I mow lawns for a living. I watched this vid and two days ago my washers arrived. I ordered them off Ebay. Installing them was a breeze. Yesterday, I mowed my first lawn with the mower. What a difference it made, especially since I live in the mountains so I am always going up and down embankments. Really took the strain off my hands and wrists.
@@captainorangesburner nothing wrong with using what you got or what you can afford! I started my cabinets shop business with just a few basic tools. Even a cheap Craftsman tablesaw that only cut 24” wide using the fence. Router and some bits, belt sander, and a few other miscellaneous tools was all I had. Free handed a lot of material though that craftsman tablesaw that you’re really not supposed to do. But I got very good at it anyway! Still built $10,000.00-$30,000.00 custom kitchens and bathroom vanities, etc. and slowly built my business equipment up with the profits off the jobs I did. At first many of the jobs I did were much harder and slower to get finished. Profit margins weren’t the best in the beginning. But as time went on and using as much profit as possible to keep buying better equipment and tools the faster and easier things got and the more profitable the business got. Eventually I had over $60,000.00 in equipment that all bought and paid for! Business doubled in sales every year. Don’t let anyone’s comments bother you! You’ll get the last laugh in the end. While those making the comments will still be in the same place and not being able to do anything more them make negative comments to others since they can’t accomplish anything more themselves! Attitude has everything to do with succeeding in business as well as in life! Your on the right track, best of luck to you
@Grass_Groomers_LLC a garden tractors mow grass people pay to have yard mowed what’s hard to believe? Iv got a 62 in commercial zero turn and a 52 inch garden tractor because there is hills the zero turn can’t do and it mows just as nice.
I cant imagine how many negitive people complain about dirt getting in them. Clean them a couple times a year! So what! For $6 I'd be just fine if i had to replace them every year! Absolutely excellent idea!
Felt the difference 40yrs ago with Ford f150 twin I beam, replaced king pin bushings and thrust bearing. Couldn't believe the difference, truck had manual steering, it did feel like power steering. Thanks for sharing will be looking into this. Never dreamed of putting them on a mower, thanks again 👍
Thank you so much for sharing this tip! I have been struggling with this problem for 10 years. As a disabled veteran with neck and shoulder issues this is a life saver. I can't believe how well it worked and how easy it was to do. Not to mention how cheap it was!
Thanks for posting. This hack fixed my 2013 Rear engine Snapper. Super easy due to no grease cap. I did measure the force needed to turn the wheels before and after. It required 18 lbs before and only 5 lbs after. Love it
Give it a year until the fine dust from mowing gets captured by the bearing grease and form nature's own grinding compound that turns the little ROUND needles in the bearings into little FLAT needles.
@@mikehudick7074 $6 and 10 minutes for a year's worth of easy turning? I'll consider it maintenance and be down with it. I'd even be cool with $12 and twice a year, my mower turns like poo.
BIG ASS WOW Brian! Did this install and what a difference in the steering. Quick and easy as advertised. Took me longer to bust out the jack, put grease in the gun, get 2 flatheads and some needlenose tools and after the install and put it all away than to complete the task. But this worked out great. This is her riding mower and I use the Zero Turn on 9 Acers. Haven't told her yet, gonna let her drive it when time comes to mow again and see if she says anything. Thanks for sharing. Have a great Navy Day!
I'm late to the party, but I'm definitely gunna try it out this summer. I mow about 6 rough, uneven, and rocky acres with a 54" Husqvarna. I've never considered turning it to be difficult, but I'm all for it being easier!
Love this mod! Easy to do and works great. I added a washer to the outside of the axles on the front wheels. That took a lot of the play out of the front end and improved handling.
Do it for the Wife. It got 10 below in Michigan one year I felt bad for my little wife out there on the 50 ft drive two lanes wide so I said Honey that what I call her TONIGHT YOU ALL CAN BRING YOU SHOVEL IN THE HOUSE so the handle will be warm Tamara morning
This is great. You would think OEMs would do something like this in their higher-end lawn tractors, but they would probably charge $100 for the $6 upgrade.
I did this modification a few years ago on my old 1997 Craftsman mower and it did wonders for it. But I went one step further and replaced the bushings in the wheels with bearings and now, my mower isn't just easy to turn, it's also easy to push whenever I need to manually move it. If you haven't already done a video on replacing the bushings in the wheels with bearings, I recommend you do one. It's simple and should your mower ever get a flat, you'll be amazed at how easy it will be to push - even with one flat tire.🤓
@@brub5174 Yes, I'm sure it improved my mileage. But even if that wasn't the case, I would still have done both upgrades as they make my Craftsman a lot easier to handle.
Brian, this video is genius! I had tinkered with ideas in the past relating to making a rider easier to steer. You went completely low tech, and maybe half an hour labor once every year or two. Fabulous, fantastic, super simple! Thank you for sharing!👍
Thank you so much for this "Hack"! I was really starting to struggle with the steering on my JD 160. I couldn't believe that it was the same tractor, after the easy install. I was out in my front yard doing figure eights in celebration last night.
Great idea, I will have to give it a try on my POS CRAFTSMAN mower that my wife usually uses and she doesn’t have much arm strength any more. Neither do I for that matter. Sucks getting old!
Sweet mower hack man! I've ridden several with and without power steering. Anything to improve steering response on anything is big plus benefit. ✌️ Out yourself and may you have a mighty awesome day!
We own 4 riding mowers and have so far done this to two of them. The two we did put these on are so much easier to drive. It almost makes mowing fun, Almost. lol But seriously, it sure does make a big difference in how easy the mower turns, and steers. Thanks for this video, it has helped a lot of folks as I can tell by all the comments here.
what JD Model do you have? I put a set on my LA135LE and barely noticed any difference. i greased it, packed the bearings prior to install, made sure the spindle was clean, etc....not really any change.
Great idea and also will lessen the torque on the sprocket/gear mechanism that transfers from the steering column. I have 2 mowers right now that have stripped gears from years of hard turning
Besides the bearing idea be prepared to install new plastic bushings, top and bottom in each spindle. That truly made a noticeable difference in tracking in tight turns for my mower.
