Screamin' Six Speed ....

[Bailey 0]

New six speed screams and wails at random. Only in forward gears, never reverse or while in neutral. It's a rapid shredding noise, not a slow grind. I was unsure of the source, so took off the belt guards and both belts, pushed it in 2nd gear and it made the same noise. Now ... it doesn't always do it. It will warn you with a little extra whine before it does. I mowed a couple of acres with it today and it didn't make a squeak, but earlier today it was screamin' everytime I moved more that 10 ft. forward. Am I doomed to break down the gearbox ????? Anything else I should do first? I'm guessing it's a bearing, but don't understand how I could mow for an so long without it showing up ......

[Burntime 1]

I had a 3 speed that did that. It was the idler pulley only as the load let off...

[Bailey 0]

I'd thought of that too ....... but that's why I took off the belts and pushed it (and to make sure it wasn't the bgb).