Mowing Dont ask me how I know

[Browneyesvictim]

I should have paid more attention. I burnt up the main gearbox on the 60" MMM on the MAX. The little voice inside my head was telling me there is a service point there, and I didn't listen. I cant count how many times I have had this mower deck out to do maintenance, and been through the manual many times. Somehow I missed it...

There is a service kit listed (seals and bearings), and could try and rebuild it, but it is pretty cooked inside. The gears and shafts look fine but I don't trust them as hot as they got. Looks like a $575 list price mistake I wont be making again.

 

[brasco426]

Oof that's a painful lesson learned, I have the same mower can you elaborate more please, on what was missed exactly.

 

[Browneyesvictim]

The spindles are not serviceable as they are sealed. The grease points are for the driveline components, 2 at the lift linkage at the rear and one at the tension idler arm. But the main gearbox where the driveline connects takes 80W-90 gear lube and should be checked every 24 hours of operation. First refill at 50 hours and 250 thereafter. This is what I missed.

Oh, and did you know Mahindra now charges an extra $50 drop ship fee now?!?! That is on top of the shipping charge! If you don't buy from your local dealer and it comes from Houston and ships out of state (out of the state the dealer is in), you will have to bend over! They are now intentionally doing this to screw their customers if they don't buy through their local dealers!

 

[brasco426]

Good to know, sorry for the expensive lesson. School was expensive on that one, better luck. Donnie

 

[mike69440]

The spindles are not serviceable as they are sealed. The grease points are for the driveline components, 2 at the lift linkage at the rear and one at the tension idler arm. But the main gearbox where the driveline connects takes 80W-90 gear lube and should be checked every 24 hours of operation. First refill at 50 hours and 250 thereafter. This is what I missed.

Oh, and did you know Mahindra now charges an extra $50 drop ship fee now?!?! That is on top of the shipping charge! If you don't buy from your local dealer and it comes from Houston and ships out of state (out of the state the dealer is in), you will have to bend over! They are now intentionally doing this to screw their customers if they don't buy through their local dealers!

Mahindra is attempting to build up their dealer network.
When I had my cold start issue, I spoke with Mahindra Corporate. They were helpful in explaining my situation to the local dealer ( I bought tractor out of state) and also helping the service manager with tech support in ultimately resolving the issue.
The one thing I got from corporate in Texas is that customers must work with their local dealers, not corporate. In conversation with the dealer, Mahindra is providing better dealer support than they have in the past.

So select a dealer like you would a bride.

 

[Browneyesvictim]

That's great. But, you are missing the point. I am buying through a local dealer. It just so happens they are not in the same state I live in. If the dealer doesn't stock the part and cant ship it to you directly from their store you have 2 choices: 1. Wait for the part to arrive to the dealer on their next stock order (weeks) for them to ship it to you. 2. Buy through the dealer but have the part drop shipped to your address from Mahindra and pay the $50 fee. What good is that doing to build dealer support?

 

[mike69440]

The Local dealer does a weekly stock order. a stock order every 2 weeks stinks.
PS I actual spent money today and ordered from him.

 

[roughcut]

I currently have my deck off to wire brush and paint the underside. I never noticed anything in the manual about this. I will be servicing it tonight. Thanks for bringing this up!

 

[Browneyesvictim]

Well, Mahindra pulled a fast one on me. The good news is I got the new gearbox and in a timely manner. The gearbox however, is not the same as the original. The fit-form-and-function appears to be the same. Well... Almost... not without a little modification. As you can see by the photos, the oil check/fill plugs are in a different location than where the original hole is in the mounting bracket. So out comes the plasma cutter and die grinder to finish. There are actually 2 holes per side on this one, and I am covering one of them up. I don't think that's an issue because you can still add oil up to the plug on centerline with the shaft. (Hope that's right.) Bolt up, install pulley to dimension, and all is good. No sweat! But it would have been a nice to have a bulletin or instructions included.