Mate i just found your video and wanted to say thankyou. Ordered the parts and quick install. Bought some new black caps along with the bushes. Massive difference in steering. All the best from Australia 🇦🇺
I have a wheelhorse with snow blower on the front. When the blower is raised steering is very stiff due to all the weight up front. I just put my order in for 4 sets..... thanks for the great idea!!!
@@jeremydavis2595 I took my snowblower off last Monday and I installed the bearings on Thursday. Because I removed all the weight off of the front axle,the steering is easy now. It does seem to be a improvement though.
I was pretty excited to do this, ordered the pieces. When I went to install them on my Club Cadet 46” mower I found the arms were welded and the kit could not be installed. So look before you buy or pass them on to a buddy like I did. Still think it’s a great mod.
Ya was all excited to change mine on my cub cadet and there was no split ring. Just a metal cap so I couldn’t install them either. Might do some research and see if it can still be done.
After watching your video I did this mod to my craftsman mower. It worked great! I did remove a 1/8” washer on the bottom against the spindle to make room for the thrust bearing. It is just like power steering now.
Duude!...I had given up on mowin my huge yard with my old Craftsman and bought a zero-turn because that thing was workin me to death. I kept that tractor bc it runs and cuts smooth and do trail maintenance cuttin with it. Awesome video i cant wait to try this
If you dare and have the tools, you could use a burr bit and cut a hint of a notch along the length of the spindle, from where the grease fitting is, to where the thrust bearing sits. That way grease can find its way to the inside of the bearings and not compromise longevity. Thrust bearings are great and you might find a lot of applications for them, once you know where to start looking. You should upgrade your vice handle next. Turns a $50 vice into a $200 vice.
@@jumboegg5845 The extra toe-in allows the outer tire to dig in more and the mower turns easier. I found this out accidentally after a bent arm made it this way. Nothing to do with highway driving.
@@mikegoodman447 Think about the geometry, toe-in is exactly the opposite what you want for tight turns, you want the inner wheel to turn a tighter radius than the outside wheel. With toe-in, as you start to turn left for example, the outer (right) wheel starts to turn more left, but the inner (left) wheel will still be trying to turn right. As you turn more left, the inner wheel will get to a point where its going straight ahead, and still not contributing to the turn. As you turn even more left, the outer wheel will now be turning hard left, and the inner will be just starting to contribute to the turn. That's why toe-in gives a vehicle good straight line stability, it tries to keeps the vehicle going in a straight line. Toe-out is the correct geometry for good tight turns, you want the inner wheel to start turning first. Toe-out makes the vehicle steering twitchy at higher speeds, but of course straight line stability is not a problem at mower speeds! Tire wear is also not a problem at mower speeds, so you can give it plenty of toe-out and it will turn on a dime.
I'm definitely going to try this out! You can also turn the dust caps inside out after removal, using a year gun is ideal of a hair dryer will do the same thing, turn it inside out and then reverse it on the mower point where it's supposed to go.
Sprint cars use exactly this setup on their kingpins! I grease the front axle of my lightning sprint every week until it pushes the dirt out of the thrust bearing. Now I just need to drop a spare set in the Husqvarna… Thanks for the idea 🏁
I also worked and replaced twin I beam kingpins on Ford trucks so I watched intently. This video is a gem. And it will absolutely work. My first summer project as I have that same mower. (Most are the same anyway....just different branding.)
I saw your video and thought I would give it a try on my Husquvarna YTH 18542. I also used uxcell Nitrile Rubber O-Rings 42mm OD 34mm ID 4mm Width, on the bottom. I was AMAZED at the difference..... Thanks for the idea & video !!
Great video. I was about to order the bearings when it hit me, "What if my old JD from 1979 has different size spindles?" Sure enough, mine from the 214 are one full inch.
Watch the next generation of mower that come out have this and they're marketed as "deluxe steering" or some shit with an added 200 dollars tacked on. For 6 bucks, I'll have to give that a try.
I have the same mower and this would be a great upgrade. I noticed you cut out the craftsman pliers pushing on the clip. hehe. Those are useless for that action due to the self adjustment. I also replaced my plastic transmission with a tufftorq and locking differential for the hills around my property.
I know I am late to the party but I just did this mod to my lawn tractor. It took 10 minutes per wheel and it is the best mod I have every done! The cheapest also.
instead of shrink tube, use something like an O-ring or rubber washer where the ID of the rubber is very slightly smaller than the OD of the thrust bearing/steel washer assembly. Sometimes those thrust washers come with a couple of hardened steel washers for the bearing to ride against for longevity.
Awesome video! Just ordered me a set. Also ordered two new dust cover caps. My mower is almost 20 years old and they feel like they are hardened. If I can't get them off, I'll just cut through them and replace with the 2 new one's that I ordered. I'll post again and let you know what I think.
I got a old John Deere. I think I am going to be doing this to mine. How did yours turn out? I like messing around in the garage and I got a vacation coming up. So this would be great.
@@thurm101 Well if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't. It was a pain in the rear. The two bearing washers made it too thick to put the E-ring back on. Therefore I had to file the top of the place where the E-ring goes. I don't know what the thing is called. Anyway, each side took about an hour to file down so I could snap the E-ring in place. A lot of people don't have this problem, but my mower did. Plus to be honest, I really didn't notice any difference in the steering. Maybe I need new tires. I've heard just putting new tires on the front makes all the difference.
This works because you have just cleaned out the old grease and added new grease through the grease zerks. Hit the rest of the joints with Blaster and you are good to go. No difference when I added the bearings to my mower. Craftsman LT2000. Yes, heat the caps and they slip right on.
Thanks for sharing this awesome idea. The disappointing part is the manufacturer could have made this in the first place and saved everybody some grief. 🙄
Sold out on Amazon, but I found "5PCS 20x35x2mm AXK2035 Thrust Needle Roller Bearing ABEC-1 Each With Two Washer for $8.95 from Ebay/China: www.ebay.com/itm/322643078779?hash=item4b1f06ae7b:g:Dh0AAOSwH9dZirXs&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABMPYJGjh2nQM8ZrFStononQtyJOn%2BZm75rk68241%2BFd8tqu4xKWkHXSdNUfF3bpXaxNM9TxVrI1ibpF%2BN5NyGe3q7v1VAKK0V7HUcXd7pTwZhXL7bEbd8IaP4w1f5iNiSj11F%2BvhqRmlX8bjdVaF%2BZ3i%2Btar5R6zSGisr5gRw7R%2BBUtFGmd24XV8MUCvKlDAa%2BCX9tsm3N6dEQy0%2B9Ws0OCQBmgqkFCrBxpNugKQjm2lh8M73ZIe6ltaIgp1nvdgG2sRy0N5wHPCY0TTSqD0qfeYAiMBHIgJvqP0m9iXkcN8Fo%2FlbIqdh%2FkejNpvZ1MLiCY8SaWfUYfrb7FFnntKBZDCbFfOXH4Xo6%2BugS2wDy9jD%2FoOc%2FyF%2FaNV1P8N1op9ZvbJ5g1YSSz1EiLUePez%2FXaM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMsoLR1eth"
I'll have to look into this on my Ariens... It's not terrible when the mowing deck is on, but all the weight of a snowblower hanging off the front makes it far worse unless you're driving flat-out.
Update: there isn't enough room with the c-clip holding the axles through the front cross member. I ended up having to do a front end rebuild- the steering shaft was destroyed so I made a new one at work, and replaced the non-existant bronze bushing. Bought the mower used and it has never steered so easily before!
Yea but if you got any down hill riding to do, they aint got any suspension so the harder you pump the fronts up the worse the ride will be along with the risk of blowing one them suckers out.. theyre only meant yo hold 10 pissers at most..
I'm adding an update to my comment. I just received them and there is one slight problem. Once you put them on, you can't use that thick washer on the spindle. Once all together, there is no room for the e-clip to snap on. I had to leave that thick washer off, otherwise no way I could finish this project. I'm not sure if it's just my mower (Craftsman) or what. Even though these new bearings are thin, once you put the washer on both sides, they are as thick as that washer I was mentioning. So no room to put it on. I'll let you know how it works!
Try just using the original thick washer ,the bearings and then 1 thin washer..if that's too thick to fit the E-clip, try just the two thin washers and the bearings..if it fits with only the thin washers and bearings it will probably wear out soon depending on how much wear and tear your Yard is on the steering. Sounds like a very neat and simple upgrade.goodluck making it work for your riding mower..
@@bbjazzmanjazzman7721 Well, what I actually did was file the spindle down on each side. Let me tell you, that was a job in itself. I bet each side took me 30 minutes or so. I sweat my rear off doing it, but it worked. I have to say honestly that I don't think the steering improved that much. Perhaps I need new tires and that would also help. Had I known that I would have to do all of the filing just to get the bearings on, I wouldn't have done it in the first place. I can also see them not lasting long, too. I bet next year, I'll be having to take them off.
This fix does not make sense. Once you add the new bearing, you would not have enough room for the spring clip on top, as has already been pointed out in the comments. Maybe yours worked because your sleeve had been worn down over time, shortening it slightly.
@@bishopdansby4287 I had to file both spindles down about 3/16" of an inch in order to get the E clip back on. It was a pain to do. Honestly, I didn't notice any difference in the steering. Sorry I wasted time and money trying it.
I noticed that you placed the washers and the thrust bearing on the bottom, then pushed it right through only to find that the snap ring slot no longer protrudes out the top of the axle??? Not in your case? I thought of this idea a few years back when I came across some thrust bearings and almost had to abandon the idea after realizing there was not any extra shaft to stick out the top so I could secure it with a snap ring. So, I'm making this comment before someone wastes a lot of time trying to do this only to find the bearing takes up too much shaft space. Were your shafts a bit too long, so no problem? Or did you have to remove the upper bushings and grind the axle down a quarter inch? Or the bottom of the axle, depending which end (if either) extends beyond the axle itself? In my case, since the shaft at least cleared the top by maybe 1/16", I drilled and tapped a hole in the top of the shaft and ran a bolt securing a fender washer to the top of the shaft.
I'm guessing some manufacturers opt to go a bit sloppy on that for cheaper manufacturing and easier maintenance. Possibly reduces wear too, since a tight fit means it rubs metal on metal from new, where looser means it never really wears (gravity is holding it apart 99.9% of the time). So I guess go and measure the spacing before ordering parts...
Amazon's sold out, but found this "5PCS 20x35x2mm AXK2035 Thrust Needle Roller Bearing ABEC-1 Each With Two Washers" for $8.95 from Ebay/China: www.ebay.com/itm/322643078779?hash=item4b1f06ae7b:g:Dh0AAOSwH9dZirXs&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABMPYJGjh2nQM8ZrFStononQtyJOn%2BZm75rk68241%2BFd8tqu4xKWkHXSdNUfF3bpXaxNM9TxVrI1ibpF%2BN5NyGe3q7v1VAKK0V7HUcXd7pTwZhXL7bEbd8IaP4w1f5iNiSj11F%2BvhqRmlX8bjdVaF%2BZ3i%2Btar5R6zSGisr5gRw7R%2BBUtFGmd24XV8MUCvKlDAa%2BCX9tsm3N6dEQy0%2B9Ws0OCQBmgqkFCrBxpNugKQjm2lh8M73ZIe6ltaIgp1nvdgG2sRy0N5wHPCY0TTSqD0qfeYAiMBHIgJvqP0m9iXkcN8Fo%2FlbIqdh%2FkejNpvZ1MLiCY8SaWfUYfrb7FFnntKBZDCbFfOXH4Xo6%2BugS2wDy9jD%2FoOc%2FyF%2FaNV1P8N1op9ZvbJ5g1YSSz1EiLUePez%2FXaM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMsoLR1eth
Amazon is currently sold out, but I found this "5PCS 20x35x2mm AXK2035 Thrust Needle Roller Bearing ABEC-1 Each With Two Washers" for $8.95 from Ebay/China: www.ebay.com/itm/322643078779?hash=item4b1f06ae7b:g:Dh0AAOSwH9dZirXs&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABMPYJGjh2nQM8ZrFStononQtyJOn%2BZm75rk68241%2BFd8tqu4xKWkHXSdNUfF3bpXaxNM9TxVrI1ibpF%2BN5NyGe3q7v1VAKK0V7HUcXd7pTwZhXL7bEbd8IaP4w1f5iNiSj11F%2BvhqRmlX8bjdVaF%2BZ3i%2Btar5R6zSGisr5gRw7R%2BBUtFGmd24XV8MUCvKlDAa%2BCX9tsm3N6dEQy0%2B9Ws0OCQBmgqkFCrBxpNugKQjm2lh8M73ZIe6ltaIgp1nvdgG2sRy0N5wHPCY0TTSqD0qfeYAiMBHIgJvqP0m9iXkcN8Fo%2FlbIqdh%2FkejNpvZ1MLiCY8SaWfUYfrb7FFnntKBZDCbFfOXH4Xo6%2BugS2wDy9jD%2FoOc%2FyF%2FaNV1P8N1op9ZvbJ5g1YSSz1EiLUePez%2FXaM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMsoLR1eth"
Toro 5xi series tractors have 1” diameter front spindles. Toro 260 series tractors have 7/8” front spindles. In 2012 I bought a Toro 5xi series 520xi which had manual steering. The next year I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. I started experiencing pain in my arms from the Lyme disease and in March 2015 I bought a Toro 522xi which had power steering. I should add thrust bearings to the 520xi so it’s easier to use.
