Wheel bearing fun... :( (JD cheaper than Simp!)

July 30, 2003

Well a friend of mine bought a 712s on my recommendation. Night before last he was mowing and the front wheel fell off! :(! Luckily he wasn't upset or anything but I was a bit upset that I missed it in the initial inspection. I ended up replacing both inner and outer bearings and the entire shaft assembly as the outer bearing had welded itself to the unit. Fortunately I had a complete front end out of a 3410 and all the parts matched. ^ One note, I checked with my dealer for bearings and had a bit of a shock, he said the Simplicity bearings (Timken) were listed at $13+ each but if he got them from JD (Same Timken) they were $5.50 each. First time I ever saw a JD part cheaper than a Simplicity. [:0] I am going to order the Timkens for a supply house just so I have a set on hand.

July 31, 2003

That is suprising, my uncle bought a mower deck shell a couple of years ago for a JD. cost him 650.00. I just bought one for my 7010 and it was 314.00 cant imagine what makes that much difference, or what they cost now. John

August 1, 2003

Timken and BCA bearings are hard to beat. I used to sell them at a Auto Parts Store and you will find them cheaper than the OEM bearings. MOST of the OEM bearings are infact Timken or BCA. If you take your old bearing in to the AUTO parts store, they can match it up or cross it from the numbers that are stamped on the old bearing. The only problem you may have is getting the counterman to get out his "o'man I can't believe I have to read this" cross reference/buyers guide. If they can't use the electronic catalogue, many are completely lost. I have got where I ask for the paper catalogue and look it up myself!

August 1, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by JBLACK
That is suprising, my uncle bought a mower deck shell a couple of years ago for a JD. cost him 650.00. I just bought one for my 7010 and it was 314.00 cant imagine what makes that much difference, or what they cost now. John

Maybe just maybe. The JD part steel was made in China shipped to Thialand where they stamped the shape and shipped it to Bangaladesh to paint it and shipped it to Oshkosh for bearings.