Gearbox Leak on ZD 326

[Mr Haney]

I have had it with my old John Deere 430 garden tractor, which I use as a mower. When it runs, it's great, but it has numerous problems, working on it is unbearable, and John Deere treats its customers like dirt, so parts are either unavailable or cost several times what they're worth. My grass is knee high, and I'm waiting for a Chinese alternator because OEM costs $500.

I saw an ad for a Kubota ZD 326. The seller says the gearbox on the center blade is leaking oil.

Does anyone here have any experience with this type of problem? I am thinking I might be willing to make an offer on this machine and get if fixed, but for all I know, a Kubota blade gearbox repair costs $5,000. I am curious to know if there are well-known reasons for gearbox leaks.

 

[MOOTS]

I have had it with my old John Deere 430 garden tractor, which I use as a mower. When it runs, it's great, but it has numerous problems, working on it is unbearable, and John Deere treats its customers like dirt, so parts are either unavailable or cost several times what they're worth. My grass is knee high, and I'm waiting for a Chinese alternator because OEM costs $500.

I saw an ad for a Kubota ZD 320. The seller says the gearbox on the center blade is leaking oil.

Does anyone here have any experience with this type of problem? I am thinking I might be willing to make an offer on this machine and get if fixed, but for all I know, a Kubota blade gearbox repair costs $5,000. I am curious to know if there are well-known reasons for gearbox leaks.

Seals. Never dealt with that specific box, but I’m sure they are similar.
This is a F3680’s box, similar to a ZD331 we have also.

as you can see, there is a seal there, also one on the input side of box.

 

[Mr Haney]

I really appreciate you posting those photos. That is extremely helpful.

Now the only thing that concerns me is the hours. It says 2200+ on the meter, and the seller admits the clock is broken.

 

[lugbolt]

I've bought and sold a few of those, and 321's ZD21's, ZD28's, etc

When I see one advertised with a bad gearbox, you have to assume that the gearbox is trashed. The seal doesn't fail on it's own. Normally the lower deck bearing fails, and that's all that holds the lower gearbox shaft from flopping around. When it gets loose, the shaft flops around and usually takes out the lower gearbox bearing, pieces chew up the gears, the other 2 bearings, etc. At that point the gearbox is trashed. TO my knowledge there is no aftermarket option to rebuild them.

Unless you can see the innerds you'd be wise to assume it's junk, and deduct the cost of the gearbox as a bargaining tool. OR, offer them the option to keep their mower and put $1500 into it Most of the time they'll try to sell it to you so they don't have to mess with it.

They are good mowers. 2200+ hours is getting on up there so personally I would not put a lot of money into it.

 

[Mr Haney]

I've bought and sold a few of those, and 321's ZD21's, ZD28's, etc

When I see one advertised with a bad gearbox, you have to assume that the gearbox is trashed. The seal doesn't fail on it's own. Normally the lower deck bearing fails, and that's all that holds the lower gearbox shaft from flopping around. When it gets loose, the shaft flops around and usually takes out the lower gearbox bearing, pieces chew up the gears, the other 2 bearings, etc. At that point the gearbox is trashed. TO my knowledge there is no aftermarket option to rebuild them.

Unless you can see the innerds you'd be wise to assume it's junk, and deduct the cost of the gearbox as a bargaining tool. OR, offer them the option to keep their mower and put $1500 into it Most of the time they'll try to sell it to you so they don't have to mess with it.

They are good mowers. 2200+ hours is getting on up there so personally I would not put a lot of money into it.

I'll upload a picture.

 

[lugbolt]

take the round cap off of the top of the gearbox. Insert sharp object under the edge of it and it just prys out, like a paint can lid. Then you can see what's inside