Great idea, but . . . There are bushings in the axle beam for the "kingpin" that usually wear and may also need replaced. Also, if you don't set the end play where the kingpin goes up and down in the ends of the axle beam, the cages will fail and the needle bearings will come out. There is more to this than just dropping the bearings in - there are other issues that often need addressed.
My Craftsman rider is hard as hell to steer, so hard I run my front tires 5 pounds over pressure and already stripped and replace the steering gear once. I'm going to try this. Thank you
Good instructions, thank you. You might want to mention that you applied the washers to both of the front wheels just in case someone thought it was to only one front wheel and not both.
With this hack , I'll be cutting the grass and NOT losing any beer this summer !
I mow lawns for a living. I watched this vid and two days ago my washers arrived. I ordered them off Ebay. Installing them
was a breeze. Yesterday, I mowed my first lawn with the mower. What a difference it made, especially since I live in the
mountains so I am always going up and down embankments. Really took the strain off my hands and wrists.
Link for your Ebay purchase? Thank you,
@@tommiller6580 he has the size you can look up in the video description
@Grass_Groomers_LLC everyone starts somewhere Fancy Pants. I do too and my riding mower is an old beat up Yard Machine. 😏
@@captainorangesburner nothing wrong with using what you got or what you can afford! I started my cabinets shop business with just a few basic tools. Even a cheap Craftsman tablesaw that only cut 24” wide using the fence.
Router and some bits, belt sander, and a few other miscellaneous tools was all I had. Free handed a lot of material though that craftsman tablesaw that you’re really not supposed to do. But I got very good at it anyway!
Still built $10,000.00-$30,000.00 custom kitchens and bathroom vanities, etc. and slowly built my business equipment up with the profits off the jobs I did. At first many of the jobs I did were much harder and slower to get finished. Profit margins weren’t the best in the beginning. But as time went on and using as much profit as possible to keep buying better equipment and tools the faster and easier things got and the more profitable the business got. Eventually I had over $60,000.00 in equipment that all bought and paid for! Business doubled in sales every year.
Don’t let anyone’s comments bother you! You’ll get the last laugh in the end. While those making the comments will still be in the same place and not being able to do anything more them make negative comments to others since they can’t accomplish anything more themselves! Attitude has everything to do with succeeding in business as well as in life! Your on the right track, best of luck to you
@Grass_Groomers_LLC a garden tractors mow grass people pay to have yard mowed what’s hard to believe? Iv got a 62 in commercial zero turn and a 52 inch garden tractor because there is hills the zero turn can’t do and it mows just as nice.
I cant imagine how many negitive people complain about dirt getting in them.
Clean them a couple times a year! So what!
For $6 I'd be just fine if i had to replace them every year!
Absolutely excellent idea!
I mean sure, or I could keep driving it till the wheels fall off
Felt the difference 40yrs ago with Ford f150 twin I beam, replaced king pin bushings and thrust bearing. Couldn't believe the difference, truck had manual steering, it did feel like power steering. Thanks for sharing will be looking into this. Never dreamed of putting them on a mower, thanks again 👍
my buddy had an 1984 f-250, never greased the king pins. I remember his last drive to get them fixed, wow.
Twin I-Beam is okay, Twin Traction-Beam is terrible. Proud '90 Bronco owner over here.
Wow. I don't have a riding mower, but this is applicable for so many applications!
@@superduty4556 I love my TTB.
I used Amsoil grease on a non power steering 64 Barracuda. Just like power steering. This would make things even better.
Thank you so much for sharing this tip! I have been struggling with this problem for 10 years. As a disabled veteran with neck and shoulder issues this is a life saver. I can't believe how well it worked and how easy it was to do. Not to mention how cheap it was!
I'm 65 years old and after mowing my acre yard the arthritis in my hands hurt. I've got to try this thank you.
Yeah, I'm 67 years old and I'm going to try this also. I have almost an acre to cut but I have many trees to go around.
One of the very best mower hacks on the tube.
Thanks for posting. This hack fixed my 2013 Rear engine Snapper. Super easy due to no grease cap. I did measure the force needed to turn the wheels before and after. It required 18 lbs before and only 5 lbs after. Love it
Give it a year until the fine dust from mowing gets captured by the bearing grease and form nature's own grinding compound that turns the little ROUND needles in the bearings into little FLAT needles.
@@mikehudick7074 The guy in the video mentioned using heat shrink to protect the bearing from debris. Have you tried that?
@@mikehudick7074 $6 and 10 minutes for a year's worth of easy turning? I'll consider it maintenance and be down with it. I'd even be cool with $12 and twice a year, my mower turns like poo.
@@thisdoesfine if it turns like poo doesn’t that mean it is poo?
