Finish mower bent wheel spindles

[Dunbar]

I picked up a FDR16 on CL for $600. It's in great shape except that the spindles (shafts that hold the height adjusting bushings) are bent. The front 2 are bent enough to affect spinning a bit and the rear 2 just a tad.

Can I heat these and straighten them out? I see that I can purchase the part, its connected to the bracket arm that holds the small axle through the wheel. I can also buy the whole wheel assembly. The thing is in great shape otherwise as the seller purchased a zero turn and a Bush Hog so set this one aside.

Here is the CL ad copy: FDR16 Series about 2 years old, used less than 5 times. Asking $800 obo. Only selling because we bought a bush hog for the pasture instead.

 

[thebicman]

You could try and straighten them out but in my experience it will be difficult to get them perfect. If that's how the finisher was used for cutting no wonder it bent. That's a lot of force being put on the spindle vertical shaft.

 

[D2Cat]

If you know someone with a press, take all four off and have them straighten them. It's not a big deal, and they don't have to be absolutely perfect.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That fact that he was using it at full height in a pasture kind of explains the spindles being bent.

 

[Dunbar]

Thanks for the ideas. All the other used ones on CL looked like crap and were priced $1,000 higher than this one . The deck is perfect. Belt covers, belt, blades all appear new. I could buy 4 new wheel assemblies for ~ $500 and still have a great deal on it. I checked the oil and had them run it for me. I'm excited about the purchase despite the bent spindles. I have a new RCR 1860 to take down the big stuff and this guy will have easy grass duty.

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[Smokeless]

I have a 1672 behind my 3901, love it. Never used one before and the previous owner warned me about where and where not a finish mower should be used. We have a woods BH for rougher areas.

Had to replace the belt, $76.00, and i paid $900.00 for the mower. Probably some high, but new ones are about $2400 i believe. Mine loves to run at 2500 rpm

Sorry, no words of wisdom on my end, but i do know if it were mine i would back it in the garage and heat them. Failing that option a press is probably best option.

Hope it works for you.

 

[chim]

What D2 said. I've bent the stems on my LP FDR1672. I don't have a press, but I do have a pipe bender. By inserting the stem of the yoke through the bender frame at a right angle, the piston of the bender bends the 1" material as though it;'s a Tootsie Roll. I have no idea how much pressure the piston exerts, but it can bend up to 4" Sch40 steel pipe.

I think the main culprit for mine getting bent is hitting the raised edge of paving while swinging a turn.

 

[Duke]

I bent one of mine by backing up into a pine tree trunk. Ooops!
I'm going to try to straighten it out the same way but need a way to keep the caster 180 degrees out of position.

 

[Dunbar]

I went ahead and purchased new spindles. I thought the unit was a 60" when I was looking at it and after I purchased it. Later I noticed that it is a FDR1672 72", bonus! It cuts like a dream and there is no way I would consider getting a smaller one for a L2501 if I were shopping today. I can finesse the thing into tight spots and it is no hindrance in the woods or near obstructions.

 

[rkidd]

I have the exact same finish mower and straightened out the spindles when I bought it also. One I could use a press on and the other one I heated and straightened out. No problem.

 

[In Utopia]

Looks like you did a great job on straightening them, good use of another tool.

 

[SDT]

I picked up a FDR16 on CL for $600. It's in great shape except that the spindles (shafts that hold the height adjusting bushings) are bent. The front 2 are bent enough to affect spinning a bit and the rear 2 just a tad.

Can I heat these and straighten them out? I see that I can purchase the part, its connected to the bracket arm that holds the small axle through the wheel. I can also buy the whole wheel assembly. The thing is in great shape otherwise as the seller purchased a zero turn and a Bush Hog so set this one aside.

Here is the CL ad copy: FDR16 Series about 2 years old, used less than 5 times. Asking $800 obo. Only selling because we bought a bush hog for the pasture instead.



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Not uncommon when using a finish mower in place of a rough cut mower.

Still a good deal.

 

[GeoHorn]

Yep... I put my new finish mower on the 3-pt and it did a fine job.
Then I used my FEL to move some things and forgot about the finish-mower being back there and backed it into a fence and bent one of the wheel-spindles. Using the shop-hyd-press it was easy to straighten back out, as that shaft is pretty soft, mild steel. The pipe idea would likely also work....but see you’ve bought new ones. Have fun installing the wheels on the new shafts. Don’t forget that center-spacer inside the wheel-halves. Can’t simply not use it, or you’ll have wheels and bearings fall apart in the field.

 

[Dunbar]

Thanks. The new shafts came with wheels installed.