Ariens riding mower drivetrain lubrication

[JHZR2]

Curious how the drivetrain lube works on Ariens riding mowers. This is a model 927 bought new in 1986, we repowered in 2005 or so.

Was working under it because the clutch needed replacement, so we were lining per the OM. Got to the drivetrain, there is one zerk.

So how does it all work? Grease only seemed to transit out to the one wheel. Is the driveshaft hollow and grease gets out to the other wheel and the gearbox? Gearbox doesn't have a fitting.

Mower does 3/4 acre of hilly terrain every week through the season.

Thanks!

 

[JTK]

The gearbox/differential is probably sealed up with bentonite grease inside. That's pretty typical.

Why a zerk only on one side I have no idea.

I see it's a friction disk drive system. Have you had to replace the rubber friction disk much? That's typical if used on lots of inclines.

Joel

 

[JHZR2]

Once a year.

Interestingly, the no name one we had on has failed in a much more ugly way than the Ariens ones, which just smooth down until they start to slip.

 

[JTK]

Yep, I've seen that with some no-name replacement disks. They just fragment apart. Some cheap snow blowers have disks with such little rubber on them, you wonder how they last at all. Same goes with belts. Some are as thin as shoestrings.

You take good care of that Ariens! For 26yrs/old the deck looks new.

Joel

 

[clarklawnscape]

jtk mentioned bentonite grease, if that isnt the answer, im sure that double ought or "00" grease is, this looks like a typical rear engine snapper set up to me