Noise in finish mower

   / Noise in finish mower #1  

5030tinkerer

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
432
Location
Iowa
Tractor
Kubota GL3830/GL5030
I recently purchased a used Rhino TX115 11' finish mower with three different decks. I used it several times since and have had no trouble, but after lending it to my neighbor who I know cut through some incredibly thick and tall grass (picture a prairie that hadn't been mowed all year), I now note a rapping noise that is hard to pinpoint but seems to be coming from one of the deck's transfer case assemblies. I checked the oil level in this case, found it to be low, and topped it off, but the noise continues. Is this case damaged somehow? Am I best off to pull it all apart to see if I can find anything? Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?
 
   / Noise in finish mower #2  
I'd guess you have a bearing headed for the boneyard. Better tear it down and inspect. Are your sure there isn't something caught under the deck that the blade is hitting? If not, better tear into it to prevent further damage.

John
 
   / Noise in finish mower #3  
I had that same sound in my 72" Woods mower. The gears and bearings were shot. I was able to rebuild it for under 1/3 the cost for a new box. I suggest you pull it apart before it gets worse.
 
   / Noise in finish mower
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Thanks, guys. I was afraid of this. I haven't spent too much time on it, but thus far haven't been able to determine how to remove the PTO shaft from that side of the transfer case. Any ideas? Also, when you rebuilt yours, where did you go to get the required replacement parts? Is this broken case likely caused by my neighbor pushing the mower beyond its original design intentions, was it likely to be going bad just anyway, or can it really be said?
 
   / Noise in finish mower #5  
If it is just a seal and bearing, a bearing shop can probably get it for you.. or the dealer / manufacturer. if it is a gear as well.. looks like dealer or manufacturer teritory.

I'd expect beat up blades ( and belts iff applicable ) on an abused finish mower. i guess if an obstruction like a stump or rock was hit you could put some unexpected side load on the spindle/bearing.. etc.

If you can isolate that deck.. turn it over by hand.. a bad bearing will be readilly evident. Also.. if it weeps oil.. the seal is bad, and most likely the bearing.. though seals do fail without bearing failure too. (string, grass or wire can run up the shaft and eat a seal..)

Some pto shafts have retaining circlips, roll pins, or wedge bolts to hold them on..

Soundguy

Soundguy
 
   / Noise in finish mower #6  
I bought my bearings from the local bearing distributor. The gears came from Woods. The local dealer said that Woods didn't sell the gears seperately. An email to Woods produced a part number that I used to order them. You really need to dig into it to see what happened. You could have had water in there. That would wipe out the lower bearing. Once that goes the upper one goes on the spindle shaft. Them the gears wipe out. At least that is what I figured out happened with mine. So far I have mowed this summer with no problems.
 
   / Noise in finish mower #7  
Soundguy said:
If it is just a seal and bearing, a bearing shop can probably get it for you.. or the dealer / manufacturer. if it is a gear as well.. looks like dealer or manufacturer teritory.

I'd expect beat up blades ( and belts iff applicable ) on an abused finish mower. i guess if an obstruction like a stump or rock was hit you could put some unexpected side load on the spindle/bearing.. etc.

If you can isolate that deck.. turn it over by hand.. a bad bearing will be readilly evident. Also.. if it weeps oil.. the seal is bad, and most likely the bearing.. though seals do fail without bearing failure too. (string, grass or wire can run up the shaft and eat a seal..)

Some pto shafts have retaining circlips, roll pins, or wedge bolts to hold them on..

Soundguy

Soundguy

Basically what Soudnguy says but pull the belt and isolate just the gearbox. If you still hear the noise then it's in there. Otherwise you can spin each blade spindal separatly and listen, look, and feel.
 
   / Noise in finish mower
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Just an update here: I pulled the dual belts off of the mowing deck in question and discovered that one of the blade spindles wobbles side to side - not good. Looks like its time for new bearings in there. I hope to pull the spindle apart this weekend to see what all is damaged and then find a replacement bearing/bearing set at the local autoparts store. The good news seems to be that even if the spindle is completely shot and I have to get a whole new assembly, it has to be cheaper than the gearbox. I suppose all doubt is out about my neighbor borrowing this causing the problem. I cannot see how anything he could have done could have caused this. Truly good news! Thanks for the suggestion about attempting to isolate the gearbox - definitely saved a needless order and a ton of work! One thing I also noticed when removing the belts is that they didn't match - that can't possibly be good for bearing longevity. I'll be installing new belts as part of this as well. Life is good!
 
   / Noise in finish mower #9  
It is a rare occasion that you will find two belts the same length unless they come as a matched set. Good for you for finding out it was just the hub bearings. I buy them off Ebay in 10 and 20 packs for cheap money. Just punch in the part number and do a search.
 
   / Noise in finish mower #10  
A complete spindle assemblyfor my Woods is about $120 depending on where you get it. Got mine from a dealer on ebay that sold me some belts. As mentioned do a search and you might save some money online.

Rob
 
 
 
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