One of the bearings on my clutch drive shaft completely fell apart. I figured that rather than just replacing the broken one it would be much wiser to replace all of the bearings on the shaft while I'm at it. So I started tinkering, but for the life of me I cannot work out how I can pull the entire clutch drive assembly out. Is there a way of getting the shaft and all the plates out in one go without having to pull half the mower apart? I've got the very outer bearings, the small sprocket and the clutch fork removed. No matter which way I move the shaft something is in the way. And it seems to me that there is no way to slide the shaft out to the side as the central square section won't go through the centre of the bearings in the drive pulleys.
I'd love a little help with this please. I can post some photos if that helps.
You basically have 2 options, either pull one of the giant triangluar plates off the back, as per the photo, or you can take to the top of the frame with an angle grinder/oxy and cut a groove to remove it. Most of the ones I have seen have been butchered the second way. Unfortunately Anniversary is the worst model they made to work on. If it were mine, I would just do the shaft bearings and leave the pulley bearings alone, they always seem to last a lot longer. Unless the drive is due for corks, then you won't have much choice.
I'll have another look at it this arvo to see if I can remove the side plates. I don't like the butchering option much, although - probably easy enough to bolt it back together in a more service-friendly manner with some extra bits.
At least it wasn't me going loopy in thinking that taking the shaft out is not straight forward.
Would you know if those shaft bearings are a standard item at a bearing supplier or are they a custom Greenfield part? They seem a bit fancy..
The bearings are just off the shelf parts, any good bearing shop should have them. If you are going to the trouble of pulling it all out, have a good look at the corks, for only $40 or so it would probably be wise to throw a set in while you have it apart
Yes, good call with the corks! I have no idea where I would go to buy those. I'll have to scope around a bit.
Almost got the shaft/assembly out without cutting anything. I will keep tinkering and see how it goes. Getting it out is one thing.... getting it back in may be a whole different story.
Ok, for the benefit of others finding this thread: The 'goop' is construction adhesive (liquid nails) - yep, you read that correctly. Why? Because the housing/bore/hole in the plate is of poor quality. It will hold the bearing in place okay, but it does not inspire confidence that it won't riggle loose. It is cast so that there are ridges/splines that make contact with the bearing, rather than a quality machined hole that is a precision fit as one would usually find for pressed-in bearings. So, I did likewise and put in the new bearings with construction adhesive and knocked over the rim with a pin punch (as it was) to be sure they stay in place.
Sorry about the late reply, So that is definitely not original, I have never seen one with a bearing glued in like that. You can see by the marks, that has had a bearing replaced once before. They were not precision machined but were always fine, from factory the bearing was peened in though.
