Determine bad bearing(s) - 48" deck

[OrangeMetalGuy]

I may have to put my backup deck into use this spring, as I've found my primary deck has some rot at the front attachment point and the pivot arm is starting to tear away on one side.  Plan on that is to have it cut out and a patch welded in.

Anyway, I have a spare deck which is rustfree however I recall significant bearing whine from the last time I used it (about 5-6 years ago).  Is there a way to determine (statically, without the deck turning under PTO power) which bearing may be bad?  It's been a number of years but my memory of bearing replacement on these is that it's a truly miserable job.

[Bill725]

Bearings are P204RR6. A Fafnir branded bearing is $18.79 * 6 = $112.74.

[Brettw]

The best way to figure it out, is to disengage / remove the driven belt to the three blades and turn them individually by hand.  Feel for resistance and / or play / wobble.  As far as them being a PITA to change out, yes they can be challenging if they haven't been removed  and are rusty.  Otherwise, grab a few barley pops, turn on some music in the shop, and have at it.  A press is nice, but a pipe of the proper inside diameter can be used to drive the old bearings off.  Wire wheel the shafts and clean them up, and tap the new bearings on.  It can seem monumental, but once you get after it, it's really not bad.

[Brettw]

I would add that these bearings are available on E-bay for around 5 bux each. 

[steve-wis]

I have used the cheap bearings from ebay and found them to last pretty well and work as good as the big dollar ones.  If I were cutting many hours a week I would go with fafner, but my lawn takes about 45- 50 minutes to mow so the cheap ones will last for years.

Steve

[Chris727]

If you have the newer two-piece housings check them for wear also. I don't recall if its an issue on the Sovereign series but on the Landlord/Prestige, it will cause excessive vertical movement of the shaft and bearings unless adding just the right amount of shims before assembly. The hosing halves are not too terribly expensive.