Kubota F2880 - 60 deck gear box and center spindle

cstamm81 · Jul 14, 2019

Hi guys, I致e been running my 3,000 hour F2880 for mowing about 5 acres the past two years. It痴 been a great machine, very nice to operate. It has the 60 side discharge deck. A few weeks back, I hit a large piece of oak firewood that my dog likes to carry around. I noticed some increased deck noise after the impact, but lazily did not inspect closely. I mowed with it yesterday, and noticed the noise was louder. Upon inspection I can wiggle the center blade up and down, and I can see the deflection where the center spindle interfaces with the gear box.
There is a light coating of oil on the pulley below the gear box. To me, it looks like I took out the gear box and the center spindle.
Anyone have experience replacing these parts? A quick search looks like the gear box itself is about a grand... my local Kubota dealer is very expensive to use for repairs. I need to get the mower operational, lots of mowing left to do this season. There痴 a local used deck for 2 grand. I致e always wanted one of the Peruzzo flail decks for this machine, but wasn稚 really ready to drop over 4 grand. Peruzzo Teg Special Front Mount Flail Mowers for Kubota Mowers -- Iowa Farm Equipment

Looking for opinions on price and difficulty of repair. I知 rough on this mower, I have a ton of walnut trees and my lawn is no golf course, so hitting large sticks and anything else you can imagine happens all the time, hence the idea of the flail.

628pm · Jul 14, 2019

I can't help with your problem, but I can tell you I would like one of those mower decks.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 15, 2019

I've owned 4 Kubota F mowers. My latest one I've owned for a month. My most recent past one, a F3080, dropped one of the bolts on the top or side of the gear box and I didn't notice it. I finally noticed it when it dropped the second one and started making noise. The gear box was dry. I replaced the not cheap bolts and it leaked so added super heavy grease from Tractor Supply. Didn't work. Had to have dealer fix it which cost around $800 for the gear box which had reamed itself out while spinning that spindle for who knows how long. The gears were able to be reused. I'd say get that gear box off and take to dealer or take the deck in and see if they can repair a shaft or gear before destroying the gear box if possible.
If you go with the off brand flail mower keep us posted.
I did some posts concerning my issue with my gear box starting maybe two years ago here on TBN.

cstamm81 · Jul 15, 2019

Thanks for the reply JOHNTHOMAS. It sounds like it would be worthwhile to take it into my dealer and get a quote to repair. I do believe that Peruzzo flail would be perfect for my varied cutting needs, like I said I just wasn't ready to spend the dough to try it out. I actually wanted to try and find a nice 3680 so I could run the larger flail in the future. Your posts assured me I was making a good decision when I picked up this F2880, these F machines are very well engineered to be sure!

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 16, 2019

cstamm81 said:
Thanks for the reply JOHNTHOMAS. It sounds like it would be worthwhile to take it into my dealer and get a quote to repair. I do believe that Peruzzo flail would be perfect for my varied cutting needs, like I said I just wasn't ready to spend the dough to try it out. I actually wanted to try and find a nice 3680 so I could run the larger flail in the future. Your posts assured me I was making a good decision when I picked up this F2880, these F machines are very well engineered to be sure!

I was at Barlows yesterday and he still has my 240 hours trade in F3080 72" deck sitting on his lot and ready to roll out for a new owner, he said.

I know the deck has a new gear box.

cstamm81 · Jul 16, 2019

Is the 72" deck rear discharge? Any idea what they are asking for it? I've been keeping my eye out for a 72" rear discharge, they don't seem to pop up very often.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 17, 2019

cstamm81 said:
Is the 72" deck rear discharge? Any idea what they are asking for it? I've been keeping my eye out for a 72" rear discharge, they don't seem to pop up very often.

It is a 72" rear discharge deck with a new gear box and deck belt. Call and ask to speak to Steve Barlow and the best time is around 11am eastern standard time. I bought the machine new and the true hours are around 240+-.

arto98607 · Jul 27, 2019

cstamm81 said:
..................................................... Upon inspection I can wiggle the center blade up and down, and I can see the deflection where the center spindle interfaces with the gear box.
There is a light coating of oil on the pulley below the gear box. To me, it looks like I took out the gear box and the center spindle..........................................

Sorry to hear about your mishap.

It is obvious this type of damage where the center spindle and the gearbox are both damaged at the same time could never happen in the older design like shown the enclosed photo of F3060 72 inch deck.
(In the older design the gearbox and spindle bearings are identical tapered roller type and are the exact same same as common trailer wheel bearings)

No doubt the new mowers are better in many ways, but they are not easier to repair and maintain.

Oh well, I guess that goes for most all equipment from cars to mowers etc. :confused2:

1996 - 2005 F3060 72" deck with separate gearbox / center spindle:

2006 - 2007 F2880 60" deck with gearbox / center spindle "combo":

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 28, 2019

cstamm81 said:
Is the 72" deck rear discharge? Any idea what they are asking for it? I've been keeping my eye out for a 72" rear discharge, they don't seem to pop up very often.

JOHNTHOMAS said:
It is a 72" rear discharge deck with a new gear box and deck belt. Call and ask to speak to Steve Barlow and the best time is around 11am eastern standard time. I bought the machine new and the true hours are around 240+-.

Another TBN poster said he'd like to buy a 72" deck if one could be found. I was at Barlows paying for my ZD1211 purchase and told him about the person hunting a deck. Steve Barlow said he would sell the 72" RD deck off my trade in for $2250. He currently has 3 low hour used Fs in stock!!!!

cstamm81 · Jul 30, 2019

JOHNTHOMAS said:
Another TBN poster said he'd like to buy a 72" deck if one could be found. I was at Barlows paying for my ZD1211 purchase and told him about the person hunting a deck. Steve Barlow said he would sell the 72" RD deck off my trade in for $2250. He currently has 3 low hour used Fs in stock!!!!

From what i have seen, that is not a bad price at all! I would be tempted to buy it to replace my 60", but I'm saving every penny for a pole barn this Fall. I appreciate all of the feedback here guys. I did take it to my local Kubota dealer last week, they inspected it and said that only the center spindle was damaged, not the gearbox. They just called and said it was ready for pickup, so I will get it and see what's going on. My late 80's Steiner with a 48" deck needs a break, it's not up to cutting 6 plus acres these days.

My worry is this, I can't understand how there could be noticeable deflection in the gearbox, plus the presence of a small amount of gear oil, and the gearbox not be damaged. Any gearbox I have ever dealt with was damaged if you could essentially wiggle the output shaft! I'm hoping I'm wrong, but I'm worried they missed the gearbox. I will explain my fears, and see what the counter person says, obviously I'll try to talk to an actual tech! Fingers crossed she is good to go and I'll do my best to avoid hunks of oak firewood, can hopefully get a few years out of this rig!