Re: (ET) "Mower Motor Rebuilding"

["Steve & Sandy Naugler" <snaugler earthlink net>]

GE folks,
    I forgot to mention that my first 3 rebuilds of mower deck motors
without sealants now have 8 mowing seasons on them.  I may have 1 noisy
lower motor bearing.  If and when I have to disassemble any of these motors
I will opt to not use sealants.  I will (again) use LocTite 242 on any and
all bolts which will have some sealing properties around the treaded
fasteners.
    I did use a garden hose to wash the mower deck on occasion.  With the
rubber discs on the shaft, a garden hose has very little likelihood of
washing grease out of the bearings; there is no direct shot into the
bearings.  But eliminating that much wetness near the motors is a good 
idea,
and I may give up the garden hose washing in the future.
    When I replaced the bearings, I used sealed bearings instead of the
original shielded bearings.  My experience is that seals retain grease and
exclude dust and water better than shields.
    Hope this helps,

Steve Naugler

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>
To: "'Steve & Sandy Naugler'" <snaugler earthlink net>; "Pestka, Dennis J"
<Dennis Pestka mkg com>; "'Elec-Trak Email Discussion List'"
<elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu>
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2000 9:18 AM
Subject: RE: (ET) "Mower Motor Rebuilding"


> Steve wrote; (in part)
>
> ;    I have rebuilt six mower motors and so far not needed to use sealers
> ;anywhere.  I'd be interested to know if the need for silicone sealer is
> fact
> ;or myth.
>
> ;Steve Naugler
>
> Myth or no, I can't be sure.  I have rebuilt 3 motors and NOT used
silicone
> on
> any.  My rationale?  I am the operator.  I will know if something "isn't
> right"
> It is hard to get the old stuff off.  The mower will be used.  The
bearings
> are
> sealed.  I  had to clean off corrosion on the iron even WITH the 
> silicone;
I
>
> suspect moisture still got in and was in effect sealed in the motor.  If
> I've
> got to clean the iron with or without the silicone, I'll vote for no
> silicone.
> The oldest rebuild is working fine after over 4 years.
>
> Larry Elie
>