RDTH72 Gearbox Leaking

[SpotsyMatt]

I've got a Bush Hog RDTH72 finish mower - my late father-in-law had bought it back in 2002 and it has worked well now for 14 years. Today was going to be the day to put put new blades on it, grease it up and cut the front field. It appears that over the winter the gearbox started leaking and it leaked out most if not all of the oil. I haven't had a chance to open it up yet to look and, quite honestly, this might just be due to my negligence - I've replaced the belt once and kept it greased but I never did anything with the gear box.

I don't think I have any paperwork for the finish mower but I did find a parts diagram Bush Hog RDTH 72 RDTH Series Parts RDTH 72 RDTH Series Gearbox Assy 715BH (replaced by 569162 Gearbox Assy) Parts List and Diagram and I was hoping that someone who has some experience or knowledge of fixing this could give me some advice/info.

My guess is that part #20 "Oil Seal" will be the culprit but that's just a guess. Again, I ran out of time/daylight today to do try to take this apart.

Is it typically the case that just the oil seal will be bad and that replacing it will remedy the situation? I don't have any reason to believe it is broken inside - the mower deck was used up until the end of the season last year. I'm guessing that it it started leaking at some point after we put it in the barn for the winter and (probably) slowly leaked for several months.

Thanks for any thoughts you have on this.

Matt

 

[Xfaxman]

Read this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/271324-grease-rotary-cutter-gear-box.html

 

[Gale Hawkins]

How did you resolve your leaking gear box? I am looking at a 2005 RDTH 84 today that does not seem to have been used based on its paint and perhaps never sharpened blades. How tall of grass have you or others been successful at cutting> If one gears down enough in tall of grass is possible even if not desireable?

From my reading the 3000 Ford diesel should handle it well.

Thanks for feedback.