Front wheel bearings.

Another newbie here....

Not to thread hijack too much 'cause we've almost veered there, when everyone is saying "bearings" are you actually talking about the plastic bushings that I've found in most all the 8" wheels I see?

What are you old-timers using for 8" wheels in your heavy duty rigs? Does anyone make real roller bearing wheels for a 3/4" spindle?  My project JD 111H has 6" wheels with real bearings.

Thanks.

Well it depends on the tractor I suppose.

Some do have steel or plastic bushings like you mentioned, while others have little replaceable bearings. The 8" rims I put on the front of the MTD in my profile picture have long straight roller bearings that are almost like a super heavy duty needle bearing. Then some older garden tractors, like my Allis B-110, have special rims than use races and tapered roller bearings.

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Well it depends on the tractor I suppose.

. The 8" rims I put on the front of the MTD in my profile picture have long straight roller bearings that are almost like a super heavy duty needle bearing.

That sounds just like what I'm looking for.....

Do you have any idea where you sourced the rims?

Or part numbers for the bearings?

Thanks again.

Sorry, they were just somethimg I had lying around so I'm not sure where they came from.

Okay, I've come up with these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BL-B1212-OH-Needle-Brg-Drawn-Cup-Bore-0-750-In-G2097518B-1212-Drawn-Cup-Needle-R/323627292919?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

which appear to duplicate the specs of the flanged plastic bushings.  

Have you guys been driving them in or are they a slip fit?  Do you use a spacer sleeve in between (inside the wheel)?

Looks like one would have to add a few washers to make up for the flanges on the ends, but otherwise, any other insight?

Thanks again and again.

I split these last few post and made a new thread, so we could keep the other thread on topic.

AK moved this while I was typing.  

More on the line of these for the ball bearing ones....
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/60967726

These are the typical metal ones.
https://www.amazon.com/Rotary-Bearing-bushing-9040H-532009040/dp/B004XJ42EY/ref=asc_df_B004XJ42EY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076851563&hvpos=2o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14903308374665605694&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026715&hvtargid=pla-319503375011&psc=1

That would be a bearing on each side of 1 wheel. Note the flange that keeps it from going in too far. If they go in and out loosely, you may need to peen the wheel a bit.

He he he

Sorry about the thread-jack.

Yeah, Mighty, those are the bearings for the OEM JD 6" wheels, but I've got a pair of MTD 8" wheels with the 1" hub made for the plastic bushings I'm trying to retro-fit.

I can always find the hard way around.

Thanks guys.

All righty.  So as not to be a drive-by information vacuum, here's where I've gotten on the project, just in case someone comes looking for a similar solution.

I went ahead and ordered the needle bearings: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BL-B1212-OH-Needle-Brg-Drawn-Cup-Bore-0-750-In-G2097518B-1212-Drawn-Cup-Needle-R/323627292919?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

After turning the hubs down to approx. 3" to fit the length of the JD spindles, I pressed the bearing into place.   They are sufficiently snug that I don't think they'll be migrating anywhere.  Because I didn't like the idea of just naked bearings hanging out there, I turned the MTD bushings down to about .250" and put them on both ends to seal things.  I packed the center of the hub with excess grease and popped the wheels on.

Like night and day the reduction of play in the wheels.  I haven't run the thing around yet, but just pushing it around is _nice_.

While on the subject of front ends, I ordered some more needle bearings: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NTA1220-THRUST-NEEDLE-ROLLER-BEARING-WITH-TWO-WASHERS-3-4-X-1-1-4-X-5-64/113610573373?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I took approx. .125" off the tops of the axle tubes to make room for them and slipped them in between the spindles and the axle.  Whoo-Hoo!  Went from Mack truck to Cadillac power steering.  

Now, back to our regular programming. Thanks for the help.

oooo I like the idea of the thrust roller bearing! Good idea.

One thing that made my wheel horse go from feeling like a mach truck to a Cadillac was aligning my front end with zero toe in or out.