60" MMM maintenance

[Steve02]

I was just reading the manuals that I got with the tractor purchase, one of which was the MMM manual. It says to replace the gear box oil seals every 2 years. Does anyone actually do this? If so, does anyone know what the part numbers are (I have the parts manual in pdf but am not sure what the correct parts are)?

Also, (and this just may be me complaining) but does anyone actually perform the 'daily check' of the gear box oil? I mean come on, do the people that write these maintenance schedules actually know what would be involved in doing that? </Get off soap box>

Anyway, the deck is the RCK60-24B.

Thanks all,

Steve

 

[Dusty]

I have read the manuals, but I don't check the gear oil on a yearly basis, but based on use. I do check for leaks on a regular basis, and if I were to find one, I would fix the seals immediately. Changing seals as a bi annual service to me seems foolish. There is a greater risk of the new seal failing as a result of installation damage than the old seal failing from use. It is my belief that the manuals were written for people that have no commercial machinery experience and it is designed to drive work to the dealers by those that don't know better. Changing oil in the engine based on hours makes sense, but gear box lube doesn't get contaminated like engine oil. If you think of the total number of hours on the MMM, you will realize that it isn't very much as compared to the total use of the tractor itself. I believe in proper maintenance and lubrication, but I don't believe in changing lubrication for the sake of change only. Dusty

 

[Rusty]

...replace the gear box oil seals every 2 years. Does anyone actually do this? ...Anyway, the deck is the RCK60-24B. Steve

Disclaimer: I have NO practical experience with gear box seals, but I have NO intention of replacing the seal on my RCK60-24B until it fails. I have been using my mmm since June 2003, and it probably has run 500 hours.

 

[bigdad]

Dusty....

That makes sense. That's why I like this forum! Common, practical sense.

BD

 

[B2400]

The old addage " If it ain't broke, don't fix it" probably applies here. I have about 800 hrs on a 9 year old RCK60-24B and no oil leaks. I do change the gear box oil every year though.

 

[Steve02]

Sounds like everyone is confirming my thought process on this issue; let the seals wait until they are a problem.

 

[fishpick]

Someone once said to me - "replacing unleaking seals is like getting a knee replacement because you might need it, some day"

 

[Musclford]

Someone once said to me - "replacing unleaking seals is like getting a knee replacement because you might need it, some day"

How very true....

What's sad is there are people out their that follow all this foolish nonsense...

IMHO, You will surely have a leak if you jack with a seal that's not leaking..

Just keep a good ear and eye when your using your tractor...

I recommend, cleaning your tractor on a regular basis..(This doesn't mean waxing and detailing), but wash it down underneath to maybe find a seaping seal / oil after you use it.

The only way I knew my Simplicity was leakng in the differential was by hosing it down.. I started noticing some dark buildup of grass underneath which discovered a leaking axle seal..I didn't change the transaxle fluid on an annual basis, nor did I check the level, because it was a sealed system, as our decks are, if you keep an eye an ear when your using it, you can likely get an indication of something that may need attention...

Also, don't be afraid of hosing down your engine compartment (Simple green works as a bio degradeable cleaner / Don't necessarily saturate the electrical components), but I sometimes do this before I use the tractor, so that the hour that I'm using it can dry it out.... and then it's not sitting inside the garage while it's wet.

That's my advice, take it or leave it...

Musclford