RCK60B23BX gearbox issues

ShellKnobCat · Sep 4, 2019

Tractor is a BX2360 with an RCK60B23BX belly mower. The gearbox on the mower seized up last week so i took it off and took it to the local Kubota dealer. They just called and said the gearbox is cracked and that means it would cost as much as a new one to repair. It does sound as if the gears are OK. I am assuming that a bearing seized but we did not talk about that so I'll find out tomorrow when i pick it up after paying them $66 for the privilege of looking at it.

Are there any alternatives to buying a new gearbox for over $1300? Is there any source of used gearboxes that are cheaper? Any sources of a used or rebuilt case? Is it possible to weld the case and that it would last.

The tractor isn't pretty but still in good shape otherwise and I use it with a brush hog, front loader and a rear blade when the belly mower isn't being used so maybe I'll just use it for that and find a mower for the yard. But we live on Table Rock lake in SW MO and the yard is full of rocks that just can't be avoided at times which got me in this mess in the first place!

Thanks for listening.

rjcorazza · Sep 4, 2019

I am certainly not a gearbox expert, but yours would be the first I've read about that had a cracked case with good internals. Perhaps some type of lateral strain placed on the case by the PTO shaft?
Personally, I would bite the bullet and put a new gearbox on. Sorry about your misfortune!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

ipz2222 · Sep 4, 2019

There's an allmost new mmm on craigs list right now. Can't remember what city but I live in Nth Ga and search in this area.

ipz2222 · Sep 4, 2019

Just found it, it's in Pikeville Tn. Craigs list # 6969911611

Henro · Sep 4, 2019

ipz2222 said:
Just found it, it's in Pikeville Tn. Craigs list # 6969911611

Looks like a great deal for $1200.

Here’s the link: (hope links are allowed)

https://chattanooga.craigslist.org/grd/d/pikeville-kubota-bx-60-inch-mower-deck/6969911611.html

ShellKnobCat · Sep 4, 2019

That's a great deal on that mmm but more then I can spend right now. I can finish out the mowing season with a borrowed mower and hopefully do something about the gearbox over the winter.

I will know more about the crack after i pick it up from the dealer tomorrow but the bracket on one side that holds the box to the deck was completely broken so maybe that caused the crack. If it's cracked around one of the boltholes I doubt it can be welded. We will see.

dlsmith · Sep 4, 2019

Post a picture of the case and the crack when you get it back. Depending on where it's cracked, it's possible a welding shop could repair it.

JeffL · Sep 4, 2019

Do a CL search of Southern Illinois. There is a person in Centralia that sells decks and deck parts. Has a center gearbox for a RC60-21b for $75. Maybe same box? Get in touch maybe he has what you need. Also 4-5 decks for sale various models, $700-1200.

ShellKnobCat · Sep 5, 2019

I got the box back from the dealer this morning. I got to pay them $66 to tell me about a chip of metal gone around one of the bolt holes in the side for the bracket that I already knew about. It can be seen in one of the photos I attached. There are no other cracks. When I got home I took the seal out of the vertical gear and it is trashed and most likely the culprit. I think the gears and the horizontal shaft bearings are OK. If I can figure out how to remove the gears, bearing and shaft I think I can rebuild this thing myself and for a hell of a lot less than $1300!

ZD326S · Sep 5, 2019

I have a RCK60-22BX complete used gearbox on a spare mower deck RCK60B-22BX that I would be willing to sell. I do not know if it is an exact fit.
I have had no issues with the gearbox just bought a new mower deck this year because the side spindle bearings I kept replacing. It is approximately 10-12 years old.

ShellKnobCat · Sep 7, 2019

Looks like I'm going to have to rebuild the box. Are there any tutorials or videos on how to do that? It looks to me like I need to take the horizontal shaft and bearings our first. Looks like I take out the seal and circlip and it then slides out? What if it's stuck? I can't see any way to hammer at it easily. How does the gear come off?

Any help greatly appreciated.

