Scotts 22" Mower Self Propel Drive Problem

I have Scotts Mower Self Propel Drive that will sometimes stay engaged in the drive position or lock up. This is a Murray 22 inch, Model 228670x8A. The cable does release properly and the trans arm does return, so it looks like it is internal to the gearbox. The belt is not over tensioned. Murray states this gearbox is non-serviceable and the part no longer available, but at this point I thought I would disassemble and re-lube it. Anything I should look for other than the obvious broken gear or other parts? Type of lube?

 

You're probably going to figure it out when you open the trans. Might just be sticking. I believe these come with double ought (00) grease in them, usually found at lawnmower shops, especially snapper dealers.

 

The trans is a Peerless 301-020 barcode 1021A51. I haven't dissembled it yet, I thought I would change out the lube first and try it. I removed rubber plug in the side for the lube and had to tilt quite bit to get some to come out. It poured out with the thickness of 90 weight gear oil, with a very faint smell of gear lube (sulfur additive ) and black in color. There were a few metal particles. Any idea what the level of the lube should be relative to the hole? There can't be more the an 1 ounce or so in there based on how much I had to tilt it.

 

Was there ever any oil that you could see that had leaked from the transmission? It should have more oil and the metal particles you mentioned don't sound good. From running it with low oil could have messed up some of the gears.

 

There was no leak in the case or the seals. I drained only about 3/4 of an ounce of gear lube - looks like it could take about 4 ounces up to the filler hole. I did not even know there was a filler plug until I removed trans, since the Murray parts list states this is a non-serviceable part.

I rinsed and spun shafts with 80w-90 gear lube three times and then filled it to just below the filler hole. After working the shafts around more on the bench it engaged/disengaged without a problem. We'll see how it works in the mower with a load and heat on it.

It turns out lock-up and engaged/disengaged were two separate problems. The lock-up was cause by a loose e-clip that came off one of the pinion drive gears and would get jammed in the wheel ring gear.

 

Sounds like you may have figured it out. It doesn't fill all the way with oil... not even halfway. Put in about what you took out and a little more for good measure. If you overfill it, it won't hurt anything unless you get it up to the axles and it leaks out there.

 

FIXED - Ran the mower for about an hour in 80 degree outside temp and no disengagement/engagement problems. Lock-up problem is fixed also, but I pretty well figured that with the missing e-clip. No leaks at the any of the shafts so far, I'll keep my eye on it.