I realize lawnmowers aren't exactly a hot topic of conversation around here but it's what I've been spending my time on lately. A couple of months ago a buddy gave me his old Exmark zero turn.
![](https://i.imgur.com/mJ9P3TSl.jpg)
Yeah I'm a sucker for somebody else's cast off junk. He burned the bearings out of two deck idlers and instead of buying two pulleys he bought a new mower. The old bearings were completely gone.
![](https://i.imgur.com/d6jLoDIl.jpg)
New pulleys are about 30.00 apiece so me being the cheap SOB I am I rummaged around in my parts box and discovered the top blade spindle bearings for a Craftsman LT 3000 were the same thing. I drilled the spot welds out of one pulley but it wouldn't come apart. I thought it was just the tight fit of the bearing but it turned out I missed four welds. I didn't discover that until after I notched the flange holding the bearing in.
![](https://i.imgur.com/ZC7wVvEl.jpg)
![](https://i.imgur.com/5IbREYRl.jpg)
In my attempts to separate the pulley halves I bent it and it wouldn't go back together not even squeezing it in a vise. That's when I found the other four spot welds. Anyway I got it apart and straightened it out. The other one I had gone ahead and notched. I did have to buy a new bushing. One of the old ones got ground up.
![](https://i.imgur.com/aCvsLp7l.jpg)
I repacked the sealed bearings and got it bolted back together and got them installed on the deck. The deck is ready to go back on.
![](https://i.imgur.com/nq1lWkAl.png)
Both front tires were rotten and split open so I got two new ones. Man talk about a pain both getting the old ones off the rims and the new ones on. I'd rather mount 18 wheeler tires. My Craftsman tires aren't nearly as hard.
![](https://i.imgur.com/ZIvzwAZl.png)
I still have to get a new belt for it and take care of a couple of other issues but the thing runs and drives like a champ. One of the issues is the bolts they used for seat hinges is broken and frozen. I soaked it in penetrating oil and couldn't drive either piece out with a punch and hammer. I can't turn either piece with a 1/2 inch ratchet.
![](https://i.imgur.com/kdMce2Zl.png)
My air compressor has a blown head gasket so I can't use my air chisel. I guess I'll have to make a new head gasket before I can fix that. I could use heat but don't want to burn the paint. Not that the paint is that great.
The other issue is a leaking valve cover. Not a biggie. I'll just buy a new one instead of sealing it up with silicone.
Once I get it all back together it should be a grass cutting son of a gun.