft size and also clearance.
will this work on the craftsman yt4500?
Love it
Works great, thanks for watching Bruce!
How do I get one of these kits to do my Craftsman
Unfortunately the kits are sold out at the moment, but you can click the other links in the pinned comment and buy the bearings separately!
Hi, I have a Cub Cabet XT2 LX46. Do you know what washer kit I would order?
I’m worried the trust washer is gonna get worn out quickly without the washers?
It's possible, so if that's the case then grinding the axle top would be the only way to increase the available space to give enough room for the washers.
I installed them on my John Deere D155 lawnmower. I notice a small difference in the turning of the lawnmower. Nothing to write home to Mother about. But every lawnmower is different. The only real difference was making small turns, they were easier. Large turns had no effect on turning in my opinion.
Needs both washers on both sides of the bearing. Better off cutting a new grove in the spindle for the clip to go into.
How does one know what diameter bearing to use on a cub cadet prior to purchasing the kit?
Very good question. The only way to be 100% sure is pull the dust cap and measure the diameter of the spindle (top and bottom are the same diameter). This installation makes a big difference many think it does not.
great vid man!!!
I think using that needle thrust bearing without the provided washers is not a good practice. I suspect that using the needle bearing on an imperfect surface will cause the bearing to fail prematurely. The washers that come with the bearings are precision ground so the bearing has a perfectly smooth surface to run on. A better way to go would be to grind a new slot for the clip on the top of the spindle. Or drill the spindle for a cross bolt to secure it, that way you would be able to use the precision washers that go with the bearing.
I'll probably measure and grind down the main pivoting axle shaft next time on the top, which would give me enough room to run the washers. Thanks for watching!
@@EliminatorPerformance good idea, I didn’t think of that.
So basically, the bearing doesn't fit with the washers that should be used. I suggest machining the cast axle with a file/grinder to achieve the clearance needed to use the washers. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother to run the needle bearing at all.
Seems like dirt and dust would get get in and foul the needle bearings
Just realized that Craftsman YT tractors are the same as Husqvarna YTH
The deeg replacement Craftsman riding mower front wheel bushings are out of stock as of today
That's unfortunate, but check back again usually they restock quite quickly. I linked others so you can purchase just the needle bearings and the wheel bearings separately
Which kit would work on a troybilt bronco
Should be the same but you should measure the shaft diameter to be sure.
To install that bottom bearing WITHOUT 2 washers seems like if the bottom of the spindle is not perfectly smooth it’s going to grind the rollers to smithereens in short order. I, don’t want to appear that I am arrogant, I would grind the TOP of the spindle gradually until the E clip fit and had washer play.
Perhaps I misunderstood the procedure for installing the bottom assembly. If I did…. My sincere apologies.