Doc Locker 2.0- Weldless Lawn Tractor Transaxle Locker

[@Zappy1210]

Did this on my little 16 hp garden tractor to help pull a plows, disks etc easier. 8 years and 8 gardens later, hasn't failed me yet. This is the beat all mower locking method, no question.

[@victoryfirst2878]

This method of making a locked shaft is just right on "Doc". A live shaft will definitely take care of any issues and not weld anything... Nice work to fella.

[@dtc989]

Doc, You're a genius. Period. You have improved the lives of countless numbers of people who enjoy trying to improve and modify their own equipment to be better suited for their specific needs. Your good karma scale just went through the roof! Thank you ever so much!

[@PaulieDetmurds]

Ok, I just did the Doc Locker, ....and I am liking it, knowing that I will not be breaking a weld any time at all! Thanks Doc!

[@indoor420]

How'd it work out for ya

[@preston121068]

Best answer to a locked trans axle I have ever seen to date. It looks totally bullet proof. Great Vid Doc

[@brandondavis8286]

BRAVO!! YES!! I cracked my MST 206 because the weld broke its 2nd time and bound up from broken off weld chunks. Transaxles are unstoppable now! I took a screen shot of the materials needed, added to watch later, and liked! Good video!!

[@bvisel4558]

That's the way to lock the rear end. game over. Good job, Doc.

[@DocSprocket]

+Bob Vance Thank you, sir!

[@heavyhittersgaming3759]

Concerns me because if its slightly out of balance you got problems coming hard and fast. Great idea otherwise but needs to be balanced.

[@dannygodfrey397]

Great video! Shows what can become of stopping and thinking of a better way. Very good information and knowledge of the materials that you're working with. Keep up the good work. Thanks

[@rachelmatt7424]

I have to say that is the best transaxle lock I've seen yet. keep up the good work.

[@DocSprocket]

+Rachel Matt Thank you. I appreciate that!

[@PaulieDetmurds]

This is one of the most informative, and detailed mower related vids I have ever watched. (about a dozen times so far) I plan to do this to my current Murray wide body project. Thank You Sir!

[@AR1G3]

Damn that's super neat! I've always found welded differentials dodgy. This is the kind of solution the guy who designed this gearbox would come up with!

[@grazynazambeanie5963]

I use gear clamps to hold the wheels on , they also keep the key from falling out . Never lost a wheel yet . Those spring washers have a habit of flying off into space , never to be found when you have to take the wheels off .

[@ok400bigbearpro]

Liked your video , I'm Canadian, also a welder about 30 years , I know all about heat and warpage do to welding etc. It is more work this way and more money but a much better way , ... your so right !! But if you weld the key stock to the axle you still have ,, warpage

[@LonniesGarage]

Good Job bud. Now that's how u think a good design out and get it right in the end. I'll be using this for sure....

[@DocSprocket]

+PuppetKicker Awesome. Thanks for the props.

[@bvisel4558]

Lol "right in the end" I get it.

[@bvisel4558]

Lol "right in the end" I get it.

[@LonniesGarage]

+Bob Vance I was waiting for someone to say something about my comment lol

[@jaylitalien4041]

Sprocket's Garage I'm working on my take of your doc locker 2.0 for a tecumseh peerless transaxle where the bull gear is part of the casing that holds the spider gear. My question is about the oil... what oil do you recommend when going from bentonite grease to oil? Cant seem to find it in your other vids...

[@shotgunsnmudmowers8167]

every trans axle i locked with a welder has blown up or unlocked this method is perfect for me :D cant wait to see a video of a stress test...

[@kiskiller3]

i am going to use this method to repair my transaxle. the axle sheared of the spider gear so this will fix my problem. thanks for the design !

[@DocSprocket]

You're welcome! Good luck!

[@kiskiller3]

update... i hate betonite grease...

[@OneDayAtaTime-j1p]

Thanks for the video, this method is far superior to the welding ones. I'm not to the end so haven't found the parts list yet though I hope to before the end as this is the method I'm going with for obvious reasons you stated. I'm hoping to be able to pull a small box scraper for road and driveway repair because our P.O.A. does as little as possible. Thanks again!❤

[@DocSprocket]

@@OneDayAtaTime-j1p Thanks! The video description has your parts list.

