Well let's see:I did have a spindle gall once in the front axle bracket. Tractor couldn't steer, and I could not get it out. Using a hammer only mushroomed the top, and I couldn't collapse it by drilling. Likewise heat didn't work.
New axle and spindles and everything's been fine since. I make sure to grease-gun all the zekes, including the ones on the front axles and wheels. No problems.
I do have the snowblower and lift it a lot while working/drive with it, etc. It's really not a problem if I have about 150 pounds of weight in the back of the tractor; I've thought at times that what I really should do is put the tiller on the back to offset the load. Plus I could drop it to drive on ice.
Maybe that would help; get a weight box and put in a few hundred pounds of lead or something. That would take more of the weight off the front wheels.
C On 5/1/2011 10:11 AM, George Beckett wrote:
Pieter, Thanks so much for digging into your pubs for me. Your spindle story in amazing. So far I am still on my first set, heaviest jobs I use mine for so far are to load/unload manure and top soil for the garden, orchard and berry patch. Harold Z. told me he has never had a pair break on his- except a heavy-duty set! Any other experiences out there?