[Allent]

I am new to the forum but have been very interested. I have an older Simplicity Conquest that I have about 350 hours on. I have Simplicity package 2690101 which includes a 44" deck. I also have a turbo, wheeled cart, and DR vac lawn vacuum. I use it primarily for spring and fall clean ups. I do my own maintenance, but so far that has been routine engine Maintenace.

I have had a lot of trouble with the turbo, but perhaps more on that later. I have it in my garage this winter so I can work on it. In checking the

mower deck, it is clear that the spindles need help. I am about to order new spindles, washers. and some of the pulley hub pieces. I have not fully disassembled it yet. Any advice before I get too deep?

Thanks,

Allen

 

[Allent]

I just removed the primary spindle, and it does not show the wear that I see on the spindle that is in the picture included. However, the blade on this spindle is similarly a smaller diameter than is in the blade. It appears to me that the standard blade hole diameter is .75 which is what I have. It looks like this "slop" is intentional. Is that correct?

Thanks,
Allen

 

[Alien5044]

Allen, I don't have a Simplicity, but if I interpret your pic and comments correctly, that blade hole is much larger than the spindle's mounting. If a bolt and washer hold it on, it will still allow for a lot of shifting around under the load of cutting grass. The wear pattern on the surface of the blade implies that is happening.

In this pic of your pic, is the "slop" you described that gap where the red arrows point? If so there is something wrong here. You might check with a couple blade manufacturer web sites, designate your model, and see what the "correct" blades look like? Most will also have specs listed that will show both the size and shape of the blade mounting hole. It is also possible that if this is a used machine, that someone used incorrect replacement spindles and blades.

 

[MARK (LI)]

I have had a bnch of different Simplicities, but not a Conquest, but that looks like an unusual configuration for the blade to be held on.....not being concentric, it appears to be out of balance, which will cause damage to the blade and the spindle...check this site for the manual and see if it offers any help

Manuals | Simplicity

Looking for Simplicity parts or manuals? Find an owners manual or parts list for your Simplicity product.

www.simplicitymfg.com

 

[CCMoe]

I also feel that those are not the correct blades. The out of balance blades will create vibration along with premature wear on the spindles, IMO.

CCMoe

 

[Allent]

Allen, I don't have a Simplicity, but if I interpret your pic and comments correctly, that blade hole is much larger than the spindle's mounting. If a bolt and washer hold it on, it will still allow for a lot of shifting around under the load of cutting grass. The wear pattern on the surface of the blade implies that is happening.

In this pic of your pic, is the "slop" you described that gap where the red arrows point? If so there is something wrong here. You might check with a couple blade manufacturer web sites, designate your model, and see what the "correct" blades look like? Most will also have specs listed that will show both the size and shape of the blade mounting hole. It is also possible that if this is a used machine, that someone used incorrect replacement spindles and blades.

View attachment 2580502

Thanks for your comments.

Yes, this is the "slop". Note that when I took the picture The bolt and washers that normally hold the blade are removed and the deck is standing vertically, not horizontally as it would be used. I used this to show how much larger the hole in the blade is over the spindle.

I have several sets of blades and they are all 3/4 inch dia hole. I have done internet searches and it appears to me that that is normal for simplicity 44" decks. When I look at the specs on new simplicity blades it shows 3/4" diameter hole in the blade.

I agree it does not look good. I thought the spindles were worn to create the slop, and was about to replace the spindles. However, all of the 3 blades/spindles have the same slop, and two show no significant signs of wear on the spindle.

Still a quandary for me. What am I missing?

Allen

Allen

 

[MARK (LI)]

Did you get a chance to download the manual and see if it has an explanation?

 

[Alien5044]

Do you have the hex washers that are part of the blade mounting hardware? It looks like it fits the hex end of the spindle shaft. That plus a cupped washer and nut apparently are required. However, I don't know enough to say for sure how this would account for the difference in blade hole size vs the spindle. The back side of the hex washer might have a bushing machined in to take up any gap. Can't find a pic of the back side to see for sure.

#23 is the bolt, #22 is the spring washer, and #21 is the hex washer.

 

[Alien5044]

My JD 48" deck uses a round hole blade mounting with a spring washer but the blade hole is the same size as the spindle shaft. The spring washer then is only there to provide friction to resist the blade from spinning on that shaft. It does not have to resist a shifting around from a gap on a smaller shaft.

Hopefully someone on MTF has this same Simplicity 44" deck/blade arrangement and can offer advice.

 

[Alien5044]

Can you post a clear close up of the end of the spindle shaft without the blade? Might help to see how this all goes together. I'd think there should be a 3/4" shoulder machined into the spindle end to fill the blade hole, THEN the whole spring washer set up would make more sense. Otherwise, how on earth would anyone be able to center that larger blade on the shaft even if the spring washer were enough to hold it in place?

 

[Allent]

I have had a bnch of different Simplicities, but not a Conquest, but that looks like an unusual configuration for the blade to be held on.....not being concentric, it appears to be out of balance, which will cause damage to the blade and the spindle...check this site for the manual and see if it offers any help

Manuals | Simplicity

Looking for Simplicity parts or manuals? Find an owners manual or parts list for your Simplicity product.

www.simplicitymfg.com

Did you get a chance to download the manual and see if it has an explanation?

not yet. i have the tractor manual, but not the mower deck. I will get it.

