Kubota F2880 - 60 deck gear box and center spindle

[JOHNTHOMAS]

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!

Great for you. There may have been a seal/gasket/bearing around the spindle where it connected to the gear box that was causing the leak/drip and that probably was replaced with spindle as a common practice and not mentioned.

 

[cstamm81]

Great for you. There may have been a seal/gasket/bearing around the spindle where it connected to the gear box that was causing the leak/drip and that probably was replaced with spindle as a common practice and not mentioned.

The service manager explained to me that the output shaft on these gearboxes are designed so that you can move the output shaft as I explained. The spindle below supports it, which explains why I could see deflection in the output shaft when the spindle was shot. I test mowed for about 20 minutes and everything seems good! I'm very glad to be wrong about the gearbox, and I'm very happy to have my F back for all of my weekly mowing. I've had and operated about every type of mower out there over the years, these F's are the most comfortable and robust machines I have ever operated. I'd love to find a plow for mine, they apparently plow snow extremely well.

 

[arto98607]

The service manager explained to me that the output shaft on these gearboxes are designed so that you can move the output shaft as I explained. The spindle below supports it, which explains why I could see deflection in the output shaft when the spindle was shot. I test mowed for about 20 minutes and everything seems good! I'm very glad to be wrong about the gearbox, and I'm very happy to have my F back for all of my weekly mowing. I've had and operated about every type of mower out there over the years, these F's are the most comfortable and robust machines I have ever operated. I'd love to find a plow for mine, they apparently plow snow extremely well.

Here's two images showing the gearbox / center spindle design in detail.

Item 12 (What they call "Center Pulley Holder") is more or less the spindle housing and item 8 (Ball Bearing) also acts as a gearbox output shaft outer bearing.

I.E. The spindle shaft and the gearbox output shaft are one piece.

With this design they eliminated one or two pulleys and are able to drive three blades with quite a bit shorter V-belt. However, it does make the gearbox / center pulley "combo" more complicated.

:indifferent:

 

[cstamm81]

Here's two images showing the gearbox / center spindle design in detail.

Item 12 (What they call "Center Pulley Holder") is more or less the spindle housing and item 8 (Ball Bearing) also acts as a gearbox output shaft outer bearing.

I.E. The spindle shaft and the gearbox output shaft are one piece.

With this design they eliminated one or two pulleys and are able to drive three blades with quite a bit shorter V-belt. However, it does make the gearbox / center pulley "combo" more complicated.

:indifferent:


View attachment 615551 View attachment 615552

Thanks for the drawings, that is very helpful to see how it's all assembled. I really should spend the money and buy a repair / parts manual for this machine!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks for the drawings, that is very helpful to see how it's all assembled. I really should spend the money and buy a repair / parts manual for this machine!

Doubt you'll ever do much reapir to your F but I know some people love to have repair manuals. I would have bought over 25 of them in the past 15 years if I had been buying them. Most info is available on line for those who want to save a few or many bucks. And there is always TBN.

 

[arto98607]

..................................... I would have bought over 25 of them in the past 15 years if I had been buying them. Most info is available on line for those who want to save a few or many bucks. And there is always TBN.

Yes I agree this site and others are very helpful.

I am the opposite; I bought year 1986 Ford 1310 tractor in 1996, year 1959 John Deere 440 ICD (Diesel) bulldozer in 2000, and year 1993 Grasshopper 61 inch RD mower in 2003 and still have them and use them regularly.

For me shop manuals have been very important and helpful in maintaining these and I have never taken either to a shop for repairs.
(Just imagine first time trying to set up rebuild injectors in a 1959 Detroit Diesel, without a shop manual!)


Probably not much need for shop manuals for those who trade in or sell every few years and rely on shops for major repairs.

:thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Yes I agree this site and others are very helpful.

I am the opposite; I bought year 1986 Ford 1310 tractor in 1996, year 1959 John Deere 440 ICD (Diesel) bulldozer in 2000, and year 1993 Grasshopper 61 inch RD mower in 2003 and still have them and use them regularly.

For me shop manuals have been very important and helpful in maintaining these and I have never taken either to a shop for repairs.
(Just imagine first time trying to set up rebuild injectors in a 1959 Detroit Diesel, without a shop manual!)


Probably not much need for shop manuals for those who trade in or sell every few years and rely on shops for major repairs.

:thumbsup:

Yep, makes more sense for you to buy a shop manual than for me. I do what repairs that have been needed so far, mostly other than one time bent FEKL arms under warranty and replace the gear box on deck, not under warranty. At 72 I'm enjoying doing repairs less and less and that's juts one of the reasons I trade often. Another is I love trading and something new.