Wheel slop, front and rear.

[BubbaBob]

I put my '99 HDS 2135 up on jack stands for the first time to look for an oil leak. I've never had it off the ground before so I cannot compare to what it was like new but I found the front wheels have about 1/32 of slop and the rear transaxles both have about 1/16th of slop in and out. It's not a few thousand pound Porsche at high speeds so I figured it was designed that way - the fronts anyway. The rears I'm a little more concerned about.

Is it "normal" to have a little play here?

Thanks in advance, Bob

 

[mowcub]

I don't think that sounds too excessive for a tractor. Maybe the repair manual has a specification for it.

 

[BubbaBob]

The repair manual makes no mention of it, either for front wheel or rear trans axle. I guess I was surprised at the existence of play. The front is minimized as the steering knuckle angles downward so the wheel is forced against the flange by gravity. The trans axle has no radial play, I think that's the right description, meaning it has no movement left, right, up, or down - just in and out - like a spacer was missing.

I guess I'm also surprise nobody confirmed or refuted this problem. Maybe its just a common tolerance on lawn tractors - I dunno.

BB

 

[rcbe]

a good many trannies are mfg so that the axle output shafts are held in place with a snap ring located inside the hsg. Given related casting and machining tolerance stacks, would think there would be a tad of in/out slop.

 

[KBEAT]

That's the way my LT2180 is, I assume the 2135 is the same. The axle has a double snap ring holding on the miter gear and the wheel flange is just held on with a bolt and washer, driving on a flat on the axle. A bit of play in that assembly is normal, nothing to be worried about. (I just had mine on jack stands last week to adjust my neutral position and I had about the same amount of play)