American bearing source?

[cfell]

I'll give it a try... not looking too good tho...

Where can an old salt like me find "good 'ol made in the USA bearings"????

[astuber]

Timken makes tapered roller bearings in the US.

[dshealey]

Just what type of bearing are you looking for? There are still several American manufacturers, but with the worldwide manufacturing state we are in now, you would have to find out where the exact bearing you were looking at from an American company is actually made.

I am pretty familiar with bearings of all types, and most name manufacturers, so if I knew just what you are trying to source I may be able to help.

[gunny]

Like Alan sez, Timkens are made right here in the USA. Matter of fact theres a big factory right up the road in Lincolnton, NC, there's another bearing factory near Forest City, NC, or there was a couple of years ago. Timken is still going, know a couple of folks that work there. If they shut that place down they'd be over here hunting employment.

What do you need for bearings? I'll call my buddy and see if they have them or maybe have him make some up, just for you.

[cfell]

thanks, guys! Yeah. they are 6204 2RS. Sealed, Ball Bearings I imagine.

They are the stock ones on my Cub Cadet lawn tractor.... yeah... purchased in May and last weekend they were howling to beat the band...

I pulled the belt and verified the noise.. Removed the deck only to find the grease fittings on the UNDERSIDE of the spindle... uhhh... ok...

So, I grease 'em up... still rumbling.. DUH.. they are SEALED bearings (which didn't make sense....I did not know they were SEALED until removing them (Lesson #1)

Long story trying to find "repair"... So, ok, I'll fix myself...

Went to local "Capitol Bearing" and all they have are the bearings, made in Argentina.. they are sealed... SEALED!!! uh.. so, why are there GREASE FITTINGS????? No grease can get into the bearings..

Soooooo.. I check the Cadet website.. there are tapered bearings for another "serial number range"... I figure those are the ones Cadet sells ...not like the one I got from Homely Despot...

Lesson #2 (in this note alone.... not in life...)

I would like to replace with the CORRECT "tapered roller" bearings... but that will take some figuring and trial/error...

[grifscoots]

Try Purvis Bearing. I fixed a rider many years ago thru them with the exact same problemo, though it was a Craftsman.

[dshealey]

thanks, guys! Yeah. they are 6204 2RS. Sealed, Ball Bearings I imagine.

They are the stock ones on my Cub Cadet lawn tractor.... yeah... purchased in May and last weekend they were howling to beat the band...

I pulled the belt and verified the noise.. Removed the deck only to find the grease fittings on the UNDERSIDE of the spindle... uhhh... ok...

So, I grease 'em up... still rumbling.. DUH.. they are SEALED bearings (which didn't make sense....I did not know they were SEALED until removing them (Lesson #1)

Long story trying to find "repair"... So, ok, I'll fix myself...

Went to local "Capitol Bearing" and all they have are the bearings, made in Argentina.. they are sealed... SEALED!!! uh.. so, why are there GREASE FITTINGS????? No grease can get into the bearings..

Soooooo.. I check the Cadet website.. there are tapered bearings for another "serial number range"... I figure those are the ones Cadet sells ...not like the one I got from Homely Despot...

Lesson #2 (in this note alone.... not in life...)

I would like to replace with the CORRECT "tapered roller" bearings... but that will take some figuring and trial/error...

Tapered Roller bearings and Ball bearings are in no way interchangeable. Taperer rollers can only be used if in opposing pairs with a way to adjust the clearance or preload.

The spindle bearings on any lawn cutter MUST be sealed, or they will not last long. Just too dirty for shielded bearings. However, if the spindle housing has a grease fitting between the bearings they should have been single seal units, with the open sides to the inside so the grease can get to the balls.

6204 bearings are a very common size, so should be readily available just about anywhere. American made is not so much an issue, any good brand should do the job just fine.

Off the top of my head I would use any of the following:

SKF, INA, FAG, MRC, NTN, Koyo, NMB, Fafnir. Not all American companies, but all make high quality bearings.

As an aside, I am not a fan of the current Cub Cadet company. When it used to be International Cub Cadet they made good equipment. Now, the company is owned by MTD, the same company that furnishes cheap stuff such as Yard Man, Murray, Bolens, etc.. MTD has never been known for quality or customer support. I worked in my Uncle's mower/tractor sales and service for some time in my younger days, and we learned to have no respect for MTD.

The Commercial line of Cub Cadet is still pretty good, such as the "Tank" zero turn mowers, but when I was recently shopping for a good ZTR I would not even look at the lower models, such as the ones sold in the "Big Box" stores.

[loansumrider]

does thie mean that we will now have tech sesions for both the motorcycles and the riding mowers ??

what a great concept, everyone riding there mowers through the backroads
to an RTE !!!

Jim :dance:

keep smiling

[munson]

thanks, guys! Yeah. they are 6204 2RS. Sealed, Ball Bearings I imagine. They are the stock ones on my Cub Cadet lawn tractor.
Those are used on Sweetpea's Burgman, too. I don't know the manuf., but here's a link.
http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/6204-2RS.html?id=IQMTBrN4

[cfell]

Thanks again, guys!

MTD.. yeah... learned that too late, Dave... and after disassembly realized, no, they did NOT have the inside of the bearings open for lube to get in. They are, however, "spaced".. don't know how critical they were.. will find out tomorrow during reassembly.

These spindles apparently can support the tapered or roller... just will have to work at the "preload" problem if/when I upgrade..

Brother John... those are much cheaper than I found locally.

So, for now, I'm going to use the "stock" ones with the inner seals "relieved"....and look into the tapered for next rebuild...

Looks like another "American" company bites the dust... (btw, they HID the fact they are MTD really well.)

[bigbear]

Cfell,
on 99% of these bearings you can easily remove one of the seals. Take a small screw driver and pry the seal right out. I also believe that if you go to a Cub Cadet stealer their bearings may be single sided seals.

NOTE: On the models that use tapered rollers they are more difficult to adjust the preload than the LT's final drive. There I compared the features for those commenting about needing a tech session for both :)

Roy

[cfell]

Thanks, Roy.. I'll probably take pics just for fun... Going back with "stock" bearings and will remove the inner seals...

[jlcarter]

Contact Jonesboro Bearing and Supply. They can get just about any bearing you want. (870) 932-6803

[cfell]

yuk..

Some pics of old/dirty New/clean... did not get pics of new bearings after removal of inner seal..one thing's for sure, there was hardly any grease in the NEW ones either...

Problem resolved... rebuilt spindle #1... found other defective's.. gonna work them tamale..

Castings have strange resemblance to HD...