[@jhandman5160]

Good idea Doc. Welding is nutz! After watching the complete video, I see at about 18:54 min. he took the plastic seals off the 2RS sealed bearings he showed at the start of the video at 2:26 min. Even though he used silicone on the shaft keyway inside the bearing inner race the oil will travel through the open ball bearing, down the keyway out past the end seal & onto the wheel rim. In this application I would not use a totally keyed shaft especially on the seal area at ends of axle housing. The keyway will let the oil pass through & destroy the end seal. Also don't use, or simply remove the the coatings off of nickel/chrome/zinc plated washers as the plating will break down rotating against the thrust washer & contaminate the oil, possibly reacting with the aluminum causing galling or seasure. Also if using this automatic (no clutch model like mine) transmission often, expect to replace the key inside the hub as it gets hammered shifting from forward & reverse at operating r.p.m's. Another tip, glue a strong magnet to a safe spot in the bottom of the inside gear case to collect metal fragments that "will" accumulate in gearbox after this modification. Change oil after operating for 10 + hours. On my machine I drilled through the case & tig welded a drain plug to the bottom, a level screw in the side & a fill plug at top, just cuz I was in there, it was winter & an excuse to get away from the wife. I am not a backyarder, I'm a certified Millwright with over 30 years in the power transmission field.

[@DocSprocket]

Some great tips in there! I don't disagree with you but my options were limited regarding the shaft type and bearings. So far, any seepage has been minimal, and the last time I cracked the case open, things still looked pretty good. All things being equal, we ARE asking lawncare equipment to do things it was never intended to. Regarding the sealed race bearings, the intent behind removing the inner seal was to allow the gear oil to keep the bearings lubed. Thanks for watching, AND your input! -Doc

[@hoareplussy]

Good job mate, what l did was bought a blank shaft cut a short keyway for the dog boss, therefore no oil leak issues, and instead of two 5/8 keys l drilled two opposing 5/8 holes only 5/16 into the boss and used two 5/8 ball bearings, works great and less work, maybe an idea for the future. Cheers.

[@fivevenomstyle6337]

I like the idea of a solid shaft (can't help but throw in a "that's what she said" here) and trying to clean all the slag out of and off of all the gears and housing would be an OCD nightmare for me. Also this just seems obvious that it would be more balanced than spot welds and beads on a two part assembly. Sound concept and great video presentation. Thanks for sharing.

[@ronduck2812]

Good information tossing in about everything needed to do The job like washers saves from learning the hard way

[@derekvenenga5569]

I just watched your video of the non wield locker Doc that's brilliant

[@DocSprocket]

+Derek Venenga Thank you!

[@robertandreason3218]

I really like your non welded locker. I'm going to use it on my jd111 racer

[@sunnyvoid7206]

I just need to say thank you. I have been looking at getting a welder learning to weld so I could lock my axle. This right here is by far my new favorite thing, not only because I dont have to weld but because this is the type of thing I would have come up with should I have more knowledge about locking. I will be doing this to both my lawnmowers.

[@HippyDave57]

This is GREAT Doc..I started something like this already..You filled in the missing ingredient for me..the 1/2" square stock. I have an MST 206 for the Abomination I've been working on, although I'll probably swap it with the MST 205 in the YellowJacket, as it's 150lbs lighter. Thanks again.

[@johnr.6029]

Can you tell me which makes/brands of older riding lawns mowers I should look for to perform your transaxle locking operation on. I just started watching videos on transaxle locking yesterday, and YOURS definitely makes the most sense. I sure am glad I found you and your solution before I ever attempted a job like this. Thank you so much for all your time and energy you put into a project like this, and then on top of that - you graciously give it all away for free. Thank you.

[@DocSprocket]

john r. Hey- thanks for the kind words! Probably 75% of available manual shift lawn tractors have a Peerless 900 or MST series, that this can be performed on. Further to that, I believe the design can also be applied to Foote/Spicer equivalents of the same design, perhaps with the alteration of a couple measurements, as they are staggeringly similar. Good luck!

[@labrd41]

Love that shop window. Caught my eye immediately. Bet you didn't get that at Home Depot.

[@DocSprocket]

labrd41 No sir. The shop is easily 50 years old, and I'm pretty sure it was a used window to begin with. The leaded glass is pretty cool, isn't it? I'm gonna remove it and reverse it so it swings outward, one of these days.

