JD 216 Rear Transaxle

[mwood]

Thanks for the offer! Actually, there is a guy on e-bay selling one for 9.97 right now with something like $15 shipping. It appears to be in good shape. Since Deere wants $60 for it, I figure that unless people start bidding this up, I should be able to get it at a significant discount.

Actually, since when I drained the oil, it looked like glitter was pouring out, I split the diff. You are right! Lot's of gears in there. However, I guess I'm lucky. Another person on TBN here has the manual for the tranny! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif This should help me get it back together. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[mwood]

Well... for all you who care, (and most of you who I'm sure don't), I got the axle housing in the mail today. Decided it was time to get the transaxle back together so out to the shop I went.

After three hours of fighting with trying to align all of the gears back together, I finally got everything (including the axle housings and wheel hubs) back together! YAY!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Well, time for bed now! I'll try to put the back half of the tractor back together with the front half!

 

[Molerj]

Good job, glad things are working out.

 

[bontai_Joe]

The 200 series Deere is one of the few tractors worth the effort. It's a nasty job, but you will have a machine that should last another 20 years.

 

[mwood]

That's really what I'm hoping. At this point, it only cost me around $120 for all the parts (including a new brake ring and reverse idler gear). When it first broke, I started looking around. In actuality, the 216 is a little small for my yard (3 acres mowing). So if i were to get a new tractor, I'd be looking at around $4000 - $5000 for something slightly bigger (sticking with Deere). Also, I use this thing hard and I really don't think a lowe's tractor would hold up to the abuse. So in short, (or long as this is turning out) even an old used tractor would be starting around $2000 for my needs and at that point, I might as well fix the one I have even if it needs a new engine in the next couple years...

Sorry for the rambling!

 

[mwood]

Well... I did it!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Last night, I got her all back together! My wife (who loves to mow) wanted to try it out right away. Granted, it's about 8:30pm, dark and the grass is wet from the dew.

Long story short, she jumped on, mowed close to 10 inches of wet grass (we hadn't been able to mow since the axle housing broke) and the tractor didn't even flinch in 1st (not creeper) gear!

Just makes me smile. I knew these things were beasts, but that's amazing to me from a 16HP tractor...

Anyway, the saga is over! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif