Mini Skid Steer Rebuild: Can Rebuilding Rollers Save $$$?

Bottom rollers are the most expensive mechanical parts on a mini skid steer just because there are so many of them. So when they wear out, what can you do? Whenever you can rebuild something, won’t it be cheaper than replacing it? That’s what I wanted to find out.
Vermeer part numbers
Bearings for old triple rollers: 163733930
Seals for old triple rollers: 296355376
Old triple roller assembly: 296355362
New Enhanced triple roller assembly: 163774288
Part manufacturers’ numbers
Bearings: KOYO 6205RS
Seals: TOKEZ 700060

[@voidthewarranty1429]

Yep. Those rollers are a bear to push apart. I used my brothers large 50 tonne hydraulic press and got large bangs at the bearings started to release.

[@voidthewarranty1429]

Hi from New Zealand. I'm currently rebuilding the rollers on my own Vermeer S450TX. The rust pitting on the end of the shaft isn't really an issue because the seal does not 'run' on the shaft. The cassette oil seals are two part construction with the rotating sealing surface being inside the seal. The inner part of the seal sits tightly on the shaft and rotates with it, so the rough surface doesn't matter.

[@reidthemanual]

That’s a great point! The pitting on the shaft in the video actually reduced the diameter, so the seal would fit loose. That would allow moisture/mud to bypass the seal ID and lead to premature bearing failure. BUT, since it’s a cassette seal and doesn’t need to spin against the shaft, I could have just used some retaining compound to bond the seal ID against the pitted shaft. I might try that next time.

[@reidthemanual]

You can also try the bearing-only rebuild that I show in another video. One guy online recommended that. Time will tell how it does.