Thats because it is a rear engine, does not help that much on a front engine mower !!
BIG ASS WOW Brian! Did this install and what a difference in the steering. Quick and easy as advertised. Took me longer to bust out the jack, put grease in the gun, get 2 flatheads and some needlenose tools and after the install and put it all away than to complete the task. But this worked out great. This is her riding mower and I use the Zero Turn on 9 Acers. Haven't told her yet, gonna let her drive it when time comes to mow again and see if she says anything. Thanks for sharing. Have a great Navy Day!
How has it held up?
Thanks for being so quick and direct to the point. Much props.
I'm late to the party, but I'm definitely gunna try it out this summer.
I mow about 6 rough, uneven, and rocky acres with a 54" Husqvarna.
I've never considered turning it to be difficult, but I'm all for it being easier!
The birds chirping in the back is a bonus! 💯💪💪
Many years now I have wondered about the old needle bearings. Also. I use Amsoil grease. Makes life great.
Love this mod! Easy to do and works great. I added a washer to the outside of the axles on the front wheels. That took a lot of the play out of the front end and improved handling.
Will definite have to try this once doctor releases me to mow.
Do it for the Wife. It got 10 below in Michigan one year I felt bad for my little wife out there on the 50 ft drive two lanes wide so I said Honey that what I call her TONIGHT YOU ALL CAN BRING YOU SHOVEL IN THE HOUSE so the handle will be warm Tamara morning
Great hack , now my 4 years old will have to mow from now on , I can’t wait to get these bearings .
This is great. You would think OEMs would do something like this in their higher-end lawn tractors, but they would probably charge $100 for the $6 upgrade.
Great idea... its so good that he deserves a real garden tractor !!
I did this modification a few years ago on my old 1997 Craftsman mower and it did wonders for it. But I went one step further and replaced the bushings in the wheels with bearings and now, my mower isn't just easy to turn, it's also easy to push whenever I need to manually move it. If you haven't already done a video on replacing the bushings in the wheels with bearings, I recommend you do one. It's simple and should your mower ever get a flat, you'll be amazed at how easy it will be to push - even with one flat tire.🤓
Probably good for milage aswell
@@brub5174 Yes, I'm sure it improved my mileage. But even if that wasn't the case, I would still have done both upgrades as they make my Craftsman a lot easier to handle.
@@rvalens2 I need this badly lol
I mowed the lawn today and my wife really liked it.
Brian, this video is genius! I had tinkered with ideas in the past relating to making a rider easier to steer. You went completely low tech, and maybe half an hour labor once every year or two. Fabulous, fantastic, super simple! Thank you for sharing!👍
I got those bearings and put them on my John Deere they are Awesome!!! You are the man, thanks for sharing this information with us all.
this is not a "hack". this is an engineering improvement! very very simple, practical solution to a common problem!
Thank you so much for this "Hack"! I was really starting to struggle with the steering on my JD 160. I couldn't believe that it was the same tractor, after the easy install. I was out in my front yard doing figure eights in celebration last night.
Brilliant! Ordering now. My 20 year old craftsman 42" mower is like driving a Mac truck. But still works great.😂
just curious - how are the bearings holding up after a season of mowing?
@SysBehr I'll know in a few months. This got postponed to a spring project. Just about to get mower in the garage and add this setup.
@@KenIn_NH awesome, cheers! Hope you have a great year!
Great idea, I will have to give it a try on my POS CRAFTSMAN mower that my wife usually uses and she doesn’t have much arm strength any more. Neither do I for that matter. Sucks getting old!
Yeah, no shit!!!!
It beats the alternative, 6 feet under.
@@sptrader6316 ?????
@@sptrader6316 Why? Do people six feet under still mow?
Sweet mower hack man! I've ridden several with and without power steering. Anything to improve steering response on anything is big plus benefit. ✌️ Out yourself and may you have a mighty awesome day!
We own 4 riding mowers and have so far done this to two of them. The two we did put these on are so much easier to drive. It almost makes mowing fun, Almost. lol But seriously, it sure does make a big difference in how easy the mower turns, and steers.
Thanks for this video, it has helped a lot of folks as I can tell by all the comments here.
Great video,just added to my old John Deere and no more sweating trying to make turns,wow,great idea.Got extras for backup at that price.
what JD Model do you have? I put a set on my LA135LE and barely noticed any difference. i greased it, packed the bearings prior to install, made sure the spindle was clean, etc....not really any change.
@@Monkeybuzzness I have a Hydro 175
@@allenblevins7430 Following
I tried this today, what an amazing difference. If you have this problem, try this fix. ( it works) thank you.
Great idea and also will lessen the torque on the sprocket/gear mechanism that transfers from the steering column. I have 2 mowers right now that have stripped gears from years of hard turning
Besides the bearing idea be prepared to install new plastic bushings, top and bottom in each spindle. That truly made a noticeable difference in tracking in tight turns for my mower.
As the guy who's initials I think are still on those drawings, my hat is off to you. Well done!
Mate i just found your video and wanted to say thankyou. Ordered the parts and quick install. Bought some new black caps along with the bushes. Massive difference in steering. All the best from Australia 🇦🇺
I have a wheelhorse with snow blower on the front. When the blower is raised steering is very stiff due to all the weight up front. I just put my order in for 4 sets..... thanks for the great idea!!!
Did you get them and install them yet? I also have a mounted blower and it is an absolute bear to turn even with everything greased up properly.
@@jeremydavis2595 I took my snowblower off last Monday and I installed the bearings on Thursday. Because I removed all the weight off of the front axle,the steering is easy now. It does seem to be a improvement though.
This just popped into my feed, bearing ordered, will test them out this week.
I was pretty excited to do this, ordered the pieces. When I went to install them on my Club Cadet 46” mower I found the arms were welded and the kit could not be installed. So look before you buy or pass them on to a buddy like I did. Still think it’s a great mod.
Ya was all excited to change mine on my cub cadet and there was no split ring. Just a metal cap so I couldn’t install them either. Might do some research and see if it can still be done.
Can't do this on my new (junk) troy bilt bronco mower neither...it's welded at the top where the carter pin is.
