Mowing BX mowing deck "gear box" oil change

[dfran1]

I didn't know you were supposed to change the gearbox oil. I have gearboxes with a couple of thousand hours on the them.

Well, this answers my question on how long I can go-between oil changes in the gear box.

I believe that the original oil shipped from the factory is SUDT2, wont be sure until I actually change mine and test for consistency.
My dealer's tech (last year) told me they are shipping SUDT 2 (could be UDT) in the front axel, most likely the same for the transition (hydraulics).

 

[xring100]

Re: BX mowing deck "gear box" oil change

I didn't know you were supposed to change the gearbox oil. I have gearboxes with a couple of thousand hours on the them.

Mine actually says ro replace the shaft seal every 4 years. Someone posted a few weeks ago how his seal leaked and drained all the oil out. I believe the replacement gears were something like $900

 

[PHILIP8N]

Re: BX mowing deck "gear box" oil change

Mine actually says ro replace the shaft seal every 4 years

My manual says to replace the gearbox shaft seal every 2 years. Good grief, can Kubota get on the same page with fluids and service intervals!!! And, if a seal has recommended replacement every 2 or 4 years, something is wrong. Philip.

 

[Baby Grand]

Re: BX mowing deck "gear box" oil change

My manual says to replace the gearbox shaft seal every 2 years. Good grief, can Kubota get on the same page with fluids and service intervals!!! And, if a seal has recommended replacement every 2 or 4 years, something is wrong. Philip.

Yes. Very wrong.
My first guess is that it's a mistake. 2 or 4 years for an oil seal is what I'd expect from a low quality consumer product.

At more than one of my jobs, manuals were the last detail, put together late, and written by whoever had no vacation or sick days left, so not much proofreading. Everyone else was maneuvering to get onto the "new" product design. Or maybe it's a CYA clause for some other problem?

As for UDT-2 in the right angle mower gbx, that sounds like a corporate policy to reduce the number of fluids stocked at assembly & dealers. This reduces the chances of the wrong fluid application and can reduce cost by increasing purchased volume.

My opinion: if it's lube for a gear box that only has gears, bearing & seals, I reach for the gear oil.
A side benefit is that gear oil is usually a little heavier and resists weeping out the seals better.
-Jim

 

[xring100]

Re: BX mowing deck "gear box" oil change

Yes. Very wrong.
My first guess is that it's a mistake. 2 or 4 years for an oil seal is what I'd expect from a low quality consumer product.

At more than one of my jobs, manuals were the last detail, put together late, and written by whoever had no vacation or sick days left, so not much proofreading. Everyone else was maneuvering to get onto the "new" product design. Or maybe it's a CYA clause for some other problem?

As for UDT-2 in the right angle mower gbx, that sounds like a corporate policy to reduce the number of fluids stocked at assembly & dealers. This reduces the chances of the wrong fluid application and can reduce cost by increasing purchased volume.

My opinion: if it's lube for a gear box that only has gears, bearing & seals, I reach for the gear oil.
A side benefit is that gear oil is usually a little heavier and resists weeping out the seals better.
-Jim

I dont think this is a typo. Its in the service chart and listed on the 4 year replacement along with intake hose, breather, hydraulic lines etc. All rubber oxidizes and brakes down it sounds like CYA preventing a $1000 gear box replacement.
In the case of the ZD1211 this is a commercial machine I'm guessing some of these could rack up close to 1000 hours a year in the right climate

As for the oil type the gear box on mine specifically calls for 10W30 on a sticker on the gear box as well.

 

[dfran1]

Re: BX mowing deck "gear box" oil change

Yes. Very wrong.
My first guess is that it's a mistake. 2 or 4 years for an oil seal is what I'd expect from a low quality consumer product.

