The largest mowers in the Gravely® commercial lineup are getting a new and improved mower blade spindle. Cast in the same dependable cold-forged aluminum Gravely has used for several years, the new spindle features elements designed to help prevent moisture and erosion nets from wreaking havoc on a professional’s productivity.
“We spent a lot of time in the field learning what makes lawn maintenance professionals successful, as well as their struggles,” said Gravely Channel Marketing Manager Angie Ansorge. “Spindle failures through bearing corrosion or interference with debris is a very large pain point, which is what lead us down the path of upgrading our design.”
With spindle reliability factoring heavily into machine downtime, it’s mission critical landscapers have a solution that may help reduce the number of those failures.
“Our attention to single components is an expression of our commitment to commercial operators,” said Gravely Brand Director Patrick McQuillan. “Providing them with high-quality machines that feature durable components is how we help them run their businesses and minimize downtime. A spindle performing in challenging conditions is something landscapers should be able to count on.”
Building that confidence into the next-generation commercial spindle starts with reusing winning features of the former design, mainly the dependability of Gravely’s cold-forged aluminum casting.
“Compared to cast-iron designs, Gravely’s cold-forged aluminum spindle operates at cooler temperatures and is more resilient to failures from heat – ultimately, this means less expense and downtime when those failures occur,” said Ansorge. “This a clear and proven advantage for us, so we didn’t change that construction.”
To bolster existing durability, the single-row roller bearings are swapped with double roller bearings. The added bearing thickness distributes load across two sets of bearings and across a larger area to reduce chances for seizing and failures. If that’s not enough, the spindle is also serviceable.
“Most operators can easily replace the bearings and O-ring seals in very little time with a service kit,” said Ansorge. “Using only hand tools, you remove the blade bolt and drop the inner spacer to gain access to the bearings.”
Materials aside, efforts to enhance the design’s reliability are made through modifications to debris and moisture entry points. At the top, a labyrinth seal directs moisture away from the shaft to reduce potential for water penetration, corrosion, and eventual failure. A shouldered, or stepped seal at the bottom helps prevent ingestion of debris like erosion nets.
“Through our principle of continuous improvement, we tweaked what was already on the drawing board to find ways that could provide a better experience for our customers,” said Ansorge.”
Gravely’s new commercial spindle will enter production on all Pro-Turn 300, Pro-Turn 500, Pro-Turn 600, and Pro-Stance Ultra models in fall 2024 and independently owned and operated Gravely dealerships in the U.S. and Canada in 2025. To learn more or to find a dealer, visit Gravely.com. A rendered cutaway image of Gravely’s new commercial spindle design is located here.
Residential spindle updates
In addition to commercial spindle updates, homeowners will also receive spindles with a new dual-roller bearing that’s thicker with an improved seal on their Gravely ZT, ZT X, ZT XL, and ZT HD zero-turn mowers in 2025.
About AriensCo
Based in Brillion, Wisconsin, AriensCo is a privately-owned manufacturer of outdoor power equipment for both consumer and commercial markets. Established in 1933, the company manufactures equipment under the Ariens®, Gravely®, and AS-Motor® brand names. Its RapidCare® division provides service and support to dealers with parts, a call center and trained field service technicians. It started Henry’s Parts & Equipment in 2023, a will-fit aftermarket parts business. AriensCo Hospitality began in 2020 with two luxury event venues, Stone Prairie and Round Lake Farms. It opened Ariens Nordic Center in December 2022. These venues are part of the mission to create reasons to visit the Brillion community. Find us on the web: ariensco.com. Follow us on X, Instagram and LinkedIn. Like us on Facebook. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
About Gravely®
Gravely® is a brand extension of AriensCo. The brand features a full line of commercial zero-turn lawn mowers and other commercial job site equipment available at major dealers nationally. Designed for exceptional comfort and built with rock-solid dependability, Gravely has shaped the American landscape for more than 100 years. For more information, visit www.gravely.com.
10.17.24