[@paulmcmaster5883]

Very nice , only thing i would change would be the option for full length slotted bar. This will lead to lube leakes . I would suggest a more positive seal with a newer and more durable composit than the mighty black silicone gasket maker .

[@torbendk2777]

Great idea 👍🏼 Was hoping that you made a locker that you could lock and unlock at will. But still a great build

[@robinj357]

I love it, my John Deere will have this locker . great video. doc locked and ready to rock!

[@fullsteam208]

I tried this out on my lawn tractor, that I use a front mount mtd snow blower on. and I must say it works great! thank you! For the excellent idea!

[@stevevaal1322]

Excellent Video. And finding this when I did is perfect timing as I am in the process of rebuilding the transmission in my Craftsman LT2000 riding lawnmower. I will definitely be doing this modification. I'm a mechanic and Machinist by trade so this is right up my alley and makes perfect sense. Thank you for posting, I subscribed to your channel and plan on checking out Facebook for your page. Thanks again.

[@DocSprocket]

Hi, Steve! Please post pics/vids of your progress. I'd love to see this properly machined, instead of being hacked together with an angle grinder! Lol I might also suggest broaching a secong keyway into the hub bore and the shaft, for an even stronger mechanical lock- something I could not do with my limited tools. Thank you!

[@stevevaal1322]

@DocSprocket Ho Doc. I can relate to what you mean but I admit with limited amount of tools you did an excellent job. Watching your video I was thinking about how to machine everything. I've done a lot of transmissions over the years, mostly motorcycle stuff, Harleys and a few Triumphs and they are very similar with the exception of the differential part. But what you figured out is genius and solves a lot of problems for not very much money, a win win for people. The only part I'm not familiar with is the hub and where to get it. Thanks again and I will post plenty of pictures once I begin. I joined your Facebook page.

[@DocSprocket]

@@stevevaal1322 I sure appreciate the kind words. I got mine at Princess Auto. You could maybe try Tractor Supply, but it all depends on where you live.

[@stevevaal1322]

@DocSprocket Your welcome, I was a CNC Macinist for 38 years before retirement. Now I like to take on cool projects like this. I can tell that you have a great knowledge of what your doing which why I am so impressed with the first video I found this morning so I had to subscribe. We have a Tractor Supply here in town, I live In Southern New Hampshire

[@paigehickey-legere4269]

Going to buy parts tommorw. Love the idea.

[@MrZel011]

Excellent video info Done very clean and neat job My next job on my ride on mower. Thanks for sharing idea

[@alantyas8820]

HI, I used this method, it lasted approximately 10 minutes before the steel key sheered, when I was mowing rough terrain. I'm now using a welded diff, it's still working OK after a couple of hours.

[@DocSprocket]

If you somehow sheared a steel key, there was a fabrication or materials defect. Assuming all parts and materials are fault-free and excess play or lash is not present, there is nearly zero chance of that happening.

[@prancstaman]

Great vid!!! I got a transaxle with a busted axle that I'm going to try to do something like this to. The only bad thing is it's welded together. I don't know if I can clean it up enough to save the bull gear. Thanks for the input, it's sure going to help when I do mine. I maybe be doing a vid on it if I can save the bull gear.

[@trialnterror]

Cleanest posi rear end mod I’ve seen.

[@DocSprocket]

Thank you!

[@daw7189]

Awesome. That is what I am going to do when I do my transaxle locker. Thanks.

[@mikecollins8241]

If you go to large parts store (heavy equipment place maybe) you can get washers/ shims in a large variety of thicknesses. Buy a bunch and use to find tune end play vs grinding on collar :)

[@jameshallahan4376]

Need a spare transaxle to practice on - might give it a try on my 73 Sears suburban st 16

[@russellvillinger9075]

Nice Job, Very Good No weld axle

[@bigjim11566]

Hey doc,my Flux capacitor isn't working,after seeing your creativity, well guess you the man to fix it

[@MTD12HPTURBO]

Incredible Doc! I think I may do this very soon.. going to princess auto wednsday THANKs so much

[@smooney82ify]

great job doc, thanks for the video. all the best from Ireland

[@jamesowen9985]

great video i am going to try to build my trans axel the same way Have a Blessed Day

[@ShaggysAutoSalvage]

using the doc locker 2.0 in my craftsman lawn tractor and love it. Thanks for the idea and the video

[@Mike-su8si]

Before I mess mine up by testing this stuff out what's the point in doing it all I do is mow the grass so does any of this locking stuff have any benefit

[@roostercogburn597]

Well thought out. Very impressed with your mad skills doc patten that thing you have something there. Thanks for a awesome video for the first time i dont feel like i wasted my time watching a youtube video.

