Burning Bushings?

Hey guys.
I've noticed that after I romp hard (as usual), if I go through a puddle or body of water, my front wheel bushings (don't have bearings) will somke (burning off the water). Is this a problem? Is it going to melt the bushings, and start to damage the wheels or axles? I don't have any other wheels that fit this tractor. Even one I have on there now doesn't really fit.
Just wanted to check!

Thx

yikes, sounds like they need grease.

Grease them more often. Or get sealed bearings.

grease grease grease, everything I own needs more grease. Just ran out.

Bearings are the ultimate solution. But you will probably need new wheels with a larger bore to facilitate them. In the meantime, your bushings should have been oil impregnated from the factory, but may have lost it. Try this- put them in a metal can and fill the can to cover the bushings with clean motor oil. Pop it in your favourite toaster oven at about 200 degrees for an hour or so.

Grease them anyways, and clean and regrease after every use in mud or water. Do NOT use solvent to clean them, just a rag. Use a good quality bearing grease.

hah! Interesting solution! Thanks for the help.

If you do want to upgrade to bearings get a hole saw cut them middle of the rim out (the part that slides onto the spindle) then find a piece of pipe that will fit the size or bearings you need and just weld the pipe into the hole you cut out with the hole saw.

Oh yeah, thanks. I'm not there yet!

Doc, does it have to be clean motor oil? I have half a gallon of watered down oil I need to get rid of!

I would suggest clean new stuff.

What type of rims you got? The ones Craftsman use, the ones with the 3/4" spindle bore, can hold 1 3/8" bearings if you tap out the bushings.

Put a grease zerk on the rim.

Yea. One wheel is temporary, and the other one came with it, but I don't think it's original. I'll see if I can get my dad to buy grease.

I dont think ive seen a rim with bushings WITHOUT zerks.

I have. They're out there.

Doug Fackler wrote:

I dont think ive seen a rim with bushings WITHOUT zerks.

i have, it came off a mtd, still got it some where, it seemed odd to me to have the bushing and no zerk lol

I have too. Picked one up out of a scrap pile today in fact. Bushings, no grease fitting.

Ymy rims has one and one doesn't. The one that doesn't os off of an old tractor.

I guess im just lucky.