Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): 325 John Deere/PTO Bearing, electric clutch, engine crankshaft

Question
My JD dealer has suggested that I have the PTO bearing replaced in my JD 325 garden tractor. The cost is significant and I would like to know if this is necessary since there are no obvious problems with its operation. Can I just wait until the bearing fails and replace it myself?

Answer
I would not recommend waiting until the bearing fails.  I have done this myself and ended up damaging several other parts which cost me even more money to replace.

Have you check the bearing yourself to see if it feels rough or has excessive play?

I'm guessing the bearing is inside the electric clutch PTO.  The price is high as the dealer will have to replace the entire clutch assembly for a $10.00 bearing.  

Have you looked on ebay for a used clutch?  Working or not?  You may be able to find a machine shop in your area who can replace just the bearing.  Having a cheap, used PTO to play with may save you big bucks in the long run.

Worst case, if you let the bearing fail it could cause damage to the belt or engine crankshaft.

Let me know if this helps.
Eric