Front deck mower gear box leaking

[JOHNTHOMAS]

A warning to those with mowing decks with gear drive, like the front deck 72" on my F3080. Yesterday when I would engage the deck it would kill the engine immediately. I first checked nothing wrapped around blades. I checked fluid in gear box and it was low or empty. I added fluid and it powered properly. After a few minutes of mowing I started smelling something burning. My deck was covered with gear oil!:shocked::thumbdown::confused3: I finally noticed there are two holes on each side of the gear box beside lock down plates with no bolts. I had found a loose bolt some time ago and found an empty hole on the back top of my deck and the bolt fit in the hole so that's where I put it. I ordered 4 bolts and washers from Barlows yesterday. I believe this will lock gear box down tight to deck and thus stop leak, I'll see when the bolts get in and installed.

 

[arto98607]

Thank you, that's a good point.

Sorry, not trying to hijack your thread but last winter I replaced the bearings and shaft oil seals which had minor leaks in my F3060 72 inch deck 90 degree gearbox, just to make sure it will be OK (3500+ hours on the meter). The price of this particular replacement gearbox would be over $500 so it was well worth spending under $50 on parts and couple of hours.

The old bearings had some slack but the gears looked very good, despite filthy old gear oil.

It would be wise to change the gear oil regularly.

:thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Update: Replaced the 4 bolts and washers to the tune of $12 or $16. Two were a fraction longer than the other two so right and left side made a difference. Gear oil still pours out.
Barlows master "Mature" mechanic was walking by when I picked up my bolts. I had already asked and seal is another $16 if it still leaked. I asked him what to do if the seal still leaked, anything for gear boxes like Bars Leak for radiators. He pointed to a bottle on the front shelf and said "That". It to is $16 or $18 for a 32 oz bottle of basically 00 grease. Have researched 00 Grease/Corn Grease for gear boxes and found tractor users have been using it for decades in gear boxes. Amazon has it for $12 or $14 or $16 32 oz but Tractor Supply has it for $4.99 for 32 oz which I purchased two bottles yesterday. Gary who knows all from Barlows told me the point of interest in using the 00 is how much to put in because it is grease and doesn't splash around like oil. I'm going to squirt it in the top side hole on the gear box while leaving the top fill bolt off and see what happens and then put bolts back in and go forth mowing while doing regular checks on my gear box. I have a camera for checking down your throat or in a car engine but have never connected it to my computer yet so may have to get it out and find out how to make it work and do internal visual inspection of the gear box. Anyway, I'll install 00 grease as soon as it gets dry enough to test it out.

 

[arto98607]

The 90 degree gearbox in my mower was made by Superior Gearbox Company and is pretty simple easy to overhaul design.

I am little skeptical of switching to 00 grease - the gears inside are the expensive parts. But hey, grease is better than nothing if that's the alternative.

 

[Agvg]

If I understand correctly it was locked up with no oil, then you added oil and made it turn by force, if that correct I do believe you must tear it down for inspection and overhaul.

 

[hawkeye08]

JOHNTHOMAS, I did not think you kept any Kubotas long enough to need an oil change, let alone have repairs done! Trade that worn old thing in and get a new one..

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If I understand correctly it was locked up with no oil, then you added oil and made it turn by force, if that correct I do believe you must tear it down for inspection and overhaul.

Must is a very strong word. When I added gear oil it started working fine but it all leaked out. Since adding 00 grease it is cutting fine but I seem to be hearing lots of noises from the deck area and even some squealing. Further investigation is obviously required.

JOHNTHOMAS, I did not think you kept any Kubotas long enough to need an oil change, let alone have repairs done! Trade that worn old thing in and get a new one..

Machine has less than 300 hours but deck has more. I had bought a new F with side discharge deck and hated the side discharge deck so bad (Before I discovered adding a mulching kit fixes the bad issues of the dreaded side discharge deck) and kept my used rear discharge deck and let the side discharge deck go with another machine. I'd trade decks in a heart beat but doubt Barlow would want my old deck enough to give me what I'd think I had to have to trade. I think a new deck is over $3000. You may be right.........I may need to just trade the entire machine!!!!:laughing::cool2:

 

[Agvg]

It is a must if you want to keep it running, if the bearings lock up the box will be scrap metal in no time.

 

[arto98607]

zip...................................................................I think a new deck is over $3000. You may be right.........I may need to just trade the entire machine!!!!:laughing::cool2:

New RD 72" steel deck "shell" alone was close to $2000 last year.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

It is a must if you want to keep it running, if the bearings lock up the box will be scrap metal in no time.

