To disconnect the steering shaft to replace the bearing, there is a #3 Philips head screw on the underside of the deck which needs to be taken out. Chances are it hasn't been replaced before, so it is likely very tight. I ended up dropping the deck to allow for more room but it could probably be done with the deck in place the way I had to do it. I had someone hold the steering wheel up top (not undoing the 13mm bolt holding the steering wheel in) and tried to unscrew the Philips, even after heating it with a torch still stripped out. The only way I could get the screw out was to take a pair of Vice Grips adjusted extremely tight to the outside of the screw and put the torch on it to heat it again. Then, turn the steering wheel to the left and when the Vice Grips get caught on the bottom of the mower, it will unthread the steering wheel from the screw. After the screw and washer are out *TAKE NOTE OF THE ORIENTATION OF THE WASHER*, I went to the hardware store and replaced the screw with a bolt that was 5/16 - 18 x .750 which was the closest length they had, took out the worn out bearing, popped in the new one, reinstalled the washer and bolt, then the deck. Even if you get the philips screw out without using Vice Grips, I would still recommend replacing it with a bolt.
We took our 30 plus year mixer apart. I removed the old grease. There was some crumbly looking grease in the main housing gear section where the nylon gear is located. It looked like it had flour mixed in it. Not certain. Removed as best possible all old grease and applied 6 oz. of new Benalene grease to all of the gears. Now it does not make the slight howl sound.
