I purchased a ZD21 with a 60" deck at an equipment auction. Coming from an auction I don't know anything about it's history. My problem is; the mower blades turn backwards (CCW). The discharge chute is on the right side of the deck, but looking down at the deck, the blades are turning CCW. So, it looks like someone swapped decks (or gearboxes) and didn't know (or care). Looking into the gearbox I have surmised that if I can swap the top bevel gear to the other side it will reverse the outgoing direction, and my problem is solved (it looks like this is possible). The problem being, the pinion shaft needs a spline on the opposite side. So, I look in the manual, and low and behold the pinion shaft has two part numbers, but no explanation as to what they are. Are the two pinion shaft numbers to allow a chanfge of direction? If so, which shaft do I have, and which do I need? Has anyone heard of this before?
mower gearbox
- Thread starter ziggy
- Start date
Absolutly sure. The blades (deck) are made to turn CW, but they are turning CCW.
The driveshaft is coupled to the gearbox, the gearbox makes a 90 degree turn down through the deck, and the pulley and center blade are attached to the shaft. The blades are correct for the deck (CW), and they are on correctly. Switching the belt won't change it either. (I've heard them all) But if I can switch the bevel gear inside the gearbox, I can make it turn CW, but I need a different pinion shaft. Has anyone ever seen this before? There are two pinion shafts listed in my parts manual. My hopes are that one of them will allow me to reverse dirrection. Any help or info would be appreciated.
The driveshaft is coupled to the gearbox, the gearbox makes a 90 degree turn down through the deck, and the pulley and center blade are attached to the shaft. The blades are correct for the deck (CW), and they are on correctly. Switching the belt won't change it either. (I've heard them all) But if I can switch the bevel gear inside the gearbox, I can make it turn CW, but I need a different pinion shaft. Has anyone ever seen this before? There are two pinion shafts listed in my parts manual. My hopes are that one of them will allow me to reverse dirrection. Any help or info would be appreciated.
I don't know the model number of the deck, it seems it was printed on a decal and someone has washed it with a solvent, can't read it.
Sitting on the mower, the driveshaft turns CW, in turn the output shaft from the gearbox turns CCW (looking down on it). Ends up with the blades turning CCW, nothing comes out the discharge chute of the deck.
Sitting on the mower, the driveshaft turns CW, in turn the output shaft from the gearbox turns CCW (looking down on it). Ends up with the blades turning CCW, nothing comes out the discharge chute of the deck.
I just checked both my decks and the drive shaft turns CW as does the output of the gearbox. Someone has switched gear boxes or changed the the gears around. You should be able to change it over but by the time you buy gears and shafts it might be just as cheap and easy to buy a new gear box or used one if you can find one.
Looks like you have a gearbox off a B or BX tractor. both of those series have CCW pto as viewed from the seat. F's and Z models are CW from the same vantage. I don't know if you can just buy the right shaft and assemble it or not! The right shaft is $160.00 here in Canada so it might be an expensive fix LOL!
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I found a dealer willing to help. It seems this gearbox is set up for a BX, and not for the ZD. The dealer thinks I can swap the input pinion shaft, which will allow me to place the bevel gear on the opposite side of the output shaft, and ultimatly reverse direction. The new pinion shaft is $159, plus I will need a collar for $10. Parts are on order, we'll see.