So you don't think 00 grease will lubricate gears and bearings? I think a lot of equipment recommends grease for gears and bearings and now I'm wondering why?

 

[Agvg]

If they have locked up once before they are done, no bearing can take such punishment and survive.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If they have locked up once before they are done, no bearing can take such punishment and survive.

Mowed, parked, turned off mower and went inside for a couple weeks. Came bakc out, started machine and tried engaging mower and it wouldn't. Checked fluid and filled with a very small amount of fluid. Engaged mower and it worked fine/perfect/as always and after about 10 minutes I smelled burning odor (Fluid on belt?) and noticed fluid on top of deck, turned off mower and checked fluid and then noticed gear box mounting bolts gone. Ordered bolts, got them, installed them, filled with gear oil and it worked but gear oil leaked out again. Stopped and later added 00 grease and now works but the gear oil in recesses has came out and maybe some grease and it mows. Wonder how it is working now and has some gear oil on belt?

 

[628pm]

Is it possible if the case was out of fluid or very low the case then got very hot which could cause a hairline crack in the case? Only a guess.

 

[aczlan]

The 90 degree gearbox in my mower was made by Superior Gearbox Company and is pretty simple easy to overhaul design.

I am little skeptical of switching to 00 grease - the gears inside are the expensive parts. But hey, grease is better than nothing if that's the alternative.
View attachment 558591

If the seals are going bad, but the gears and bearings are still passable, 00 grease should work, it is classed as a "flowable" grease and will keep flowing down and into the gears as the gears churn it up.

Aaron Z

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Is it possible if the case was out of fluid or very low the case then got very hot which could cause a hairline crack in the case? Only a guess.

I say possible but I believe it's the gasket at the bottom of the gear box that is bad and needs replaced. There are two bolts on each side of the gear box and all 4 of them were missing, letting the gearbox move about which I believe damaged the gasket. The gear oil comes out of the gear box pretty quick now that the 4 bolts have been installed. I'll try and dry all gear oil off top of deck and make sure gear box has enough 00 grease and try running it for more time and see what happens. It operated fine with the 00 grease for over 30 minutes but there were noises and some squealing which I believe was the belt. Time will tell. I usually hear different sounds when I think some thing isn't correct, just the way my mind works.:laughing:

 

[Gator6x4]

A lot of people use Farm Oyl Fluid Gear Grease in gear boxes on rotary cutters. Pricey.

Amazon.com: Farm Oyl, Fluid Gear Grease, 1 Quart: Garden & Outdoor

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

As I've pondered my issue.....I believe the gear box "locked up" due to misalignment of the gear box due to the 4 bolts holding the gear box to the deck coming out. When I added a small amount of gear oil and replaced the 4 bolts I believe the gear box was then back in alignment which allowed the gears to start turning. I believe the gasket where the gear box attaches to the deck was damaged during this "loose gear box" period. Just my :2cents: I am comfortable using 00 grease instead of gear oil as long as it will stay in the gear box which I'll find out with continued use and regular checking. ...........All you F owners check those 4 bolts holding your gear box to the deck.:dance1:
I'm not a big Tractor Supply fan but they sell the same 00 grease for $4.99 as Amazon asks about $15 for and I am a Amazon fan.

 

[Ford850]

As I've pondered my issue.....I believe the gear box "locked up" due to misalignment of the gear box due to the 4 bolts holding the gear box to the deck coming out. When I added a small amount of gear oil and replaced the 4 bolts I believe the gear box was then back in alignment which allowed the gears to start turning. I believe the gasket where the gear box attaches to the deck was damaged during this "loose gear box" period. Just my :2cents: I am comfortable using 00 grease instead of gear oil as long as it will stay in the gear box which I'll find out with continued use and regular checking. ...........All you F owners check those 4 bolts holding your gear box to the deck.:dance1:
I'm not a big Tractor Supply fan but they sell the same 00 grease for $4.99 as Amazon asks about $15 for and I am a Amazon fan.

I agree with your 2 cents. That's the most likely explanation in my opinion, and I sure wouldn't be concerned with using 00 grease.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Grandson had to suspend mowing a couple of days ago. The mower was making bad noises and the gear box was smoking. The gear box was super hot to the touch. Taking deck to Barlows today and hoping just bearings and seals an not damaged gears. Cost estimates for bearings and seals isn't cheap and rebuild gear box is even less cheap and a new gear box is almost heart stopping. I'll report the results after I find out and pay the bill.:shocked::confused3:
I take chances sometimes to save a few/lots of bucks and effort/time and sometimes it bites me in the butt but mostly it pays off but this time it looks like butt biting and biting and biting time.:drink:

 

[628pm]

Thanks for keeping us up to date.