Gearbox question

[Ksfarmmer]

This isn't a Farmall gearbox, but there is a lot of expertise out there so I hope you guys can give me some good ideas. I have a Grazer zero turn mower that has a good size gear box on the deck. I have replaced the oil seal, but it still leaks oil out the breather tube. Asked the local dealer what he thought about plugging the breather tube and he said he wouldn't since it will build pressure and blow the oil out past the seal. He recommended stuffing the breather tube to allow air out but slow the oil progress, so put in some plastic material from an old pot scrubber. I may have put too much in because it still leaks oil, I need to refill it every 5-6 hours, probably a pint or so. The gearbox has 140 weight oil in now. What to you guys think of taking the oil out and putting grease in instead of the oil? I wouldn't worry about it so much except the leaking oil gets on the belts and ruins them after a while. Would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Anonymous-0]

i wouldnt put gun grease in there. neighbor did that with a rotary cutter, the seals were leaking, so he pumped the box full of grease, lasted a week or so and ruined the gearbox. is the box overfilled? check the vent tube to see if it is plugged. or some reason, it seems you are building up pressure in the box. maybe you have a bearing going out and its boiling the gear lube.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Ks: I strongly endorse what Glennster told you. This is not like a steering box. At operating rpms, it won't last with grease if it was made for gear lube. You either are not venting properly, or it is over full. mike durhan

 

[Janicholson]

Put an elbo in the box vent hole and raise the vent 6" with a steel tube. Put the same vent, or a new better oil seperating vent (NAPA) on the top. Good luck. JimN