Dropped the transmission - now in a quandry

[74-911]

2003 John Deere LT160 - 550+ hours on the clock.

Has been bullet-proof, nothing but routine maintenance (oil and air filter changes, greased every spring), has been rode hard and put away wet - not babied at all.

While mowing the other day it just stopped moving forward accompanied by a loud grinding noise from the transmission. Dropped the tranny and as suspected, the v-belt pulley on the input shaft of the tranny is spinning. The splines on the pulley are shot. Transmission is a Tuff Torq K46 - many stories about early failures on the internet so guess I have been lucky.

Have ordered a new pulley but as the splines on the input shaft are in pretty bad shape this is a very temporary solution at best.

The quandry:

1, Try to find a used tranny - no way
2. Rebuild kit for the tranny is $300+ and am not positive I can even get a new input shaft so this may not even be an option.
3. New transmission will run $700+
4, Buy a new mower and try to part out the LT 160 (Kohler 16 HP, tires, etc.). Am looking at a new JD X-300 or Husqvarna YT42XLS.

The Husqvarna appears to be the equal to if not better than the JD X-300 and is quite a bit cheaper (JD is really proud of their stuff). Anyone have any experience with Husqvarna lawn tractors ?? I know their chain saws, etc. seem to have very good reputations.

The problem child:

[fastfredracing]

It is a throwaway transmission anyhow, can you weld, or pin the pulley to the shaft somehow? What have you got to loose? At the most, you would be out a pulley, and input shaft that are already broken.

[pete3799]

Cut a key way in the shaft and pulley.

[BGCarrera32]

Weld it on, if it breaks again then at least you'll know its time for a tractor.

Cutting a new keyway in the shaft and pulley is a waste of time because to do it correctly you need a broach and a press for the pulley, and a milling machine for the shaft. It would be faster to replace the shaft or transmission at that point.

[bell]

If you know exactly what failed I would talk to a professional welder and see what they think, I'd go for the weld myself.....unless you can easily find one used...

[74-911]

Originally Posted by BGCarrera32

Weld it on, if it breaks again then at least you'll know its time for a tractor.

Appreciate the responses. As FastFred said, these transmissions are throwaway for the most part. Think I will give welding it on a shot and see if I can't get a few more years out of it. Don't really want to put a lot into it as it is getting on in age.

One thing I found interesting about the Tuff Torq K46 transmissions: until you get up into true garden tractors in the $5K range virtually every lawn tractor, regardless of brand, uses this a variation of this transmission...

[EarlyPorsche]

Probably best to put it on Craigslist for $50-100 and someone will rid you of it quick. Then pick up something nice and old and with more cast iron.