Bearing assembly

In combination:

• a rotatable shaft having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end;
• and
• a bearing assembly that is engaged with the first end of the shaft;
• wherein said bearing assembly comprises:
• a hub having an interior surface that defines a first bore that extends from a first opening at a first end of the hub to a second opening at a second end of the hub;
• a bearing sleeve engaged in the first bore;
• said bearing sleeve having an interior surface that defines a second bore that extends from a first opening in a first end of the bearing sleeve to a second opening in a second end of the bearing sleeve;
• wherein the first end of the shaft is receivable in the first opening to the second bore;
• and wherein a portion of the shaft extends for a distance outwardly beyond the second opening to the second bore;
• at least one bearing located in the first bore between the bearing sleeve and the interior surface of the hub;
• said at least one bearing enabling relative rotation between the bearing sleeve and the hub;
• a first sealing mechanism provided at the first end of the hub;
• said first sealing mechanism sealing the first opening to the first bore that circumscribes an exterior surface of the bearing sleeve;
• and
• a second sealing mechanism provided at the second end of the hub;
• said second sealing mechanism sealing both the second opening to the first bore and the second opening to the second bore.

A method of mounting a rotatable shaft to a mounting bracket;

• said method comprising steps of:
• providing a bearing assembly having a hub defining a first bore therethrough and a bearing sleeve seated in the first bore;
• positioning a sealed bearing in the first bore between an interior surface of the hub and an exterior surface of the bearing sleeve;
• providing a rotatable shaft having an exterior surface, a first end, and a second end;
• inserting the first end of the shaft into a first opening to a second bore, where the first opening to the second bore is defined in a first end of the bearing sleeve;
• sealing off a first opening to the first bore at a first end of the hub using a first sealing mechanism that circumscribes an exterior surface of the first end of the bearing sleeve;
• and
• preventing dust, soil, or plant material from entering the first opening to the first bore using the first sealing mechanism.