BX 54" Fine Cut Deck Gearbox Leaking

[Danner]

I've got a pretty good leak in the gearbox on my MMM. The deck is 1.5 years old and has maybe 130 hours on it. Last week, I cleaned and serviced the deck, and topped up the gear oil in the gear box. It took a few ounces, which raised an eyebrow. Then I mowed about 4 acres and the dad-gummed thing was coated in oil, had slung oil over the deck, and got all caked with grass clippings.

I'm not sure where the leak is yet.

Just posting to inquire if anybody else has had this happen and what route they took to fix it.

Thanks

 

[94BULLITT]

On my deck(regular 54") there is a seal your are supposed to replace every 2 years I think, maybe yours went bad prematurely. Clean it up with some brake clean and run it a little to see if you can tell where it is coming from.

 

[wrooster]

Last week, I cleaned and serviced the deck, and topped up the gear oil in the gear box. It took a few ounces, which raised an eyebrow.

Are you sure you didn't overfill the gearbox? When the gearbox gets hot, the oil is going to expand somewhat -- and it needs room to expand or it's going to push past the seals.

Wrooster

 

[Gator6x4]

Are you sure you didn't overfill the gearbox? When the gearbox gets hot, the oil is going to expand somewhat -- and it needs room to expand or it's going to push past the seals.

Wrooster

I agree, if this is the first time this has happened the gear box was overfilled and the surplus was either pushed by the seals or was blown out the vent. Suggest checking owners manual for proper way of checking fill level to see if overfilled. Most gearboxes have either a dip stick or a removal plug on the side to check fill levels. I don't know which one your deck has.

 

[Soundguy]

i agree.. may be overfilled.

many gearboxes havew the fill level wel under the input shaft level, and allow the ring gear to pick the lube up and sling it...

 

[Danner]

Thank you all. I went out at lunch and looked over the deck, which is off the BX at this time. There is oil on the top and sides of the gear box, so I seriously doubt it is leaking from the output shaft seal, which is on the bottom. Also, the input shaft does not appear to be the culprit either. That leaves the drain, fill, and vent. The drain and fill were tight, so, I'm thinking ya'll are correct. I might have overfilled, and pressure is pushing it out the vent. So, I'm going to clean it up tonight and run to see what happens.

Cheers.

 

[Soundguy]

i'd drain it to the fill-to level and then run it.. otherwise it will just get oil again!

 

[Danner]

Also, to be complete, the fill and drain are both on the side of the case. The full level is to the bottom of the fill hole. The vent is on the top of the gear box. When I filled it last week, I squeezed a bottle of 80W90 oil in the hole, as soon as some started to drain from the fill hole, I quickly screwed the plug in. So, I'm thinking I should have let is sit open a while so any overfill I squirted in could have drain to the level of the bottom of the hole. (If that makes any sense ;-)

 

[Danner]

i'd drain it to the fill-to level and then run it.. otherwise it will just get oil again!

Yes, I'll do that. Thank you.

 

[V1Rotate]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a question. I bought a used BX1500 with a 54 inch deck, how do I know if it is a fine cut or a regular cut deck?
Thanks

 

[Danner]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a question. I bought a used BX1500 with a 54 inch deck, how do I know if it is a fine cut or a regular cut deck?
Thanks

The fine cut deck will have a "P" in the model number. For example:

RCK54P-23BX is the Fine Cut deck
RCK54-23BX is the standard deck.

At least that is how it works the 18xx, 23xx, 24xx, and 26xx tractors.

 

[V1Rotate]

The fine cut deck will have a "P" in the model number. For example:

RCK54P-23BX is the Fine Cut deck
RCK54-23BX is the standard deck.

At least that is how it works the 18xx, 23xx, 24xx, and 26xx tractors.

MIne is an RCK54-15BX so it is a standard deck.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Soundguy]

most MMM are finish mowers. fine thinner blades like a lawn mower.. ie.. 1/8" to 1/4".. vs heavy 3/8"+ thick dullish blades on a brush hog..

rear decks that are finish are usually belt driven and have anti scalping rollers and 4 flotation wheels.. brush decks usually have 1 or at most 2 tail wheels and no anti scalpers...

 

[V1Rotate]

Since Kubota offers two MMMs for the BX series, a fine cut and a standard cut, I guess my question now is, what is the difference between the two?

 

[Toyboy]

When I drain & refill the gear box on my RCK60 22Bx deck, I'll remove the vent and fill through that until it starts coming out the fill hole. Then I'll button everything up.

 

[94BULLITT]

Since Kubota offers two MMMs for the BX series, a fine cut and a standard cut, I guess my question now is, what is the difference between the two?

I don't know if there is really much difference.
http://www.kubota.com/product/BX1860/pdf/bx60_series_mower.pdf

 

[Danner]

The Fine Cut deck has rounded baffles and a more tapered profile of the deck designed to generate more updraft and blow the clippings out the side chute. The standard deck has no front baffles and a more square deck profiles.

I don't want to say to much good about the fine cut deck. Frankly, my old Troy-Bilt riding mower did a better job of cutting the grass than the BX, albeit more slowly.

 

[wrooster]

most MMM are finish mowers. fine thinner blades like a lawn mower.. ie.. 1/8" to 1/4".. vs heavy 3/8"+ thick dullish blades on a brush hog.

No, this is not the difference in the case of the Kubota std and fine cut decks.

In contrast to the std Kubota BX MMM, the Kubota fine cut MMM has a deeper deck profile and different internal baffle geometry which is supposed to do a better job of standing up the grass -- and ultimately providing a better quality cut.

Wrooster

 

[Soundguy]

No, this is not the difference in the case of the Kubota std and fine cut decks.

In contrast to the std Kubota BX MMM, the Kubota fine cut MMM has a deeper deck profile and different internal baffle geometry which is supposed to do a better job of standing up the grass -- and ultimately providing a better quality cut.

Wrooster

then they are both finish cut decks.. one just has better vacume..

 

[RMatty]

Its leaking out the vent on the top the gear box...mine does the same thing runs down the sides and gets all over the pulley. I have alot of hills so it seems to make it worse...at the end of the year i just degrease it and store it away for the winter. Ive been doing this for 5 years and no problems.