450 Front Idler

[msturm]

I have a 450 that I am piecing together. One of the front idlers has spun on the idler shaft and wallowed out the hole pretty bad. How tightly is the idler supposed to fit the shaft? I’m trying to determine if it will work to have the hole built up and machined out or if I should replace it with an aftermarket one. Does the shaft have to be pressed through the idler? I have a shop manual and a parts manual for it but they’re a little vague about how it fits. The idler is hurt pretty bad so I’m not sure what it was all supposed to look like when it was intact and the shaft was turning in the bushings. Thanks.

[Jim B]

Welcome to the Boards.

What is the John Deere publication number of the manual you are using. Generally, they have specification sections that give you the ID. OD etc. of parts like the idler bores and bushings and shafts. Technicians need those dimensions to determined reuse, repair or replace wear parts.

The idler would have had bushings pressed into it. The shaft would be a slip fit in the bushings of the idler, as the shaft is held at the ends and the idler turns around the shaft.