Fix It Friday

You know you're old when you spend a Friday night home doing chores and not out doing things like Nighttime Time Trials or just going to the bar. Actually I've spent the last couple of weekends away. It was kind of nice to stay home for a bit, even if it was to do chores I've neglected for a while now.

First on the bill was a new belt for Jen's car. If you've been keeping track like I have, this is the third belt in a year. When I started this here bloggy thing (scroll down past the caterpillar), one of the first things I talked about was throwing a new belt on her car. The AC compressor had locked itself up and burnt off the belt. I bought and installed a belt that bypassed the compressor, so she'd at least have power steering.

Fast forward (or rewind if you will) to May and we had the compressor replaced with a new belt. Almost immediately the new belt squealed like a stuck pig. Very annoying, though Jen never really complained. Five minutes in the car and I was ready to hurt someone. On such a trip, I was conversing with my father (over the phone) about the possible causes for the belt squeal, then it quit. The squeal just stopped. Hmmmm. The AC was still blowing, but it wasn't blowing cold air anymore. I went to turn, but the car wouldn't turn anymore (the power steering and AC compressor run off the same belt if you hadn't figured it out already). When I got home the belt was gone.

Did I mention Jen was livid? We've spent a lot of money on this car this year. Each year we spend more and more to keep it running. When we do the math, it's still cheaper then a new car. Though it's close enough now, we're starting a new car fund. Inspection is due in November. Last year it didn't really pass the emissions part of the test. I'm sure with me in India for a month (away from my bikes and whatever else I can imagine spending money on), Jen will be able to save up quite a lot toward a down payment on something hybrid by then.

Anyway, the belt worked. Went on pretty easily and the car fired right up. The AC works too. Still not sure was wrong with the other belt. I'll probably drive it a few days before releasing it back to Jen with a bill of good health.

Whole lotta story for just a belt huh? Wait till you read the next.

So the tractor's been making a funny noise for a while now when I'm cutting the grass. It's also been cutting the grass pretty poorly. Being around things mechanical for more then I care, I was pretty sure the noise was a bearing destroying itself. Spending hours upon hours each week driving in circles I was even able to narrow the noise down to the left side of the tractor. The left blade to be exact, so I went online, looked at the parts diagrams and ordered what looked cool.

First step in the overhaul process was pulling the mower deck. I've never really enjoyed this. I hate it actually, but each time I do it, it gets easier and I dread it a little less. It's like that one hill in a race you dread climbing each lap. By the time you're finished, you've figured it out and it's not that bad of a climb. You almost laugh at your original anxiety for the thing.

I still hate pulling the deck. The part in question is the blade on the left. Here's a quick description of what has to be done. From the bottom you see the blade is bolted on. Basically the blade is bolted to an axle with a bearing on each end that runs through an aluminum housing that is bolted to the mower deck. On one end of the axle is the blade as you see above. Bolted to the other end of the axle is the pulley to spin the axle and therefor the blade.

Disassembly is the easy part - just unbolt everything. As I'm removing parts and pieces, I'm noticing the telltale signs of mechanically woe. With the blade removed, I see some lopsided wear on the bottom.

With the pulleys removed, I see more wear.

Pull off the aluminum axle housing, drive out the axle/bearing combo and...

Viola! the old torn up axle on the right, next to the new one on the left.

It appears there's a significant amount of material missing from the old one. I couldn't really tell if it was originally designed like that or it really wore itself away.

Reassembly went pretty quick, though I had to improvise a part with a washer I had lying around. When I took the pulleys off, a piece of what used to be a special spacer fell out obliterated. I've since ordered the new part, which means I'll have to pull the deck again. Oh joy.

I ran it and cut the grass Saturday. Not sure if I was paranoid or what, but I still heard a faint "I'm destroying myself" sound. There are two other blades with all the same bearing/axle combos in addition to all the other failable parts this tractor seems to be constructed of. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

- b