Mines welded as well...bugger it
After watching your video I did this mod to my craftsman mower. It worked great! I did remove a 1/8” washer on the bottom against the spindle to make room for the thrust bearing. It is just like power steering now.
Thanks ,what a difference …still just a little over $6.00 …thank again , have a lot of trees to mow around , this will be the ticket 👍🏻
Duude!...I had given up on mowin my huge yard with my old Craftsman and bought a zero-turn because that thing was workin me to death. I kept that tractor bc it runs and cuts smooth and do trail maintenance cuttin with it. Awesome video i cant wait to try this
Great video. I can see that modification would reduce friction on the front kingpins. Keep up the good videos. Thank You and Have A Great Day! 🛻🚚🚛
One of THE BEST quick hacks I've ever seen!!!!🤩
I'm doing this. I have the Craftsman version of the mower you have, the front end is exactly the same. And yeah, it's a mother to turn.
It works really well and yes the one and two driving test said it all.
I've never seen a bearing that thin! That's a trip to look at, I might just snag one to keep on my desk
crazy what they can do these days
It's just a Torrington bearing. Nothing new.
Great modification and you have nothing to lose but muscle. Oh, and I’m so glad you didn’t call this a hack.
He did.
It should come from the factory that way. Geez! Very nice.
If you dare and have the tools, you could use a burr bit and cut a hint of a notch along the length of the spindle, from where the grease fitting is, to where the thrust bearing sits. That way grease can find its way to the inside of the bearings and not compromise longevity. Thrust bearings are great and you might find a lot of applications for them, once you know where to start looking. You should upgrade your vice handle next. Turns a $50 vice into a $200 vice.
Or a mill. Or a grinder with a cutoff wheel.
No need for that. Whe he uses the grease gun you can see that the grease is already reaching the needle bearing and pushing out through the gaps.
@@Tguson but is it the gaps between the needle bearing, or just from the original top washer?
@@Tguson as long as it is the bearing and not just from the washers, yes.
vice... you're going to make me buy a bunch of these bearings...
I've never heard that but it's a great idea. Those are thrust bearings
I did this and love how it steers now plus I took the bushings out of the wheel and put bearings back in there place in the wheels
Man oh man!!!
Driving home from the bar is gonna be a breeze now 😉
Won't even have to set my beer in the cup holder.
😅🤣😂
Remember even if u are on a lawn mower u can be charged with a DUI!!! Be careful!!!
I noticed on my mower the steering will improve if you add toe-in.. Nice tip and instructions!
That actually helps more than the thrust bearing !!!
add how much toe-in ?
you want a bit of toe-out, not toe-in. Toe-in is for high speed speed straight line driving
@@jumboegg5845 The extra toe-in allows the outer tire to dig in more and the mower turns easier. I found this out accidentally after a bent arm made it this way. Nothing to do with highway driving.
@@mikegoodman447 Think about the geometry, toe-in is exactly the opposite what you want for tight turns, you want the inner wheel to turn a tighter radius than the outside wheel. With toe-in, as you start to turn left for example, the outer (right) wheel starts to turn more left, but the inner (left) wheel will still be trying to turn right. As you turn more left, the inner wheel will get to a point where its going straight ahead, and still not contributing to the turn. As you turn even more left, the outer wheel will now be turning hard left, and the inner will be just starting to contribute to the turn. That's why toe-in gives a vehicle good straight line stability, it tries to keeps the vehicle going in a straight line. Toe-out is the correct geometry for good tight turns, you want the inner wheel to start turning first. Toe-out makes the vehicle steering twitchy at higher speeds, but of course straight line stability is not a problem at mower speeds! Tire wear is also not a problem at mower speeds, so you can give it plenty of toe-out and it will turn on a dime.
Thanks for the awesome video!! Ordered a ten pack for 12 dollars delivered!
This is a great idea for my tractor with the snow blower on it. It needs it for sure.
These are great for older folks and I love mine
Do it now
I'm definitely going to try this out!
You can also turn the dust caps inside out after removal, using a year gun is ideal of a hair dryer will do the same thing, turn it inside out and then reverse it on the mower point where it's supposed to go.
Sprint cars use exactly this setup on their kingpins! I grease the front axle of my lightning sprint every week until it pushes the dirt out of the thrust bearing. Now I just need to drop a spare set in the Husqvarna… Thanks for the idea 🏁
I also worked and replaced twin I beam kingpins on Ford trucks so I watched intently. This video is a gem. And it will absolutely work. My first summer project as I have that same mower. (Most are the same anyway....just different branding.)
That is pretty slick! Definitely a winner!
Amazon also. Just ordered the kit that covers the wheel AND steering bearings also for around $35
I saw your video and thought I would give it a try on my Husquvarna YTH 18542. I also used uxcell Nitrile Rubber O-Rings 42mm OD 34mm ID 4mm Width, on the bottom. I was AMAZED at the difference..... Thanks for the idea & video !!
Before you try this how about pumping your front tires up to maximum air pressure and pumping the stock set up with grease.
Great video.
I was about to order the bearings when it hit me, "What if my old JD from 1979 has different size spindles?"
Sure enough, mine from the 214 are one full inch.
Watch the next generation of mower that come out have this and they're marketed as "deluxe steering" or some shit with an added 200 dollars tacked on. For 6 bucks, I'll have to give that a try.
Yeah, I'm going to try this also.
Did this. It works. Makes it a bit easier to steer.
I have the same mower and this would be a great upgrade. I noticed you cut out the craftsman pliers pushing on the clip. hehe. Those are useless for that action due to the self adjustment. I also replaced my plastic transmission with a tufftorq and locking differential for the hills around my property.
I know I am late to the party but I just did this mod to my lawn tractor. It took 10 minutes per wheel and it is the best mod I have every done! The cheapest also.
instead of shrink tube, use something like an O-ring or rubber washer where the ID of the rubber is very slightly smaller than the OD of the thrust bearing/steel washer assembly. Sometimes those thrust washers come with a couple of hardened steel washers for the bearing to ride against for longevity.
I also did this to my tractor!
IT WORKS!! I renamed it "Red Neck power steering"!
Awesome video! Just ordered me a set. Also ordered two new dust cover caps. My mower is almost 20 years old and they feel like they are hardened. If I can't get them off, I'll just cut through them and replace with the 2 new one's that I ordered. I'll post again and let you know what I think.
I got a old John Deere. I think I am going to be doing this to mine. How did yours turn out? I like messing around in the garage and I got a vacation coming up. So this would be great.
@@thurm101 Well if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't. It was a pain in the rear. The two bearing washers made it too thick to put the E-ring back on. Therefore I had to file the top of the place where the E-ring goes. I don't know what the thing is called. Anyway, each side took about an hour to file down so I could snap the E-ring in place. A lot of people don't have this problem, but my mower did. Plus to be honest, I really didn't notice any difference in the steering. Maybe I need new tires. I've heard just putting new tires on the front makes all the difference.
I just did it and it’s 1 finger and very smooth and tight. For $6.00 it’s a must do mod.
This works because you have just cleaned out the old grease and added new grease through the grease zerks. Hit the rest of the joints with Blaster and you are good to go. No difference when I added the bearings to my mower. Craftsman LT2000. Yes, heat the caps and they slip right on.
I've never added any grease to the grease zerks on my front axles. What happens if you never add any grease?
@@colt5189 it wears out faster
@@robertheinkel6225 Well, I've had my mower for 15 years. So I guess maybe not.
I did this in 2018 and it still works. I Did 2 yard tractors JD180 and an LX178 IT worked the best on my JD180. It was a stiff old pig.
Thanks for taking the time to make this Video! I have to mow 1 acre of hilly lawn. This is IT!!! So Much Great Info! Subscribed! Thanks!!! Again!!!
Thanks for sharing this awesome idea. The disappointing part is the manufacturer could have made this in the first place and saved everybody some grief. 🙄
I particularly like the misspelling of "ground" in the text that appears at 1:58 into the video. Nice touch.
Thats freaking awesome! Well done
Outstanding innovation. I'm sold... Thanks for making the video.
It’s a great fix, I love it 😻
Dude, you’re a genius.
New subscriber here. Great hack. I am building a front end loader and backhoe for my GT-18 and this would work great.
Thats what i put under my wind mill made it flow with the wind. I’m going to amazon 😊
Sold out on Amazon, but I found "5PCS 20x35x2mm AXK2035 Thrust Needle Roller Bearing ABEC-1 Each With Two Washer for $8.95 from Ebay/China: www.ebay.com/itm/322643078779?hash=item4b1f06ae7b:g:Dh0AAOSwH9dZirXs&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABMPYJGjh2nQM8ZrFStononQtyJOn%2BZm75rk68241%2BFd8tqu4xKWkHXSdNUfF3bpXaxNM9TxVrI1ibpF%2BN5NyGe3q7v1VAKK0V7HUcXd7pTwZhXL7bEbd8IaP4w1f5iNiSj11F%2BvhqRmlX8bjdVaF%2BZ3i%2Btar5R6zSGisr5gRw7R%2BBUtFGmd24XV8MUCvKlDAa%2BCX9tsm3N6dEQy0%2B9Ws0OCQBmgqkFCrBxpNugKQjm2lh8M73ZIe6ltaIgp1nvdgG2sRy0N5wHPCY0TTSqD0qfeYAiMBHIgJvqP0m9iXkcN8Fo%2FlbIqdh%2FkejNpvZ1MLiCY8SaWfUYfrb7FFnntKBZDCbFfOXH4Xo6%2BugS2wDy9jD%2FoOc%2FyF%2FaNV1P8N1op9ZvbJ5g1YSSz1EiLUePez%2FXaM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMsoLR1eth"
Great idea thinking out of the box. I'll be putting my order in for 4 of these kits.
Its not new they been around for years, he just found out about it !!! I did mine 3 years ago !!! !
Dude, I love things like this. We would be the best of friends if we were neighbors.
I'll have to look into this on my Ariens... It's not terrible when the mowing deck is on, but all the weight of a snowblower hanging off the front makes it far worse unless you're driving flat-out.
Update: there isn't enough room with the c-clip holding the axles through the front cross member. I ended up having to do a front end rebuild- the steering shaft was destroyed so I made a new one at work, and replaced the non-existant bronze bushing. Bought the mower used and it has never steered so easily before!
Great tip and I love that "suicide knob"!
Thank you for sharing this hack in a concise video. I just ordered the bearings.
Fukcing awesomeness ✌️
Amazingly I had enough to get the c-clip on easily. The top cover/boot was the pain. Works well 👍🏽
Pumping up (hard) the tires that do the steering will help too! Even Easier fix!
Yea but if you got any down hill riding to do, they aint got any suspension so the harder you pump the fronts up the worse the ride will be along with the risk of blowing one them suckers out.. theyre only meant yo hold 10 pissers at most..
Those stepper motors in the camera are super loud
I'm adding an update to my comment. I just received them and there is one slight problem. Once you put them on, you can't use that thick washer on the spindle. Once all together, there is no room for the e-clip to snap on. I had to leave that thick washer off, otherwise no way I could finish this project. I'm not sure if it's just my mower (Craftsman) or what. Even though these new bearings are thin, once you put the washer on both sides, they are as thick as that washer I was mentioning. So no room to put it on. I'll let you know how it works!
Try just using the original thick washer ,the bearings and then 1 thin washer..if that's too thick to fit the E-clip, try just the two thin washers and the bearings..if it fits with only the thin washers and bearings it will probably wear out soon depending on how much wear and tear your Yard is on the steering.
Sounds like a very neat and simple upgrade.goodluck making it work for your riding mower..
@@bbjazzmanjazzman7721 Well, what I actually did was file the spindle down on each side. Let me tell you, that was a job in itself. I bet each side took me 30 minutes or so. I sweat my rear off doing it, but it worked. I have to say honestly that I don't think the steering improved that much. Perhaps I need new tires and that would also help. Had I known that I would have to do all of the filing just to get the bearings on, I wouldn't have done it in the first place. I can also see them not lasting long, too. I bet next year, I'll be having to take them off.
