How do you lube a mower's axle drive?

[Bill Crowell]

Hi; it's me again, still asking questions about my Toro 22" walk-behind mower.

My front drive axle gears lasted 7 years before they wore out. I've ordered a replacement transmission assembly, which is fairly expensive IMHO. I tried to lube the old axle gears with wheel bearing grease, but it doesn't seem to have remained on the gears.

How are you supposed to lube such an axle drive properly?

As always, thanks for all the help.

Bill

 

[reynoldston]

Hi; it's me again, still asking questions about my Toro 22" walk-behind mower.

(My front drive axle gears lasted 7 years before they wore out. I've ordered a replacement transmission assembly, which is fairly expensive IMHO. I tried to lube the old axle gears with wheel bearing grease, but it doesn't seem to have remained on the gears.)

First of all I am just guessing on this. I am thinking that the gears are external and in the environment. If this is the case the gears are designed to run dry. Any lubrication on them will draw dirt and make then wear faster, unless you use a dry lube maybe.

 

[Bill Crowell]

No, the gears are enclosed in a small alloy case with a sheet metal cover.

 

[reynoldston]

You will need open gear lubrication. It is sold in different containers included aerosol cans. At one time I was worked on manufacture product lines and used it there. Large gears we bought by the 25 gal. barrel and small gears such as yours we bought it in aerosol cans. I really don't know where you would buy it? You might try Granger or Mcmaster Carr. Also as I said before a clean environment or best to run dry.

 

[reynoldston]

As I was thinking about it. You could use chain lube if you can't find open gear lube which is a lot easier to find. I buy that at NAPA in aerosol cans.

 

[possum]

If you are talking about the open or semi open wheel gears then the advice above will do. If you are talking about the enclosed gear box then it is not. Most of the rinky dinky gear boxes on self propelled mowers lately have some cheap grease in them and are supposed to be lubed for life. A short life. The grease ends up as a clump at worst and in a blob with no grease touching the gears at best. For the most part the tranny is running with no lube at all on the gears most of its life. Try the same grease being used in snowblower gearboxes these days, the cheap ones. That is 00 grease. It goes under names like Shell alvania epr00, Stens 00. Snapper 00. Mtd sells it in several ounce tubes for about 15 bucks and so do the others. This stuff does not create a void around the gears, or fall off or dry up or burn up. I have a hard time finding it without ordering it online. Most techs just say to use greasegun grease, the box is lubed for life, or some other tale. Some guys use white lithium grease in those small tubes and have good luck, it is easier to find.

 

[reynoldston]

If it is a enclosed gear case you could also use Lubriplate 105. This is the grease they install in real old outboard boat motors gear cases before they came out with the modern oil seals. It is thin enough to flow and thick enough to not leak.

 

[Bill Crowell]

Thanks for all the advice.

OK, so here's my plan for lubing the new axle drive assembly: every time I sharpen the blade, I'm going to remove the cover from the axle gear housing, clean the gears and bearings thoroughly with solvent, let them dry, and then use 00 oil or Lubriplate 105 on them. I think it was the worn bearing on the pinion gear (input shaft) that caused the gears to wear, so I am going to be especially careful to clean and lube that bearing.

Incidentally, I'm wondering if chainsaw bar oil might also be a good lube for these gears. It's specially formulated to prevent being thrown off, isn't it?

 

[reynoldston]

Thanks for all the advice.

OK, so here's my plan for lubing the new axle drive assembly: every time I sharpen the blade, I'm going to remove the cover from the axle gear housing, clean the gears and bearings thoroughly with solvent, let them dry, and then use 00 oil or Lubriplate 105 on them. I think it was the worn bearing on the pinion gear (input shaft) that caused the gears to wear, so I am going to be especially careful to clean and lube that bearing.

Incidentally, I'm wondering if chainsaw bar oil might also be a good lube for these gears. It's specially formulated to prevent being thrown off, isn't it?

I just don't understand what you have. Do you have a gear case that holds lubrication with seals or a dry case with no oil in it? I don't know what the 00 is, but if it is the dry type no oil in it lubriplate 105 or bar oil wouldn't work it would be too light and will make a big mess. You need something that sticks like open gear oil or a chain/cable lube. Then your cleaning idea would work very well.

 

[possum]

I do not think I understand either. I looked up the various Toro drive boxes and even looked at my old one. They all have one thing in common. a sealed box with the gears enclosed inside shaped so that the cover holds the lube and the wheel shaped gear as it runs picks up the lube from the pool in the box and lubes itself and the gear that fits into it as well. According to the sheet it says on rebuild to fill the box with a few ounces of lube , coat the gears with lube as well, close the box and go mow.