Hi Norm,
I've seen a lot of damaged gearbox casings but not particularly the 360.
I think it's more a case of some people can break anything.
I've heard of the 360 model problems, some reports of gearbox issues, including casing failures, but it is essential to note that not every unit will experience these problems.
It's mostly from overloading or lack of lubrication.
Like we know any gearbox that is overloaded or has lack of lubrication the end result can be damage to the casing.
1 somebody going from forward to reverse without stopping.is one way to overload the gearbox.
2 Overloading: If the mower is used for tasks beyond its intended capacity (like traversing very rough terrain, pulling heavy loads, or damaging obstacles), it could place significant stress on the internals of the gearbox and potentially cause it to fail.
3 Lack of Lubrication: Insufficient lubrication can lead to overheating and increased wear on the components. If the lubricant level is low or if it hasn't been changed regularly, this could contribute to premature failure of the gearbox casing.
Because of lack of lubrication and excessive wear in bushes or bearings,they can wear out then shafts and gears aren't supported correctly causing misalignment and increased stress to the casing the result is structural failure of the casing.
4 Heat Generation: Lack of lubrication can generate excessive heat, which can further weaken the material of the casing. If the casing becomes brittle due to heat, it is more susceptible to cracking or breaking under normal operational stresses.
Cheers
Max.
