IH c28

[Harryaroo]

It looks like the bearing on my IH c28 sickle bar mower-- the bearing on the largish flywheel/pulley that drives the belt-- behind the pto shaft-- is shot. It doesn't look particularly easy to get off. Can anyone explain how it is done?

 

[DanielW]

I probably can, and can take some pictures, but will have to wait until tomorrow (as long as I remember). One of ours blew that bearing several years ago and it caused the belt sheaves to be misaligned. My grandfather just kept pouring the grease to what was left of the bearing and running it with the belt misaligned and running flipped (I wouldn't recommend doing that). I replaced the bearing after he died, but not sure why I bothered; We had four other sickle mowers (including another C28) in much better condition. That one was incredibly beaten up. It ended up going to the scrappers.

 

[Rick Remmert]

Undo the large nut on the backside. I use a pipe wrench as I don't have a wrench that big. Be careful of the spring because it is under tension. The spring is a safety guard ratchet that releases the sickle bar if it gets plugged up. It also saves the pitman stick from breaking. On the front end remove the shear bolt that holds the back half of the pto shaft on the shaft. It is also keyed, so you need to remove the key. You should be able to slide it apart. There are ball bearings at each end of the housing. They were just shielded. I put sealed both sides back in mine. They are common bearings that I got at the local bearing supply house. If I remember right, there are spacer washers between the front of the housing and the back of universal joint for the pto shaft. You want a little end play, just not a whole lot. Just pay attention as it comes apart and put it back the same way. They are pretty simple. I got a parts book and the operator's manual from Binder Books.

 

[Harryaroo]

Undo the large nut on the backside. I use a pipe wrench as I don't have a wrench that big. Be careful of the spring because it is under tension. The spring is a safety guard ratchet that releases the sickle bar if it gets plugged up. It also saves the pitman stick from breaking. On the front end remove the shear bolt that holds the back half of the pto shaft on the shaft. It is also keyed, so you need to remove the key. You should be able to slide it apart. There are ball bearings at each end of the housing. They were just shielded. I put sealed both sides back in mine. They are common bearings that I got at the local bearing supply house. If I remember right, there are spacer washers between the front of the housing and the back of universal joint for the pto shaft. You want a little end play, just not a whole lot. Just pay attention as it comes apart and put it back the same way. They are pretty simple. I got a parts book and the operator's manual from Binder Books.

Thank you for taking the time to spell it out. Looks like the large nut is stripped but I'll get it off and go from there...

 

[Harryaroo]

Undo the large nut on the backside. I use a pipe wrench as I don't have a wrench that big. Be careful of the spring because it is under tension. The spring is a safety guard ratchet that releases the sickle bar if it gets plugged up. It also saves the pitman stick from breaking. On the front end remove the shear bolt that holds the back half of the pto shaft on the shaft. It is also keyed, so you need to remove the key. You should be able to slide it apart. There are ball bearings at each end of the housing. They were just shielded. I put sealed both sides back in mine. They are common bearings that I got at the local bearing supply house. If I remember right, there are spacer washers between the front of the housing and the back of universal joint for the pto shaft. You want a little end play, just not a whole lot. Just pay attention as it comes apart and put it back the same way. They are pretty simple. I got a parts book and the operator's manual from Binder Books.

Actually the nut is just reverse threaded. I've got it mostly apart-- actually looks like the bearings are fine but the threaded shaft-- where the large nut goes-- that fits over the shaft that goes through the housing-- is very wobbly. There is a shear bolt or pin that holds it on. Someone has welded that on. I suspect the outer shaft is worn or something... maybe I can weld around the lip of it or something to make it a tighter fit....