John Deere mower deck bearing replacement

Many riding mowers use disposable sheaves (pulleys) with integrated bearings. With a simple modification, these can be made to accommodate replaceable bearings than you can service yourself for about 1/20th of the price!

---- COMMON QUESTIONS ALREADY ANSWERED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ----

BEARING GREASE: When using bargain bearings, be careful, some bearings sourced from overseas have little to no decent grease in them. This can be remedied on an otherwise good bearing by gently lifting the grease cover from one side using a pick or small blade, add desired grease, and replace cover prior to installation.

SHEAVES VS. PULLEYS: The terms are used interchangeably in most countries, though there are certain localities where there is a preference for one vs. the other, and this can be industry or company specific as well. The fact is here in the US, the convention is ambiguous. The deciding factor is "what term does the manufacturer use?", and in the case of JD riding mowers, the manual calls them sheaves... so sheaves they are in this case ;)

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LABOR?: Sometimes I do just drink a beer, and sometimes I make the beer myself, and share it with my friends and family. Not because it's cheaper, but because sometimes I just like to do it myself, and then bathe in the DIY afterglow ;) Doing it yourself is fun, and to me that also figures into the ROI calculation. 😉

PRESS OUT BEARINGS: In many designs, pulleys/sheaves CAN be pressed out (with arbor press, or by using other improvised techniques), HOWEVER… on this JD design, the sheave is composed of two identical half shells stamped out of sheet metal, with a retaining lip that covers the bearing outer race, “captivating” it, which prevents simply pressing them out.

CRESCENT WRENCH: I used an adjustable, even though I have multiple socket sets, which makes me a terrible person according to many… guilty! 😊

Parts used (Amazon):
1/4-20 x 1/2" Button Head Socket Cap Screws, Allen Socket Drive, Black Oxide, Grade 10.9 Alloy Steel, Fully Threaded, 50 PCS ; ASIN: B07NQN2G2F

1/4-20" Black Nylon Lock Nuts Inserted Self Locking Hex Nuts Carbon Steel Zinc Plated, 50 PCS ; ASIN: B08RHVC7MP

6203-2RS Ball Bearings (17x40x12mm) Double Rubber Red Seal Bearing, Deep Groove, 10 PCS; ASIN: B07PCQJ1SL


00:00 Intro
00:45 Sheave (pulley) removal
03:15 A closer look at sheave & bearing assembly
04:55 Preparing sheave for drilling
06:43 Drilling out old rivets
09:22 Resizing rivet holes for nuts & bolts
10:14 Separating sheave halves, and removing old bearing
13:16 Installing new bearing
16:05 Parts discussion
17:18 Conclusion


John Deere Mower, Mower bearing replacement, Mower sheave replacement, Mower pulley replacement, Pulley bearing, Sheave bearing, Mower deck bearings