Jobs all done... tools put away... now ready to mow! Oh wait.. look! It's raining!

 

[DavesTractor]

Nice work! BTW, the more aggressive volume dealers certainly did not ask Mahindra to put the $50 out of state drop ship penalty in place. It hurts us. It helps the local dealer that for some reason folks do not want to use, as it is a $50 incentive to use your local dealer. I think it is not necessary. Let the dealer earn the business without penalty. I suppose for Mahindra it works, they get the $50, and probably 75% of the dealers like the program.

 

[Browneyesvictim]

Just DUMB! Why don't they put their efforts into providing better factory training to the sub-par dealers? (sigh....) Those dealers need to "Rise" on their own merits! Not at Mahindra customers expense! I call FOUL!

 

[Xfaxman]

I am posting this for those that don't know about phasing u-joints.

On that drive shaft, lining up the zerks when you slide it together, should put them in phase.

They are laying 90 degrees out of phase in your picture, that is what made me think about it.

 

[lennyzx11]

Hi xfaxman,

I was a master ASE mechanic and jeep freak in a past life and do understand ujoint phasing having built a few drive lines for custom work.
But I don't understand what is wrong with the INCORRECT picture.
As I understand as long as the two crosses (ujoints) are inline with each other so the angles at each end are complementary, they "should" operate vibration free by canceling out each other.
What have I missed?

 

[Xfaxman]

They will vibrate when the shaft angles are like this.

The theory and math formulas are above my comprehension, I just know on my TORO Groundsmaster, it vibrates if I slide it together out of phase.

 

[roughcut]

Great information Xfaxman. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Jabonee]

I am posting this for those that don't know about phasing u-joints.

On that drive shaft, lining up the zerks when you slide it together, should put them in phase.

They are laying 90 degrees out of phase in your picture, that is what made me think about it.

View attachment 465829



View attachment 465830

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought there master spline that will only allow you to put the 2 halves together in one spot only.:confused3:

 

[Jabonee]

Just DUMB! Why don't they put their efforts into providing better factory training to the sub-par dealers? (sigh....) Those dealers need to "Rise" on their own merits! Not at Mahindra customers expense! I call FOUL!

The factory training is actualy pretty good. Its Mahindra's dealer tech support thats lacking. Its getting better but still has a long way to go. There still in the mindset "sell,sell,sell"

 

[Browneyesvictim]

The factory training is actualy pretty good. Its Mahindra's dealer tech support thats lacking. Its getting better but still has a long way to go. There still in the mindset "sell,sell,sell"

Not sure if that's any more comforting. They say knowledge and comprehension (book-smart) can be taught, but "skill" is something that comes with experience. I've noticed many of the new Mahindra dealers have no background, or come from smaller power tools (chainsaws and weed whackers) background and don't have any agg/industrial equipment experience. The "trial by fire" method can work, but at whose expense is that at for them to learn and gain the experience?

And yes... there is a master spline on this driveline and can only go on one way.

 

[Jabonee]

Not sure if that's any more comforting. They say knowledge and comprehension (book-smart) can be taught, but "skill" is something that comes with experience. I've noticed many of the new Mahindra dealers have no background, or come from smaller power tools (chainsaws and weed whackers) background and don't have any agg/industrial equipment experience. The "trial by fire" method can work, but at whose expense is that at for them to learn and gain the experience?

And yes... there is a master spline on this driveline and can only go on one way.

I agree 100%. Mahindra when putting a dealership into a area is looking more at the sales potential and NOT the supposed dealerships background. :confused2:

 

[Xfaxman]

I am posting this for those that don't know about phasing u-joints.


View attachment 465830

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought there master spline that will only allow you to put the 2 halves together in one spot only.:confused3:

Some do, some don't. The TORO shafts have an indexing system but after years of hard use (and not enough grease) the splines will wear enough to go together at any angle.

Hear is an over 20 year old shaft, pushed together 90 degrees out of phase: