(ET) Mower Musings

["David Roden" <etpost drmm net>]

One of the mower motors on my Avco R36 rider has gotten noisy, so it's 
time 
for a refurb.  I've pulled the deck and torn it down.  Two questions come 
to 
mind.

QUESTION 1: mower motors.  I've successfully changed lower bearings in 
mower 
motors before, but I remember that for some reason I failed with the upper 
bearings.  I don't recall why (it was at least 10 years ago).  I don't own 
a 
press.  Anyone have any upper-bearing-changing tips?

I'm also concerned about the potential for breaking a magnet.  These 
motors 
are a different size from any I've seen used in front-deck ETs, so they're 
probably more scarce.  How much risk is there?

Should I be cautious and instead take the motors to a shop?  I had the 
drive 
motor bearings changed by a local auto electric shop a while back and they 
seemed to do an OK job, thoiugh it was a tad pricey, and they used some 
bearing brand I'd never heard of.

Further comments?  Thoughts?

QUESTION 2: Last time I had this deck apart, I ground the rust off and hit 
it with an etchant, then painted with "appliance epoxy."  That was a bust. 
 
Rust remained in pits and the rust soon pushed right through the paint. 

Last time I did a (different) mower deck, I had it sandblasted.  I sprayed 
the top with rattle-can enamel, then used two-part primer and topcoat on 
the 
underside.  (You have to be careful and work outside with a box fan - the 
fumes are deadly!)  

That seemed to stand up better, but in truth I'm not sure.  I almost never 
use the front mower any more (I like the Avco rider better for mowing), so 
it hasn't had a real test.

Over the years I've read some other ideas on this list - POR-15, I think 
powder-coating (someone at work suggested that too), and even galvanizing. 
 

Has anyone tried powder-coating a well-worn mower deck?  How well did it 
stand up?

I know we have some POR-15 advocates here.  I've never used it, but just 
about fainted at the price.  Some say you can brush it right over rust, 
but 
I really want this deck sandblasted.  Would it be pointless to use POR-15 
on 
clean metal?  Does it need a primer on clean metal? 

What about POR-15 over powder coating?  Something else?

And - is POR-15 really all that durable?  Will it last for, say, 5-10 
seasons of mowing?  

It's also nice if it's not too sticky and the grass is easy to scrape off 
(I 
use a plastic windshield scraper).

What's worked LONG TERM for you for protecting mower decks?

Thanks.


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA

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