3260 Deck Spindle Rebuild Help

[scaamp]

Picked up a new to me cub 154 with a 3260 mower on it. The center spindle and pulley were shot. I ordered a new pulley, bearings, and spindle through HamiltonBobs. I’ve got it all together and the service manual says to torque pulley nut to 95-115ft/lbs. I can barely tighten it up without the bearings locking up. Is there a torque sequence for this? Torque down, back off, and re torque with some sort of lock washer?

[Eugene]

https://www.messicks.com/cas/67061

There are several spacers between the bearings. They need to be in the correct order.

Have a 3260 and worked on several spindles over the years. Haven't had a problem torqueing down the spindle nut.

[mozer71]

Hi. I have an IHC 3260 deck. It was totally messed up when I got it, so I know what you are going through. The Timken type roller bearings require some preset torque but no where near what the pulley requires. I used precision shims to stack that balance and a short nut to lock. Then the pulley, key and top lock washer and tall nut. Even with that and the blade blocked-so it wouldn't spin- I have a special long wrench to hold that bearing nut. The top nut takes so much force that I have to play both wrenches. This is the major drawback of an otherwise great deck.

[mozer71]

I should have read Eugene first

[mozer71]

Hoping that you got it together well. My original arbor was so wallowed out at the key slot, I had to weld and grind the slot square. The whole time this wear was happening, it was boring out the pulley. So the measures I took were different than if it had been new parts. I made a new arbor when I should have been mowing. The dimensions to the pulley were different to compensate for the wear. There was no "step" , against which, to tighten the pulley. That was reason for the other nut. Before I forget to mention, the grease fitting atop the spindle is right angled. I suppose that made it easier for a grease gun but it isn't. Weeds and vines unwind that thing. Greaser with right angle head does fine with straight fitting.