Bluebird PR18, PR22 or S22 Flail Shaft Bearings

[cgaengineer]

For those of you with this power rake and need the bearings for the flail shaft you can buy the bearings only at Fastenal or Bearings Limited

Bluebird Part Number 100488 C.I. FLANGE BRG (Two required) Bluebird parts manual. http://weborder.bluebirdintl.com/order_static/doc/RIPL/RIPL2005/RIPL2005-107177R06.pdf

Fastenal Part Number: 0402139

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=0402139


Bearings Limited Part Number: SB204-12

http://www.thebigbearingstore.com/servlet/the-314/SB204-dsh-12-3-fdsh-4%22-Insert-Bearing/Detail

These are just the bearings. If your pillow block is worn you will have to order the original Bluebird part which includes the bearing and the 3 holed pillow block.

I have verified these bearings are correct and will work. One of the sponsors on this website probably have the bearings only as well so you may check with Mow-Part or others.

[Exact Rototilling]

Thanks for posting this. How many hours do the bearings last? Any tips on making them last longer? I'm assuming one would need a bearing press to remove them?

I do swap out my spring tine dethatcher and seeder bar regularly enough to inspect the bearings and they seem to be holding up well. I have it down to a system now. 20-25 min on a good day. I just wish I had a slide hammer that would mount on the 3 holes of the pillow block to making pulling the bearings off that much quicker. That would probably save me 7-10 of struggling each time. Maybe I should just buy 2 more pillow block sets and just keep them on their respective bar. Bearings would probably last longer then. :laugh:

Do you know a good source for a complete set of spring tines? I have a search on eBay for the old and new part numbers and nothing has ever popped up.

[cgaengineer]

Thanks for posting this. How many hours do the bearings last? Any tips on making them last longer? I'm assuming one would need a bearing press to remove them?

You are welcome to my posting, glad it was of use.

I do swap out my spring tine dethatcher and seeder bar regularly enough to inspect the bearings and they seem to be holding up well. I have it down to a system now. 20-25 min on a good day. I just wish I had a slide hammer that would mount on the 3 holes of the pillow block to making pulling the bearings off that much quicker. That would probably save me 7-10 of struggling each time. Maybe I should just buy 2 more pillow block sets and just keep them on their respective bar. Bearings would probably last longer then. :laugh:

Do you know a good source for a complete set of spring tines? I have a search on eBay for the old and new part numbers and nothing has ever popped up.

Not sure how long they last as I got the unit late in the year 2 seasons ago or early last season (Cant remember) but I ran my unit with bad bearings and though it still worked it made terrible roaring sounds. For making the bearings last longer you need to keep them greased as the grease fitting not only lubes the pillow block to bearing outer surface, but also the bearing itself since the bearings have lubrication holes.

Bearing replacement is easy, no press required. Once you remove the tiny allen screws that lock the bearing to the shaft the bearings rotate out of the pillow block through a slot. You may have to spray this with a penetrating oil if they have not been greased or removed like mine.

As far as making the pillow block/bearings come of the shaft easier: Grease the shaft with Anti-Seize... this has worked well for me. If they still prove to be difficult then ease up on the tightening of the drive pulley the next time you put it back on. This will keep you from marring up the shaft and leaving a dent that makes sliding the bearing over the shaft very difficult. I still have to gently hammer the pillow block off the shaft but they come off very easily.

Your best bet if you are going to swap out entire shaft like you said is to order a complete reel with pillow blocks included unless you sand down the shaft to make bearings slide off easier. I do not know where to get the spring tines but I will look around...I have been using the flails and I flip them once they have rounded corners and the flails seem to work good, though rough on the turf.

Check out Advanced Auto or Pep Boys for a slide hammer (I remember seeing them there before), one would only have to mount a "c" shaped cup to slide over the pillow/bearing to make removal a snap. If you had the harmonic balancer slide hammer you could bolt it to pillow block if the diameter is small enough.

[larryinalabama]

CGA is that the rake you bought at Powertradeus? I see there web site is closed do you know if they went out of business?

[cgaengineer]

CGA is that the rake you bought at Powertradeus? I see there web site is closed do you know if they went out of business?

Yes I got it and a Classen Aerator (Back destroyer) from them as well. I am not sure if they closed, I know they moved into a larger warehouse last year, but the economy may have done them in.