OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Earlier Wheel Bearings:Rover SUPER Four-53

Hi Everybody, Newbie here from Adelaide..
Can anyone please tell me where to get (new or usable s/h) wheel bearings for the above mower? I am talking for the cast wheels with the 'Red Dot' dust-cover in the middle. 30+ Years ago when I was running these machines within a contract mowing business, we could still buy wheel bearing kits and individual bearings (2 per wheel), but recent inquiries here in Adelaide have drawn a blank...
The original parts catalogue (thank you Forum!) lists the Inner as Part # 2518, and the Outer as Part # 2519...my memory may be fading, but years ago I didn't think there was any difference, and the (collapsed) ones I have removed seem to be identical.
My only local suggestion at this point seems to be (only similar O/D sized) ball bearings from CBC, without the extended inner race...using these (at some considerable expense) will involve machining the inner diameter of the wheel centre to fit the O/D of the bearing, and then machining a separate sleeve to go on the axle between the inner and outer bearings...taking the place of the original extended inner race of each bearing.. ...more effort (and time) than I have available at the moment.
Any help that anyone can give me would be gratefully received.

Many thanks, Peter.


SOURCE: stock photo added by Cyberjack

Hi Peter,
I bought a set off EBay, they were pretty reasonable. Come in set for each wheel.



http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAWNMOWER-WHEEL-KIT-FOR-ROVER-LAWN-MOWERS-/181181737345

Thank you very much Paul. I had tried a search on that supplier's shop page but couldn't find it. Magic!
Regards, Peter

Are these any use, might have to machine the wheels to fit them but cheap enough to start with
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/8-X-LAWN...S-SUIT-ROVER-HONDA-MASPORT-/182644214850

Hi Norm
This might be an option if the mower was a daily driver.
But thrust spacers would need to be made to accommodate the correct
side-thrust.

Paul's solution - for a reproduction kit - is best here ... and it
includes those hard to find red caps and hardware.

The repro kits seem to have fully sealed bearings too.
The originals required grease packing...



I can't answer this bit:
The original parts catalogue (thank you Forum!) lists the Inner as Part # 2518, and the Outer as Part # 2519
These bearings seemed identical to me.

Cheers
-----------------
Jack

Thanks for that Norm..unfortunately the 1/2" inner Diameter throws yet another curve to that..I had seen these before but realised that would mean even more work..

I have ordered a set off eBay that Paul recommended..will wait and see what they're like and will report.
Regards,
Peter

Thank you everyone for your follow-up comments and suggestions..I'm glad I found this Forum!!

FWIW, the photo attached to my original post by CyberJack (thank you!) is an interesting one as it looks like the B&S has been turned 90 degrees clockwise from its original position...

The two-and-a-half examples of this mower that I have here at the moment (and the two that I ran in the business all those decades ago) all have (and had) the carby on the same side as the lefthand wheels..viewed from the rear (handle) position..

When the dust settles on this little current problem, I'll start talking about the 'custom' drive mechanism that was offered in Adelaide by (then one) Kingsley White, who came up with an interesting concept of positive individual belt drives to each rear wheel, after they had been fitted with pneumatic tyres. I used to run that rig in the mowing round in the late 70s and recently managed to find an example here in Adelaide that had been fitted to (I believe) an aftermarket copy of the original 21" rover chassis with extra reinforcing in the casting. This one has a Honda motor on it and will be gradually restored as time permits, as it is a stunning machine to drive, and overcomes all the problems of the original Rover set-up.

Thanks again for being such a great place to be able to ramble on about this stuff !!

Yep, you're quite right.
If you type in Rover Brochure in the search box at top
you will see how the machine developed from the 1960s.

I haven't heard of that one.
I'll put the patent up for the 'Posi-track' drive shortly.

Cheers
----------------
Jack