The tines slow or stall when under heavy load. I've disassembled the drive and pins and bearings are fine. I'm replacing seals. Gears show wear but still seem to not be the problem. The worm gear spacer, part number 40099, is severely worn on both ends and I've exhausted several leads to find a new one. I can get the ID&OD off the original part but due to wear I can't get original length. I could use some help with either locating the part or determining the length so I can fabricate the part. Pre 1977, the original Yard-Man company also made the IH model 526 tiller. The same part on the Cub Cadet 526 is IH58962C1. Thanks......Tim
No luck at Messicks, called several others as well. If I just had the original length of the part that would help? Not sure if Yardman patented that gearbox but if so there might be drawings. Anyone have any ideas I'm all ears. Thanks!
Are you sure that the worm and bevel gears are your problem? If it operates fine, except under heavy load, I would be checking the belts and idler tension, making sure the tensioner is moving freely and the belt is not slipping.
I watched the rear lower pulley when the tines stopped turning and it continued to spin at what seemed the same RPM so I thought sheared pin or wore out worm gear. Possibly a bad bearing allowing the gear shaft to raise up and allow worm gear and its mate to separate. When I took it apart the only play in the shaft was ~3/4" forward and back and the worn spacer seems to be the culprit. Pins on the pulleys, shaft gear and worm gear are intact. I'm not sure why the forward and back play would cause the gears to not mesh; it doesn't seem like enough of a shift for the gears to still not mesh enough to loose power/slip. In the next few weeks I'll break down one of the other tillers I have that has considerably less wear and look at the spacer. From that I'll make one and see if that remedies the problem. I'll update the post then.
Good news, a parts place in Indiana responded to a message I left them and they have two spacers and two gaskets that will be shipped soon. I'll post pictures and deminsions and the outcome once I get the tiller back together.
