BX2200 RCK60-22BX Mower with play in Gearbox output shaft (blade)

[jsbarker]

I just bought a BX2200 with an RCK60-22BX mower. I took the blades off to sharpen them and noticed there was play in the middle blade and pully which connects to the gearbox output shaft. I thought it would be a good idea to change the gearbox oil and also grease the other 2 spindles. When I took out the drain plug, there was no oil coming out. I'm guessing the seal must have gone bad and the oil leaked out. The input shaft turns freely by hand without hand which turns the blade. My questions are
1) Is the play on the output shaft probably coming from warn bearings or wear in the gears themselves?
2) Will it hurt or damage the gearbox to use the mower with play in the output shaft?
3) Can the gearbox be rebuilt and is there a manual which tells how to do that?
4)Are any of the bearings inside the gearbox pressed onto the shafts? the reason for this question is I don't have a press.
5)The 2 spindles operating the other 2 blades don't have any significant play, but they are a little noisy when turning by hand. Is it very difficult to change this bearings and are the bearings pressed on to the spindles? (I have changed spindle bearings on a toro mower before and many wheel bearings but I don't have a press to press bearing on to shafts.)
Thanks to anyone who can give advice.

 

[jsbarker]

As a followup to my post above, looking at the parts diagrams, I guess the play in the center blade pulley could be coming from a worn spindle bearing in the bearing holder, right and not from the gear box?

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

As a followup to my post above, looking at the parts diagrams, I guess the play in the center blade pulley could be coming from a worn spindle bearing in the bearing holder, right and not from the gear box?

Could be the bearing holder worn a bit as well. The bearing holder is aluminum so if the bearing should spin in the holder it will wear and cause it to be loose.
The outer bearings aren't pressed onto the spindle when you remove the top nut from the pulley the spindle shaft can be just pushed out. There is a sleeve or spacer between the bearings so when you tighten up that nut it keeps the bearings from be forced together. You will have to tap the bearings out of the bearing holders so long as there not worn.. The center spindle is quite a bit harder to get apart as If my memory is correct you will need a puller to pull the pulley of the spindle in order to get to the seal that your going to need to replace.

 

[jsbarker]

Could be the bearing holder worn a bit as well. The bearing holder is aluminum so if the bearing should spin in the holder it will wear and cause it to be loose.
The outer bearings aren't pressed onto the spindle when you remove the top nut from the pulley the spindle shaft can be just pushed out. There is a sleeve or spacer between the bearings so when you tighten up that nut it keeps the bearings from be forced together. You will have to tap the bearings out of the bearing holders so long as there not worn.. The center spindle is quite a bit harder to get apart as If my memory is correct you will need a puller to pull the pulley of the spindle in order to get to the seal that your going to need to replace.

Thanks for your reply. I will tear it apart and see if I can tell where most of the play is coming from...the bearing in the gearbox or the bearing in the holder.