[@DocSprocket]

Thank you kindly!

[@stevelecain886]

man that's the coolest thing I even seen,,I am doing that for sure..2 thumbs up man.

[@zlindauer5315]

my old boss use to put jam set screws. nothing comes loose but ya better look if ya ever want to remove anything. dont know if ya care but..... thanks for the video

[@redzz02]

Great video doc! Keep the great work up

[@erikmckaygunsmithing6470]

Cool I've welded one before made sure it was aligned well but broke the case during a fast turn with alot of throttle. I believe like you said a straight axle wont flex n will be stronger.

[@stevemason6850]

Really well done.Wish I had a riding mower so I could try it.

[@allenmckinney9533]

id drill a hole through the shaft and use a washer with cotter pin to hold the wheel on. if the wheel has a set screw just grind a flat spot for the screw to catch.

[@regpugh9021]

HI, the best diff lock i have seen anywhere, i have an old JD 180 Powershift with a, i think a Peerless Transaxle with a JD part number AM104533 i think, firstly i am in the UK and how can i get one of your kits to suit my lawn tractor. Thanks in advance

[@DocSprocket]

Hi there! I don't sell kits but if you look around, you'll probably find what you need. The hub is something you'd find in a place that sells agricultural equipment and supplies. We get them from places like Tractor Supply or Princess Auto. Worst case, you can probably order online but I'd wager you have similar places. Same for the shaft lock collars.

[@regpugh9021]

@@DocSprocket ok, thanks for the advice,Regards

[@MAD450r2]

You should try hookup with a company to make a package all setup for different transaxles. mayby even go oower sports. Im sure many would buy them

[@dixielivin]

Doc, how many times do I have to tell you? As much as you don't want to admit it, Canada is in America! 😜

[@DocSprocket]

+PatrickYeah, I know. "Canada is America's hat"... Which makes America, Canada's underwear LOL! Ok- NORTH America ;)

[@muddy_armadillo]

America is Canada's shirt, Mexico is Canada's undies.

[@grazynazambeanie5963]

Canada is in North America , not America because there is no place called " America " . The people in the United States of America, say they are Americans to take their minds off the fact the founding fathers mis named the place . It should have been called The United States of North America , since there is no " America " And if you research a little you'll find the whole idea of calling it The Americas is bullshit since the land mass was discovered by the Norse people ( 500 to 1000 years ) before Columbus and they called the place Vinland . United States of Vinland does sound funny , but it would be more correct than The United States of America.

[@dixielivin]

@@grazynazambeanie5963 Braaaahhhh it’s only an on going joke between my friend and I. Just a joke, not a d**k, don’t take it so hard…

[@grazynazambeanie5963]

@@dixielivin just giving you some information that neither of you know . Your both missing a few brain cells , perhaps borrow some from AOC ,it's obvious she's not using them

[@catmandont100]

Before welding axles, I've heated spider gears to orange and let gradually cool over 2 & 3 hours. No problems yet...…...yet. Awe hell, it's been 18 years-ish…."No Problems".

[@DocSprocket]

The problem here is neither the ability of the welder, nor the limitations of the machine or processes. These gears are all constructed of sintered steel, which is powdered metal heated and pressed into a mould. It is notorious for breaking just between the weld bead and the edge of the HAZ. It's a crapshoot under the best of circumstances and even though I am a competent welder, I prefer to avoid it.

[@catmandont100]

@@DocSprocket :...Agreed....it was a risk that ended up working. I wouldn't do it with a higher torque or high speed applications.

[@johnfarrell3171]

Incidentally, "The Mrs." particularly enjoyed the part where you were methodically throwing various parts & pieces out the back door verbalizing explicitly that she wished I would take heed and follow suit . . . . (wonder what she meant by that L O L!)

[@DocSprocket]

Hahahaha!

[@ricardocenteno375]

That is an exellent set up you are the man

[@tankman319]

i have a 1978 gt18 hydro ,she loves to push the snow.