ZD326S · Sep 7, 2019

Just rebuilt my ZD326S gearbox. First need to remove pulley from shaft ( press fit and has a keeper) Mine has cap seals on top and one side of horizontal and rubber press seals on the opposite sides. I had to destroy rubber seals to get to inside. Remove side cap seal and there is a bolt to remove and clips on both sides if I remember right. Have a good set of pliers for clips. Mine had shims on sides and bottom so keep that in mind. The horizontal will punch out toward the drive side (PTO drive). This allows to get to clip on top of vertical shaft, remove and this allows the removal of vertical shaft. I replaced the 3 bearings and both gears and center shaft. This plus replacing seals cost ~500. Not sure yours is designed exactly like mine but this is what I ran into.

ShellKnobCat · Sep 10, 2019

ZD326S said:
Just rebuilt my ZD326S gearbox. First need to remove pulley from shaft ( press fit and has a keeper) Mine has cap seals on top and one side of horizontal and rubber press seals on the opposite sides. I had to destroy rubber seals to get to inside. Remove side cap seal and there is a bolt to remove and clips on both sides if I remember right. Have a good set of pliers for clips. Mine had shims on sides and bottom so keep that in mind. The horizontal will punch out toward the drive side (PTO drive). This allows to get to clip on top of vertical shaft, remove and this allows the removal of vertical shaft. I replaced the 3 bearings and both gears and center shaft. This plus replacing seals cost ~500. Not sure yours is designed exactly like mine but this is what I ran into.

Sounds similar to mine. I found the procedure in the tractor service manual which I already had on my PC. Take the seals off, remove circlip and tap the horizontal shaft and bearings out out. Then the vertical gear and bearing. I'm sure it won't be that easy though.

ZD326S · Sep 10, 2019

My bottom seal was leaking and took me 3 times to find the culprit (bottom bearing had broke down and center shaft was wobbling). At first I wasn't sure which way to tap the horizontal shaft out but once I got it started moving toward the PTO hook up side, it came apart and went back together pretty easily. I took a lot of pictures along the way and paid attention to where all the shims went. There is a little play allowed up and down on the center shaft but not side to side. The clips hold everything in place. Removing and inserting the clips were time consuming for me but I got better at it. Well worth the time and $$ savings.

ShellKnobCat · Sep 10, 2019

Got it apart today before it got too hot outside. The bottom bearing is toast and one of the top bearing is noisy so those two need replaced. Both gears look great so don't have to replace those two high dollar items. But so far I have been unable to get the bearing off the lower gear. I have tried putting it in a vise and tapping on it with a socket and hammer with no luck. I'm afraid to hit it too hard because I don't want to harm the gear. I sprayed the heck out of it with PB Blaster and will try again in the morning. If that doesn't work does anyone have any suggestions short of finding someone with a bearing press?

ZD326S · Sep 10, 2019

I replaced mine but a video I seen on the internet the guy had to use a press.

JeffL · Sep 10, 2019

Been awhile from last box rebuild: doesn't this bearing but up to a low boss and retained with a cir-clip? Clip removed and pushing in right direction? Sorry if I'm stating the obvious.
Also, heat is your friend with stuck bearings. Push while hot.

ShellKnobCat · Sep 11, 2019

Took it to a local guy who got the bearing off for me. He tried to press it off which only broke the bearing leaving the inner part of the bearing on the shaft. Then as I watched and my heart rate went way up he used a torch to cut it off without harming the expensive gear at all!

And he did it for free because about 3 years ago we towed them in when their boat broke down on the lake - we live on Table Rock Lake in SW Missouri.

Now I need to order the parts and put this thing back together.

ipz2222 · Sep 11, 2019

A good deed gone rewarded!!!!

ZD326S · Sep 12, 2019

Another thing that I didn’t know about these gearboxes is that they have a vent plug on the top. You may already be aware of that but just in case you didn’t. I take mine off from time to time and clear the orifices out like I would a carburetor they do get dirt build up around the plug. Mine is located on top other side a fill plug.

RCK60B23BX gearbox issues

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