mmm gearbox leaking

[bonz]

Bought a new BX2370 with a 54" fine cut MMM in the fall.


I used the mower for about 5 hours picking up leaves in the fall. When I removed the deck for storage, I noticed, and cleaned off, a thick layer of fine leave debris sticking to the gearbox around the breather bolt. I suspected it was from residual fluid from being new.
I winter stored the MMM vertically on a set of mower deck stands purchased from Larry at moweraxle.com



The other day, I found that the MMM was leaking gear fluid out of the gear box, down the drive shaft and onto the wooden floor of the barn. It was not obvious where it was coming from so I suspected a bad seal on the output shaft.
I pulled the deck out and checked the fluid level and found none.

I had checked the fluid level when it was new and it was full.


I brought the deck to the dealer and explained this situation.
They called me back today after they checked out the deck. Their guess is that during storage, the fluid seeped out of a breather because I stored it vertically

I told them I will research and see if this has happened to any of the many people known to be storing their decks in the same manner.

I've contacted Larry to inquire and he said some decks leak and others don't.
Seems this could just be nature of the beast.
Any thoughts?

 

[eipo]

Based on where the breather is located, I would say that's the culprit.

Sent from a field

 

[whitetiger]

If you store the deck with the breather down, it will leak. Most people that I know store them with the breather up.

 

[Diydave]

Fill it back up, and chalk it up to experience. First time I ever had a spinner fertilizer spreader, I stored it upside down, to keep the dirt out of the bin. Lesson learned, tuition paid...

 

[bonz]

yeah, I'm going to say lesson learned.

I don't think I can store the deck with the breather bolt up because of the 'v' shaped front of the deck.
Instead, I'll see about pulling the breather bolt out and replacing it with a bolt for storage only.

Thanks for chiming in.
Bob

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Instead, I'll see about pulling the breather bolt out and replacing it with a bolt for storage only.

You can't pull the breather out and install a bolt, it's not bolt threads, it's pipe threads, and probably BSPT threads and not normal NPT threads.

Put a balloon over the vent when in storage!

 

[Dr Honda]

The guys above covered the breather... but to clean the barn floor... buy a can of K2R spot lifter. You spray it on thick. As it dries... it will pull the oil out of the wood, and then you can sweep it up. I've been using it for years on model aircraft. (dries out the wood for doing repairs)

 

[D2Cat]

You could get a street ell and have it turned to the UP position when the mower is stored. Then insert the breather. The position of the breather won't matter when being used, it's already on top.

 

[bonz]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I'm going to try a balloon and I'll pick up a can of K2R to clean up the mess.
As for the ell, I'll see if the balloon works