[@RockeyDAproductions]

im back actually trying the dock locker now, i got a new bull gear (for a zombie JB weld transaxle) and its spot were i would stick the keystock is 1/2"+1/8"... so im other going to use keystock the wrong way and grind to right size, or use 2 sizes and jbweld together.

[@ilovekitties8643]

thank you so much for this upload!

[@arild365]

wow this is awesome! great video, really smart way to do this, thanks for sharing your ideas, subscribed! love to see more!

[@DocSprocket]

+arild365 Thank you very much!

[@stevelecain886]

makes perfect sense to me. yeh its a winner for sure.and I am doing it. thanks for the info.

[@restore56]

awesome idea, i might convert may extra spider gear locker for this. is i get the time to do it.

[@jonathantatler]

If you slot the axle shaft with the angle grinder it will solve the water seal problem on the ends of the shaft where it exits the housing.. The dimpling of the shaft is definitely a good idea however.

[@DocSprocket]

Yes- I have cut my own keyways in the past, with good success. this time, however, I was only able to get a fully-keyed shaft.

[@damienwolff1752]

for those of you who cant find the poo arts to do all this , just slide 2 extra spider gears into the bull gear, ittle fit, ive done it, but doc is right welding those spiders suck ive tried and failed, it popped after so long, i wandered why, thanks for clearing that up doc . great vid

[@jimc336]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@cpeterson7608]

Outstanding video Sir! Can you offer any suggestions as to how I would lock a peerless model 815? This has a different setup than the one you locked. Thanks so much!

[@totalchaos290]

Very good idea I wish I had a garage

[@DocSprocket]

+Lew Rossi Me too! What I DO have, is a very good friend who isn't using hers!

[@totalchaos290]

+Sprocketsgarage Thats perfect

[@usMarinecuv902]

I have this idea to use a mower c channel frame and use a vtwin engine with a right angle gearbox (peerless 700) with a chain to a solid axle mounted to the frame on leaf springs. Add springs to the front and boom the ultimate all terrain lawn mower. I'd use a spring loaded chain tensioner to take up slack when the springs compress

[@duryodhanagulla368]

Iam India your video s good message thanks

[@jeffreyfehr5850]

I've welded a transaxle and the pin in the bull gear broke into three pieces and still drive home in fifth gear.then dive i grapes a 1/2 inch bolt cut to the right measurement and then welded it the old spicer is still going!

[@tommytrucker11]

Really professional job thanks

[@unsafeweevil488]

The bearings are mostly for racing up grade cuz at high speed one with out bearings will we’re down and break

[@WeldstarCreations]

Have you seen the 3/4" double split axle clamps? They are far superior to the one you use in the video. I would suggest also placing one on each end of the axle next to the outside of the transaxle housing with a thrust washer or bearing. The Doc Locker 2.0 is an excellent concept. It will be the way I lock all future 3/4'' Peerless transaxles. Have you noticed Peerless 820's are getting hard to find? To run a straight axle in an 820 take the differential housing to a machine shop and have them bore the hole from the 7/8" that it is to one inch and install a 1/4" keyway. Make sure to use the Asuza hardened 1" axle or the needle bearings will wreak havoc on the axle. The 3/4'' axle Peerless transaxles are rated at 250 ft. lbs. and the Peerless 820 transaxle is rated at 450 ft. lbs. The Peerless 3 speed Hi/Lo trans used in the Sears Garden Tractors is a beast of a transaxle and rated at over 600 ft. lbs. I would like to see you develop a Doc Locker 3.0 weldless for the 3 speed Hi/Lo transaxle.

[@DocSprocket]

+WeldstarCreations Hey- In no particular order- I have seen those split clamps, I just don't have them available locally. They ARE far superior if you can get them. I hate ordering crap. I did think about adding a thrust washer and lock collar on each external end of the housing. It may yet happen. No, I cannot find an 820 to save my life...SMH I'll be working on the Roper (Sears) 633 Dual Range tranny, I've just gotten my first one (see most recent video. FYI- The Roper dual range (3hi, 3low) 633 is not a Peerless, never was. Common misconception. I know FearlessFront called it that once, but he probably didn't know any better at the time, or had a slip of the tongue. Errors happen. Thank you for your input!

[@candisbrendel7396]

sprockets garage did you think of cutting a collar lock in half or machining two down to fit your needs? even no we know the washers are for the 1/4 inch keys? cool idea thanks for posting it!!

[@gabemartin403]

I thank you sir this had been a very helpful video

[@burgessoutdoors]

great vid and info! I love princess auto they have everything!

[@alanrodriguez7525]

How likely is it that I sheer the key between the hub and axle seems to be the weakest point thanks

[@drakexr650]

That was awesome!!!!! This is exactly what I am going to do to my riding mower AND Billy Goat brush mower. What are the negatives that you have found NOT having the ability for the axle to differentiate? Hard turning I would imagine. Thanks for a great video.

[@DocSprocket]

Indeed, the turning radius increases. How much, is a function of traction, weight distribution, and steering geometry. Generally pretty tolerable. The other liability to locking a trans, is increased stress on the case. They're not exactly bulletproof. One of the benefits to a live axle installation such as this, is that it eliminates some leverage upon the case from one side or the other, having a tendency to try to pivot at the bull gear, as there is no actual differential carrier. So- while there is an increased risk of breakage vs. an unlocked diff, I believe the risk is a bit lower than some of the conventional locking methods that do not address the leverage problem.

[@markspeakman395]

Can you figure it out for a troy built bronco with a variable speed pulley and not a hydro tranns

[@alvineckler6201]

Did you make a part 2 to the doc locker 2.0?

[@ShaggysAutoSalvage]

sprockets garage, have you thought about selling a kit with the materials needed for this project. I know I would be interested in it and I'm sure others would be

[@DocSprocket]

I have, but... I live in Canada. Cross-border shipping is expensive. Nobody's gonna want to pay what I would have to charge.

[@candisbrendel7396]

sprockets garage did you think of cutting a collar lock in half or machining two down to fit your needs? even no we know the washers are for the 1/4 inch keys? cool idea thanks for posting it!!

[@logertgogert3227]

@@DocSprocket well.......... how much would you charge?

[@donraabe3529]

Great video Doc

[@christophercollins2330]

Great job on the locker. Is there an advantage to using the manual trans vs a hydrostatic trans on off road mowers because I have both and not sure where to begin with my mud mower.

[@johnfarrell3171]

Good morning Doc. My email failed so I'm trying you here. QQ: I'm considering dual's on my Craftsman DYT 4000 to increase traction. I haven't gotten to do your recommended posi conversion yet however, the machine continues to bury out in the manure dump at the barn and the eighty yard "walk of shame" is a genuine pain in the ass. I can't go any taller than the 20"Super Lugs due to the limited space in the wheel well so I thought increasing the lateral footprint could assist with the traction issue however, I'd rather not twist the inner works of the trans. Figured I'd consult with those with experience to avoid potential disaster. Thanks in advance and hope all is well . . . . John

[@DocSprocket]

Hi, John. Interesting scenario! My thoughts, in no particular order: Duals on a 3/4" axle transaxle is asking a lot of it, although I agree that doubling the area of your effective contact patch will go a long way towards preventing you from sinking. Locking a transaxle also increases the stresses acting upon it. I'm not sure that doing both is a viable solution unless extra steps are taken such as bracing the machine's frame to keep it from flexing. An axle truss may help too- you can see an example in one of my MULE videos. I think it's in MULE's Rearend Renovation, but it's been awhile. If a Peerless 800 is something you can lay hands on, that would help, too. They are somewhat stronger by design and also feature 1" axles as compared to your 3/4" shafts. Running a very low tire pressure helps in those circumstances too, but you probably already knew that. I'll put some more thought into this and let you know if anything strikes me.

[@PaulieDetmurds]

So, the 3/4 in Bore X Series weld on hub I just got was advertised as having a 21/2 outer diameter, but in reality (because I have it in my hand) it is only 2 1/4 in diameter! Can I still use it with this application? I am guessing there will be too much play? THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO! THANK YOU!

[@stichmon5527]

its an ok alternative for someone that cant weld BUT the con is that all that torque on that tiny keyway on the center hub can SNAP sending fragments into your trans gears then you just trashed a perfectly good box.

[@DocSprocket]

Well, I haven't heard of that happening, but let's be realistic. The moment you decide to take an innocent little lawn tractor off-roading, you're assuming that risk... Or, you're stupid... Lol

[@maverick5006]

Hi S.G., I mow an acre of lawn and also attach a 42" snowblower to my Craftsman. I can sure use the locked axle going up hills and in snow. My question-How much torque or stress is placed on the transaxle case when turning corners and both wheels are trying to go the same speed? Thank you for such an in depth vid

[@DocSprocket]

Stress loads are definitely increased. This is why I engineered a locker system that utilizes a 1-pc axle shaft, instead of two half-shafts. The theory being that the differential are of the case no longer is a leverage point. So far, I haven't had any failures, whereas I broke a few cases prior to doing this.

[@maverick5006]

BTW-Odd to hear a Canadian talk about measurements in SAE and American measurements vs Metric:)

[@clydeusa6596]

Very good method. Thumbs up

[@henryrobinson9837]

thats a good professional video,not a trailer park kid

[@daviddewilde8041]

Perfect.👍 Or nearly. What about the oil that goes thru the bearing, how do you retain that?

[@jhandman5160]

The 2 out board bearings are sealed & pre lubed

[@daviddewilde8041]

@@jhandman5160 So the outer metal ring of the bearing being in contact with de aluminum casing is enough to stop the oil from exiting. If metal on metal (aluminum) is enough to seal then the why do we bother using gaskets. I thought there was a seal in the grove near each end. (That's what all my peerless transaxles have)

[@jhandman5160]

Good idea Doc. Welding is nutz! After watching the complete video, I see at about 18:54 min. he took the plastic seals off the 2RS sealed bearings he showed at the start of the video at 2:26 min. Even though he used silicone on the shaft keyway inside the bearing inner race the oil will travel through the open ball bearing, down the keyway out past the end seal & onto the wheel rim. In this application I would not use a totally keyed shaft especially on the seal area at ends of axle housing. The keyway will let the oil pass through & destroy the end seal. Also don't use, or simply remove the the coatings off of nickel/chrome/zinc plated washers as the plating will break down rotating against the thrust washer & contaminate the oil, possibly reacting with the aluminum causing galling or seasure. Also if using this automatic (no clutch model like mine) transmission often, expect to replace the key inside the hub as it gets hammered shifting from forward & reverse at operating r.p.m's. Another tip, glue a strong magnet to a safe spot in the bottom of the inside gear case to collect metal fragments that "will" accumulate in gearbox after this modification. Change oil after operating for 10 + hours. On my machine I drilled through the case & tig welded a drain plug to the bottom, a level screw in the side & a fill plug at top, just cuz I was in there, it was winter & an excuse to get away from the wife. I am not a backyarder, I'm a certified Millwright with over 30 years in the power transmission field.

[@daviddewilde8041]

@@jhandman5160 I like your explanation 👍 I guess my simplistic first comment was correct after all. I'm just a simpel self thought mechanic that started working on machinery at age 16 with only 28 years experience worldwide from motorcycles to over 600,000€ compost turners. I think that this proves that even if one is a long time specialist, the most basic thing is to always look at all the information available before jumping to conclusions.😉 Cheers from Belgium.

[@carsncabins1349]

I'm definitely doing this... cheers

[@allisonwarrix1600]

cool vid...just ran across it...sounds like i hear a kid say...DAD..at 9:43...lol

[@DocSprocket]

I wouldn't doubt it. I have kids, and so do both my neighbors.

[@darkblast2528]

So much knowledge! Sub’d

[@jaydenweise7809]

Good video mate just wondering I just changed the grease in my gearbox and now it's not working and you can't turn it or anything it's really tired and when you put it onto the mower you put it into gear and stuff nothing happens just wondering if you know why thanks

[@jbmortensen]

Newbie question. If after it’s locked could you still use it for mowing your lawn or would it damage the transmission and turf? Or is this really only for off-road use? I have a lot of fairly rough rugged turf and terrain and I’m always spinning wheels when mowing.

[@nateross14]

You dont need to lock your differential if your spinning wheels on the grass. Just switch to 2 ply knobby ATV tires and lower the tire pressure and you'll have plenty of traction. The only time you'll really slip a tire much is if a rear wheel comes up in the air while off roading. Having a locked rear axle will tear up your grass mowing.

[@jbmortensen]

@@nateross14 Perfect. Thanks.

[@ianbuilds7712]

Absolutely perfect

[@nateross14]

Curious... why do you need the shaft lock collar when the set screws on the hub do the same thing to stop the axle from sideways movement?

[@DocSprocket]

A lot of lateral forces are placed upon it. I did not believe that to be effective enough