My opinion: if it's lube for a gear box that only has gears, bearing & seals, I reach for the gear oil.
A side benefit is that gear oil is usually a little heavier and resists weeping out the seals better.
-Jim

After debating all this, and reading a lot, I have to agree with you, gear oil goes into the gear box.
So my choices of fluids are follow
Amsoil for everything and all Kubota filters
1. series 3000 5W-30 Synthetic heavy duty diesel oil for the engine. product code HDDQT
2. Synthetic Multi purpose grease for all the grease gun fittings. product code GLCCR
3. Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic / Transmission Oil for the Hydraulics / Transmission. product code ATHQT
4. 80W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube for the front transaxle and the mower gear box. product code AGLQT
I believe this is the proper way the manual should have been written. (with the option to use synthetic)

I dont think this is a typo. Its in the service chart and listed on the 4 year replacement along with intake hose, breather, hydraulic lines etc. All rubber oxidizes and brakes down it sounds like CYA preventing a $1000 gear box replacement.
In the case of the ZD1211 this is a commercial machine I'm guessing some of these could rack up close to 1000 hours a year in the right climate

As for the oil type the gear box on mine specifically calls for 10W30 on a sticker on the gear box as well.

My manual states every 2 years for all the hoses and the seals for the mower gear box, now in saying this, I personally don't think this is going to be the case for me as I garage my tractor and lubricate my hoses when I feel like it (maybe 2 times a year), I will inspect then as I do now (even after owning this for a little over a year), and replace as needed (this may take me to 10 years as I always do with hoses, though I have no experience with hydraulic hoses, but I know people who bought used tractors and never replaced then and they lasted who knows how long, outside in the weather also). As far as the seals in the mower gear box, as I don't use it much so when I reach 200 hours or see signs of oil leaking (on the garage floor) I will replace them, that should be about every 4 - 5 years.

I have no idea why these books are all over the place with maintenance but I think mine was written for my BX to be outside in direct sunlight in a desert condition.

If any of this is off please advise.

As far as oil changes, etc.. the manual does not specify a yearly date, it just states 50 hours and 200 hours and every 200 hours after, since I only do 50 hours a year, that makes my oil changes every 4 years (with the exception on the 1st and 2nd). does this sound right? any reason to change oil sooner than specified ?

NOTE:I had my craftsman tractor for 25 years and never replaced a wire or hose never, and they looked practically like new when I traded it in, I spray wd40 on wires and hoses when not used for a week or two and it worked great for that tractor and I will continue on with this one.

 

[JWR]

I didn't know you were supposed to change the gearbox oil. I have gearboxes with a couple of thousand hours on the them.

BXman -- gotta agree with 4570Man. I have 2 Kubota decks with similar gearboxes on them -- one for more than 20 years and the other for 14 years. Never even considered changing the gearbox oil. I would use 90W gear oil if you have to add any or do decide to change it. I see no reason to change it. Especially since 4570Man has seen over 2000 hrs on his. It will outlast you or die of some other problem long before failure to change gearbox oil is a culprit.

 

[4570Man]

BXman -- gotta agree with 4570Man. I have 2 Kubota decks with similar gearboxes on them -- one for more than 20 years and the other for 14 years. Never even considered changing the gearbox oil. I would use 90W gear oil if you have to add any or do decide to change it. I see no reason to change it. Especially since 4570Man has seen over 2000 hrs on his. It will outlast you or die of some other problem long before failure to change gearbox oil is a culprit.

I actually have a G5200 with 3,300 hours on it. It has a whole boatload of problems, but the gearbox isn't one of them. I'm not the original owner, but they didn't perform any maintenance so I'm quite certain they didn't change the gearbox oil. On a side note who has ever changed the oil in their truck rear end? I know I haven't and it has WAY more than 250 hours on it.

 

[Toyboy]

I actually have a G5200 with 3,300 hours on it. It has a whole boatload of problems, but the gearbox isn't one of them. I'm not the original owner, but they didn't perform any maintenance so I'm quite certain they didn't change the gearbox oil. On a side note who has ever changed the oil in their truck rear end? I know I haven't and it has WAY more than 250 hours on it.

I have. I changed both vehicles @ 60,000 to Amsoil gear lube

 

[dfran1]

I just did my 50 hour maintenance, and most likely a lot more.
I used what I stated I would above, Amsoil synthetic
Engine oil and filter went good, hydraulic filter went good, 2 fuel filters (bottom was a PITA, but doable), the mower gear oil was very clean but I wanted my synthetic gear oil in and it does not take a lot at all, my deck is the 54" fine cut.

Now I also did the front axel, I drained both sides then filled, my manual states 5 Qts of oil, as I found out the hard way my front axel really only takes less than 3 Qts., yea I had to use a baster to suck out the extra (took some time, but it worked) I don't know if any of you did this and what your manual states but mine is wrong by 2 Qts. the old axel oil was dirty also glad I did it.