Walker's F Series Thread
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Well the mowing deck gearbox seal has basically failed at this point. The gear oil will leak out after about 30 min of use. Way too risky to continue using.
I'm going to do some forums searches and read a few threads before tearing into it. Hopefully there's nothing else weird going on and seals will fox it. I'm guessing if the shaft(s) are smooth then a seal should do the trick. Any advice or links is welcome!
I'm going to do some forums searches and read a few threads before tearing into it. Hopefully there's nothing else weird going on and seals will fox it. I'm guessing if the shaft(s) are smooth then a seal should do the trick. Any advice or links is welcome!
If the majority of it is leaking out then the seal is damaged. If it were just seeping a bit, I would check the vent but a clogged vent won't create that much fluid loss.
It is good that you caught it in time so that hopefully a seal is all it needs but while it is out I would seriously consider bearing replacement.
After a dry summer, there has been a lot of rain lately so my F2690 is getting a lot more exercise with twice weekly mowing.
Rodger
It is good that you caught it in time so that hopefully a seal is all it needs but while it is out I would seriously consider bearing replacement.
After a dry summer, there has been a lot of rain lately so my F2690 is getting a lot more exercise with twice weekly mowing.
Rodger
arto98607
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- Kubota F3060, Grasshopper 721D, Ford 1310, John Deere 440 ICD, John Deere 300 & 430
Sorry, can't help much since my RD deck originally had a US made gearbox, which is now obsolete as far as I was able to find out couple of years ago, but I was able to buy couple of ($150) generic 90* spare gearboxes and have been running one of them as a test drive for probably close to 100 hours now.
The original (Superior 211ADF 189 6 Gearbox) is still fine, I just wanted a spare(s).
The original was priced at around $800 or so, however it was no longer available according to dealers.
I am under impression that it may be hard to find alternatives for the gearbox in newer F models - hopefully all you need is couple of seals / bearings.
There was a puddle under the deck where it sit all winter.
I took the gearbox off and replaced the lower seal. The bearings were all intact and spun freely, everything looked good and clean from what I could see.
So far so good but I've only used it for about 2 hours so far. Time will tell.
At any rate I now know how to take it apart. I honestly forgot all about the shop manual I had on the shelf... I just started taking it apart. I got it apart but it wasn't per the book. If I remember correctly, the book has you drop the whole lower spindle carrier.
I may pull it completely apart next winter if I'm just looking for something to do. I could have gotten a better look if I had that whole piece out on the bench.
I took the gearbox off and replaced the lower seal. The bearings were all intact and spun freely, everything looked good and clean from what I could see.
So far so good but I've only used it for about 2 hours so far. Time will tell.
At any rate I now know how to take it apart. I honestly forgot all about the shop manual I had on the shelf... I just started taking it apart. I got it apart but it wasn't per the book. If I remember correctly, the book has you drop the whole lower spindle carrier.
I may pull it completely apart next winter if I'm just looking for something to do. I could have gotten a better look if I had that whole piece out on the bench.
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arto98607
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- Kubota F3060, Grasshopper 721D, Ford 1310, John Deere 440 ICD, John Deere 300 & 430
Glad to hear you got the leak repaired - hopefully it will last.
Those are pretty expensive bevel gearboxes, and I have seen only one aftermarket supplier so far so it's well worth the effort to keep an eye on it...
Those are pretty expensive bevel gearboxes, and I have seen only one aftermarket supplier so far so it's well worth the effort to keep an eye on it...
arto98607
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2014
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- 1,465
- Location
- Southwest WA
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- Kubota F3060, Grasshopper 721D, Ford 1310, John Deere 440 ICD, John Deere 300 & 430
Pretty tall grass & other stuff for a rotary mower like these!
I am now into my second season with my F2690 equipped with the 72" rear discharge and I still love it. I mowed for close to 30 years with my Deere 955 with 72" midmount and the Kubota has pretty much retired the Deere from mowing service so it is mostly used with loader, blade, and rear rotary cutter.
The Kubota hit 69 hours today, the 50 hour service was last month and was a simple process.
Two minor complaints:
1. With the rear discharge deck, you do have to remove the driveshaft to raise and flip it for access. Apparently that wasn't true before the redesign but now the driveshaft interferes when trying to rotate it to the horizontal position. It is only a minor nuisance and I love the rear discharge deck AND the easy access.
I tried out my new All American sharpener today and it took under 20 minutes from getting the Kubota out of its garage to having it ready to mow with freshly sharpened blades. I will pick up another set of blades the next time I am near the dealer so I can keep a sharpened set ready to go like I did with the Deere.
2. With the ROPS folded over, the engine cover can't be raised. Maybe an intentional decision by Kubota to make us less likely to just leave the ROPS folded all of the time
With the peach and apple tree limbs bowing a bit under load, I folded the ROPS to mow under them and found when I went to do post-mow cleanup that was an issue.
And a very minor annoyance is the spring loaded cover over the gearbox/driveshaft connection. I always use my Stihl Kombitool blower to clean things up after mowing and trying to one hand the blower while holding the cover open isn't great. A bungee cord solved that minor issue.
Overall, maintenance on the Kubota is much easier than the Deere and I really like Kubota's use of angled zerks from the factory where needed.
Rodger
The Kubota hit 69 hours today, the 50 hour service was last month and was a simple process.
Two minor complaints:
1. With the rear discharge deck, you do have to remove the driveshaft to raise and flip it for access. Apparently that wasn't true before the redesign but now the driveshaft interferes when trying to rotate it to the horizontal position. It is only a minor nuisance and I love the rear discharge deck AND the easy access.
I tried out my new All American sharpener today and it took under 20 minutes from getting the Kubota out of its garage to having it ready to mow with freshly sharpened blades. I will pick up another set of blades the next time I am near the dealer so I can keep a sharpened set ready to go like I did with the Deere.
2. With the ROPS folded over, the engine cover can't be raised. Maybe an intentional decision by Kubota to make us less likely to just leave the ROPS folded all of the time
With the peach and apple tree limbs bowing a bit under load, I folded the ROPS to mow under them and found when I went to do post-mow cleanup that was an issue.And a very minor annoyance is the spring loaded cover over the gearbox/driveshaft connection. I always use my Stihl Kombitool blower to clean things up after mowing and trying to one hand the blower while holding the cover open isn't great. A bungee cord solved that minor issue.
Overall, maintenance on the Kubota is much easier than the Deere and I really like Kubota's use of angled zerks from the factory where needed.
Rodger
