Transmission loud noise, not grinding but rubbing noise

[JimV. 2]

Hoping someone can help.  I’ve looked over the site and a wealth of information and videos.  Hope someone can help with 1986 308-8 with 110996 transmission. Mowing a couple of weeks ago.  15 minutes into mowing, the transmission would get stuck into gear.  I’d rock the mower it would shift. A short time later, loud noise coming from transmission.  Noise was not a grinding noise but more like loud rubbing noise. The mower would move but the higher the speed the louder the noise.  I parked it.  Gear oil was leaking from left axle.  I opened up the transmission, #1528 needle bearing was destroyed on the left case. Right case looked fine.  All needles from it were in the transmission case chewed up and broken.  1533 ball bearing was shot.  Casing for the balls for that bearing was twisted. I believe the needles compromised the 1533 bearing.  Checked all gears, some teeth were chipped on some of the gears, none completely broken.  Thought I would take a chance and clean it out, replace 1528 needle bearing and 1533 bearing. Ordered those two bearings and new seals.  I cleaned everything out.  Everything turned well and seemed to function. I did not pull out the forks or input drive gear/shaft.  Put it all back together with new parts installed.  The noise is still there.  Louder as speed (higher gear) increases.  Noise in neutral and all gears.  When I put the hi/low in neutral it does not make any noise.  Any ideas on the noise?  Does not leak anymore fluid.  Thanks!

[stevasaurus 23,274]

Hi, and welcome to Red Square.  The obvious guess is that you may have a bent hi/low fork.  If you can still shift between hi and low, that fork is not broken...yet.  Did you take any pictures of the chipped gears and can you put them on here??  I would think that you have to go back into the case regardless.

 

   One thing you might try is to locate the noise.  Put the rear end on blocks, take a long screw driver and use the tip of that screw driver like a stethoscope.  Touch the tip to various points around the transmission case, ie...rear axles, brake shaft, input shaft and especially where the hi/low shifter goes into the case.  Keep the top end of the screw driver by your ear.  Let us know. 

[JimV. 2]

Thank you. I will give it a try and hopefully hear something to narrow it down. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,433]

If the belt guard is too close to the belt they can make one heck of a noise. Try driving it with the guard off. You will have to start the engine with the transmission in gear because without the guard you can not shift gears.

 

Garry

[The Tuul Crib 7,339]

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[JimV. 2]

Thank you. I will check the belt guard. 

[JimV. 2]

Update: The belt was below the side panel/guard.  No problems with transmission.  I have mowed two times a week the past 6 weeks and runs strong.  I may have been very sensitive to sounds from the transmission. No grinding noise.  I am thankful to those of you who responded and for the information on this site, including videos from Stevasauras that allowed me the confidence and ability to take apart the transmission/replace necessary bearings and thoroughly clean it.