Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

jviera1298, I just bought the same platinum 24 that you did and I think for what we paid that Ariens went cheap on this part.  It may last for a while but it sure as heck isn't going to be as good as a ball or roller bearing.  Maybe they should just use nylon bushings on the impeller shaft too...how about the wheel axles?   I'm sorry but in my view the auger will bear a lot of load over time and I have to believe that for a couple of dollars it could have been done better. (that's my only point) 

I think the Y bracket to support the gear case serves to add stability in a number of different axis, not the least of which is side to side, because the auger shaft is not attached to the sides of the bucket, it just floats on the bearing support shaft.  If retrofitted with a flanged bearing blocks, the auger shaft could be tightened to the bearing with set screws and in turn make the entire bucket (sides) more rigid.

DavidNJ wrote:
The Y-mount is just a different implementation to achieve the same objective.  Can't see it being any better than vertical shaft or plate with same stiffness.. 

I do like the Deere bucket up close though.  Simple, clean, robust design.

The composit bearings are made for their application I believe... The problem I found on other types of equipment is the composite will pick up grit and act like a sandpaper on the bearing surface... surprisingly the shaft will wear quicker than the plastic/ composite  ( The grit gets impregnated into the bearing and lapped it to death over time)

Friiy

If Ariens uses Nilon  buslings for bearings. how does it get grease?  I have a 924108. All I see is grease fittings for the auger blades not the bushings

The material has self lubricating properties. Kinda like ice, it's naturally slippery. So no need to add grease. Actually grease may do more harm the good because it attracts dirt and grit, making it abrasive instead of smooth. See reply #21.

After looking into the "Nyliner" (blue bearing shown above) issue, it seems that it is a decent bearing material but it is made of such thin material (.025"- .06" depending on bearing size) that it just looks like a problem waiting to happen.  They supposedly require no lube and the spiral split in the bearing allows for thermal expansion. The problem for me will be that the material is so thin that an upgrade to a standard bronze sleeve bearing will probably not fit into the bearing support (3 holed metal piece also shown above) without drilling.

Does anyone know why Ariens uses a different bearing (material, design & bearing support style) altogether on a Deluxe/Platinum auger rake shaft than is used on both the Compact & Professional series? Nylon (white) bearing on Deluxe platinum and thinner Nyliner (blue) bearings on the other 2 series.  At least the Nyliner material claims to be a superior bearing material although it's super thin (0.025"- 0.06") depending on bearing size.  As far as I can tell the nylon bearing is plain old cast nylon which is shown to be one of the more mediocre performing materials when compared to these new self-lubricating materials or oil impregnated bronze.  

I have a Ariens 924708-- it does not have any grease fittings for the auger bushings. I see a brass bushing but no plastic or other material  incert. I ask Ariens, they seem to give me the blow off.  I asked them how to grease it. they first said it does not need grease.  I told them it is spinning metal to metal what is to keep it from wareing out . They then said the grease fron greasing the auger shaft will find its way into the bushing.   WRONG ANSWER-   Any ideas on how to grease it.

It is probably an oil impregnated bronze sleeve bearing, also known as an Oilite bearing.  It is made from a porous SAE 841 alloy which carries between 17-20% SAE 30 oil within it's pores.  The oil acts as a cushion between the bearing and the shaft, adding resistance to shock loads (suddenly applied loads) and wear.  They are virtually maintenance free.  If you feel compelled to lube it I suppose a little additional SAE 30 oil applied into the seam where the bearing flange is showing couldn't hurt.