This fix does not make sense. Once you add the new bearing, you would not have enough room for the spring clip on top, as has already been pointed out in the comments. Maybe yours worked because your sleeve had been worn down over time, shortening it slightly.
@@bishopdansby4287 I had to file both spindles down about 3/16" of an inch in order to get the E clip back on. It was a pain to do. Honestly, I didn't notice any difference in the steering. Sorry I wasted time and money trying it.
I'd just cut the tube or grind it down so the eclip will fit.
Wow I griped about this yesterday while mowing. Soon after mowing I was stung by a wasp that looked like a pterodactyl. Thanks
I noticed that you placed the washers and the thrust bearing on the bottom, then pushed it right through only to find that the snap ring slot no longer protrudes out the top of the axle??? Not in your case? I thought of this idea a few years back when I came across some thrust bearings and almost had to abandon the idea after realizing there was not any extra shaft to stick out the top so I could secure it with a snap ring. So, I'm making this comment before someone wastes a lot of time trying to do this only to find the bearing takes up too much shaft space. Were your shafts a bit too long, so no problem? Or did you have to remove the upper bushings and grind the axle down a quarter inch? Or the bottom of the axle, depending which end (if either) extends beyond the axle itself? In my case, since the shaft at least cleared the top by maybe 1/16", I drilled and tapped a hole in the top of the shaft and ran a bolt securing a fender washer to the top of the shaft.
That was exactly my first thought. How could you add two washers and a bearing and still have enough clearance for the snap ring.?
Thanks for the heads up, GJ! 👍👏
Exactly what I was thinking.
I'm guessing some manufacturers opt to go a bit sloppy on that for cheaper manufacturing and easier maintenance. Possibly reduces wear too, since a tight fit means it rubs metal on metal from new, where looser means it never really wears (gravity is holding it apart 99.9% of the time).
So I guess go and measure the spacing before ordering parts...
Your spot on MATEY from Melbourne AUSTRALIA 👍🤠
Great idea. I'm going to try it on mine. I have a little gleet of riding mowers that could use some power steering!
Could you post a link to these roller bearings so I could buy set of them please 🙏
Amazon's sold out, but found this "5PCS 20x35x2mm AXK2035 Thrust Needle Roller Bearing ABEC-1 Each With Two Washers" for $8.95 from Ebay/China: www.ebay.com/itm/322643078779?hash=item4b1f06ae7b:g:Dh0AAOSwH9dZirXs&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABMPYJGjh2nQM8ZrFStononQtyJOn%2BZm75rk68241%2BFd8tqu4xKWkHXSdNUfF3bpXaxNM9TxVrI1ibpF%2BN5NyGe3q7v1VAKK0V7HUcXd7pTwZhXL7bEbd8IaP4w1f5iNiSj11F%2BvhqRmlX8bjdVaF%2BZ3i%2Btar5R6zSGisr5gRw7R%2BBUtFGmd24XV8MUCvKlDAa%2BCX9tsm3N6dEQy0%2B9Ws0OCQBmgqkFCrBxpNugKQjm2lh8M73ZIe6ltaIgp1nvdgG2sRy0N5wHPCY0TTSqD0qfeYAiMBHIgJvqP0m9iXkcN8Fo%2FlbIqdh%2FkejNpvZ1MLiCY8SaWfUYfrb7FFnntKBZDCbFfOXH4Xo6%2BugS2wDy9jD%2FoOc%2FyF%2FaNV1P8N1op9ZvbJ5g1YSSz1EiLUePez%2FXaM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMsoLR1eth
This does help. Another a mod ive been wanting to do is switch our my bushings for bearings i think it would also help make things more comfortable
where do you buy the bearings??
Amazon is currently sold out, but I found this "5PCS 20x35x2mm AXK2035 Thrust Needle Roller Bearing ABEC-1 Each With Two Washers" for $8.95 from Ebay/China: www.ebay.com/itm/322643078779?hash=item4b1f06ae7b:g:Dh0AAOSwH9dZirXs&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABMPYJGjh2nQM8ZrFStononQtyJOn%2BZm75rk68241%2BFd8tqu4xKWkHXSdNUfF3bpXaxNM9TxVrI1ibpF%2BN5NyGe3q7v1VAKK0V7HUcXd7pTwZhXL7bEbd8IaP4w1f5iNiSj11F%2BvhqRmlX8bjdVaF%2BZ3i%2Btar5R6zSGisr5gRw7R%2BBUtFGmd24XV8MUCvKlDAa%2BCX9tsm3N6dEQy0%2B9Ws0OCQBmgqkFCrBxpNugKQjm2lh8M73ZIe6ltaIgp1nvdgG2sRy0N5wHPCY0TTSqD0qfeYAiMBHIgJvqP0m9iXkcN8Fo%2FlbIqdh%2FkejNpvZ1MLiCY8SaWfUYfrb7FFnntKBZDCbFfOXH4Xo6%2BugS2wDy9jD%2FoOc%2FyF%2FaNV1P8N1op9ZvbJ5g1YSSz1EiLUePez%2FXaM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMsoLR1eth"
Toro 5xi series tractors have 1” diameter front spindles.
Toro 260 series tractors have 7/8” front spindles. In 2012 I bought a Toro 5xi series 520xi which had manual steering. The next year I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. I started experiencing pain in my arms from the Lyme disease and in March 2015 I bought a Toro 522xi which had power steering. I should add thrust bearings to the 520xi so it’s easier to use.
Great idea, but . . . There are bushings in the axle beam for the "kingpin" that usually wear and may also need replaced. Also, if you don't set the end play where the kingpin goes up and down in the ends of the axle beam, the cages will fail and the needle bearings will come out. There is more to this than just dropping the bearings in - there are other issues that often need addressed.
Did this to my John Deere L118 about 18 years ago ... still works great.
It's just a mower
My Craftsman rider is hard as hell to steer, so hard I run my front tires 5 pounds over pressure and already stripped and replace the steering gear once. I'm going to try this. Thank you
Good instructions, thank you. You might want to mention that you applied the washers to both of the front wheels just in case someone thought it was to only one front wheel and not both.