Can you post a clear close up of the end of the spindle shaft without the blade? Might help to see how this all goes together. I'd think there should be a 3/4" shoulder machined into the spindle end to fill the blade hole, THEN the whole spring washer set up would make more sense. Otherwise, how on earth would anyone be able to center that larger blade on the shaft even if the spring washer were enough to hold it in place?

I will try to post pictures later. for now, I have found the manual which makes no mention of the difference in diameters between the hole in the blade and the shaft. I do have the hex and spring washers. The hex washer is flat, with nothing on one side to center the blade. The hex washer engages the hex on the shaft so it will not spin. The blade is the same size as the outside diameter of the washers, so you can center the blade in one direction by feel as you tighten it. the perpendicular direction is a guess. Once assembled and tightened, it does not appear to move. As I mentioned above, two of the spindles do not show significant signs of wear. One spindel does show wear as if the blade was twisting on it. Perhaps it was not assembled properly or tight enough at one time.
It still seems that the blade will be out of balance without something to locate it better prior to tightening.

I will try to do more pictures later, but I do not think that will help. I expect you understand what is going on with only FLAT washers and two different sizes of holes.

Allen

 

[CCMoe]

I don't know if you could cut 3/4" OD pipe or tubing to fill the gap, anything to center it on the spindle would have to help. It's really hard to believe that Simplicity, known for their cut quality would put out a product with fitment like that.

CCMoe

 

[609745]

a lot of universal blades are sold with a insert bushing that centers the blade around the bolt that may be the case and it's missing

 

[Alien5044]

Hope was that the spindle end has a 3/4" shoulder on it to fill that blade hole. The diagram I found really doesn't show any other parts that might center the blade on the end of the spindle shaft.. Agree with CCMoe, design hardly seems like a good one.

 

[ST1100A]

The hole in the blade is too big for the blade spindle. The Hex on the spindle is for a washer that presses up against the blade, then there will be a cupped 'spring' washer that goes against that, then the bolt with lock washer.
Some spindles have a mount piece that has a larger 'boss' or raised ring area on them to hold the blade centered, so check to see if it has that, or it's worn off, or maybe it was lost, and a different piece was installed.
That raised area is not much, about half the thickness of the blade, and if the blade bolt ever comes lose, it could cause the blade to wobble, get out of center, and wear off the raised part that centers the blade, same with the 'hex' piece that is used for the hex washer. That is used to help grip and spin the blade, but lets it slip if it ever strikes something to help prevent damage to the spindle and other parts.
The spindle shaft could have been replaced with the wrong part in the past, and the blade was never mounted properly.
Simplicity did use many different spindle parts over the years. That's why you need the deck part number, or the package number as long as it was the original deck that came with the tractor, in order to get the correct replacement parts for it.
A lot of the parts will interchange somewhat but could cause a problem if all the related parts are not used with them if anything was ever changed from original.

 

[Newsman]

Search for the appropriate replacement spindle for the deck and most probably it will state that it is a 3/4 shaft. (some of the smaller decks use 5/8) Then purchase the right blades. And I wouldn't use universal, but that's just me. This link is for the deck that comes with the tractor # that you provided.
https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...ower-deck/44-mower-deck-housing-arbors-blades
You can check arbor and blade specs. BTW, be advised that they use two different arbors on that deck. Two of one # in right and center and a different # for the left one. (as sitting on tractor)
MikeC

 

[CCMoe]

Here's what Parts Tree has on it,

Simplicity 2690101 - Simplicity Conquest 44" Garden Tractor, 18hp 44" Mower Deck - Housing, Arbors & Blades Parts Lookup with Diagrams | PartsTree

Amazing that the deck shell is still available for purchase, thanks JD.

CCMoe

 

[Alien5044]

Found this 1713195 part pic on EvilBay. From the looks of this used part, there is a round shoulder below the hex where a correctly sized round blade hole could register properly. Then the hex nut presses on the blade via the mounting bolt and spring washer to secure it. Pics of the mounting end of this particular part are hard to find and the one below isn't the greatest either but it appears to show a round shoulder below the hex near the red line.

From OP's original pic, I'm starting to think the same as Newsman, that the blades he has are not correct for the spindles used. Alternatively, perhaps his spindle does have a 3/4" shoulder on it below the hex, and would register the blade position properly if it is fully installed. He should measure that shoulder on his to see if it is close to 3/4".

A good close up of OPs spindle end without the blade in the way should show if his has the round shoulder below the hex like this Ebay pic:

 

[Allent]

not yet. i have the tractor manual, but not the mower deck. I will get it.

I will try to post pictures later. for now, I have found the manual which makes no mention of the difference in diameters between the hole in the blade and the shaft. I do have the hex and spring washers. The hex washer is flat, with nothing on one side to center the blade. The hex washer engages the hex on the shaft so it will not spin. The blade is the same size as the outside diameter of the washers, so you can center the blade in one direction by feel as you tighten it. the perpendicular direction is a guess. Once assembled and tightened, it does not appear to move. As I mentioned above, two of the spindles do not show significant signs of wear. One spindel does show wear as if the blade was twisting on it. Perhaps it was not assembled properly or tight enough at one time.
It still seems that the blade will be out of balance without something to locate it better prior to tightening.

I will try to do more pictures later, but I do not think that will help. I expect you understand what is going on with only FLAT washers and two different sizes of holes.

Allen
[/QUOTE

 

[Allent]

So, right now I am looking for blades that fit. Approx 16 1/4 in length and with a center hole of approx .675 inches Some Pictures: