Has anyone successfully shrunk roller tubes? Cancel The title field is required!

1. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   9/29/2021 5:09 AM

   Has anyone developed a way to shrink roller tube ends in order to continue using them after they have expanded and will not stay on the rollers anymore.
   
   If so how did you go about it?
   
   I am considering trying to heat a few to see if they shrink.
   
   

   
   
   
   
2. Corey Eastwood

   

   80 posts
   
   9/29/2021 12:09 PM in reply to James Smith

   James what is a roller tube?

   
   Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
   
   
3. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   9/30/2021 5:09 AM in reply to Corey Eastwood

   some of the rollers on the mower reels are made of a steel tube with ends pushed into them. I have seen several that the end comes loose and then expands the tube where the end is not tight anymore. when the parts are steel I have welded them together and grinded them smooth. sometimes they use aluminum ends like on my John Deere and they cannot be welded together that I know of. 

   
   
   
   
4. Ron Bradley

   

   63 posts
   
   9/30/2021 5:09 AM in reply to James Smith

   Are you sure the tubes are bad . I have had a end on one of my old toro units do this. I replaced the Bearing housing and fixed the issue. Aluminum wears very easy.

   
   
   
   
5. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   9/30/2021 6:09 AM in reply to Ron Bradley

   yes you can see it is flared out and measuring with a mic shows its gotten bigger. The real problem was cutbacks from covid cost us our equipment tech and most of the crew so we have been trying to keep up with service but its not easy with just a few people in the summer.

   
   
   
   
6. John Weidler

   

   13 posts
   
   9/30/2021 8:09 AM

   I was never successful with that. You can purchase tube from McMaster-Carr  in short sections or purchase 20' from the steel warehouse and it cheep.

   
   
   
   
7. Ron Bradley

   

   63 posts
   
   9/30/2021 8:09 AM in reply to James Smith

   If you just want the bearing to stay in I would try some JB Weld mix it  cover the out side of the housing put it in the tube and spin the housing. That will hopefully center it in the tube and let it set. They should not come out.

   
   
   
   
8. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   9/30/2021 9:09 AM in reply to John Weidler

   never thought or that way, thanks