gearbox oil in belly mower

[atitus74]

For those of you with a kubota bx belly mower (mine is 48 in version) how fast does the gear oil get consumed in the gear box? Mine is a 2018 and I figured I was getting close to the 50 hour first maint cycle this spring on the mower deck so I went to change out the fluid. When I removed the plug screw, the gearbox was completely empty!! I was stunned. Should i have been checking this more often or did the dealer not fill it when they delivered?

 

[SDT]

For those of you with a kubota bx belly mower (mine is 48 in version) how fast does the gear oil get consumed in the gear box? Mine is a 2018 and I figured I was getting close to the 50 hour first maint cycle this spring on the mower deck so I went to change out the fluid. When I removed the plug screw, the gearbox was completely empty!! I was stunned. Should i have been checking this more often or did the dealer not fill it when they delivered?

Gearbox oil should not be "consumed." Did you remove the level or drain plug to check?

If gearbox was, indeed "empty" there should be evidence of leakage somewhere.

Check per the instructions in your mower Operator's Manual.

SDT

 

[atitus74]

I opened the drain plug, expecting to find the oil level somewhere close to the level of the plug, per the manual. It was not. So I shined a flashlight and looked in, could see clearly there was no oil in there. I stuck a swab in there it is indeed empty. I cannot find any obvious sign of leaking. There is no oil underneath where it has been stored. There is no oil on the top of the deck, nor is there any oil inside the bell housing under the blade.

 

[boomer1025]

I don't think the gear box would have lasted 20 minutes without oil/grease.
You sure it doesn't have any lube in the gear box.

 

[atitus74]

Thanks for the responses. I called the dealer, and there are two separate plugs one for checking and one for filling. I didn't remember seeing that in the owners manual so I went back and looked again. Turns out there are different diagrams. The section I was looking at didn't call it out but later on there was a more 'zoomed in' diagram that did show the smaller check plug. I stuck a zip tie in there like a dip stick and for sure there is some oil in it, but it needs more. I am going to fill it then carefully wipe everything down. When I mow next, look for any oil leaks right after and I'll check the level a frequently for the next couple weeks. Thanks again for your replies.

 

[SDT]

Thanks for the responses. I called the dealer, and there are two separate plugs one for checking and one for filling. I didn't remember seeing that in the owners manual so I went back and looked again. Turns out there are different diagrams. The section I was looking at didn't call it out but later on there was a more 'zoomed in' diagram that did show the smaller check plug. I stuck a zip tie in there like a dip stick and for sure there is some oil in it, but it needs more. I am going to fill it then carefully wipe everything down. When I mow next, look for any oil leaks right after and I'll check the level a frequently for the next couple weeks. Thanks again for your replies.

Bingo.

That's why I asked whether you removed the level or drain plug, above.

The good news is that your gearbox is probably OK.

SDT

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Glad you figured that out and that things are probably OK. FWIW the 54" deck on my GR manages to slobber some UDT out of the breather. Not much, but the level does go down in a season's use so it bears checking from time to time.

Switching to gear lube might slow that down...

Z.