older craftsman tiller

I acquired an 15 +/- yr old craftsman 5hp tiller. It runs great but someone had put the tires on backwards and long story short I had a friend heat up the axle to get left side off and it go so hot that it melted the plastic piece outside of the transmission(had to end up cuting wheel off as well model number is 917.299650. I think its a bearing from what I see on the sears online catalog(haven't been able to find a manual for it either) but want to be sure before I order a replacement part. Also anyone know if this piece can go on from outside or will the transmission have to be opened to install?

 

Here is a picture of what I am talking about, the white part. this is from the right side

 

Been a long time since I opened one of those, but I believe it goes in from the inside unfortunately.

 

It seems there is one bearing on inside as well and this seems to be on the outside. the piece on the other side goes out beyond the size of the whole so I can't see how it would be the inside but I really don't know, just my observation.

 

From the way the IPL is displayed at the sears site the parts go on from the inside. Have a good one. Geo

 

from a closer inspection it does seem like it could go in from inside, now its the question of finding the part...

 

The bushing shows to be available from sears, the bearing shows as not available, if you need one the bearing number is usually stamped on the side of the bearing, you can then search from bearing suppliers. Have a good one. Geo

 

I have a similar Roto-Tiller, and I'd suspect that the last thing in from the outside is a fairly standard dimension grease seal, pressed in with hand tools. That white thing looked like a nylon washer to prevent the tines from touching the grease seal.

Most recently, I bought replacement grease seals from a local auto parts store . . . . made in the US by Federal Mogul in my case.

 

Best I can tell its part 10 from the diagram here:
CRAFTSMAN Rear Tine Tiller Transmission, ground driv ... Parts | Model 917299650 | SearsPartsDirect

I separated the o ring from the melted part on it so i'll get that which is available.

The back of the tiller has the grease seals where the tines hook on I think. The axle there is the one the wheel goes on and the other side the outside melted off.