[PartsFish]

Hi,
Can we get some comments on the different Tuff Torq transmissions used in JD Lawn Tractors.
What are the most durable and reliable?
Which ones should be avoided?
Thanks!

Some Tuff torq zt transaxles are made with powder metal gears (made by compressed aluminum magnesium powder) some have steel gears some have hardened steel. Powder metal gear is weak breaks easily JD used these a lot tzt7 type II has this tzt7 type III has options for steel however they seem to be trying to get rid of the steel gears in type III as well

 

[Old Machinist]

This is great!
I was wondering what the load limits were for tractors and this answers my questions.
Looks like a quick indicator for a good tractor used to push snow or pull a heavy trailer would be a transaxle that has the flange style axle.
I know I have been overloading my LT155 by occasionally pulling a trailer and I am looking for a replacement.

Not a true indicator at all. I picked up a Husqvarna garden tractor some years back with flange type hubs on a blown K46.

I swapped a K46 out of a beat lawn tractor into it. The flange type hubs slid right on the axles. That lawn tractor had a blown engine, rusted out deck, and was generally beat to death. BUT it's K46 ran and continues to run just fine.

Go figure?

 

[javjacob]

Which one did my JD 285 have?

The 285, same as my 320 has a Sundstrand BDU-21 which is probably a little stronger than a Tuff Torq K72. Very good hydrostat.

 

[javjacob]

An easy way to think of it is the bigger the number the stronger it is. T40 is the weakest followed by the K46 being the next weakest. K66 is where they start to get strong enough to do ground engaging work.

 

[fernandoah]

Hey I know I'm late but I'd like to pitch my opinion in in 2020 I bought an e120 it came with a tiff tourqe tl-200 up until 100 it worked just fine it still does but I swapped it with that trans I did some ground engaging work I pulled a 6 foot independent scraper a 3 foot independent that just cuts doesn't actually move dirt around and I did some rock crawling all with a stock tractor and I mean the only issues that were present were really traction I think these transaxles only make about 100ish foot pounds of torque but a couple months ago I bought a wrecked gt5000 for 60bucks the trans was really the only good part and all of the front steering I planned to make a go cart and I got to mount the trans and after that just left it engines are pretty expensive nowadays and I had been considering putting the gt's axle into my 120 and I did there are some things I still need to figure out like the tl-200's foot pedal automatically sets itself at zero no forward no reverse not the gt's and I also have to figure out cooling but that's about it the gt I had comes with a hydro gear 3000 series more than double the tourqe (260) and I think it surpasses the tuff tourqe k62 by like 20ft lbs or something but falls short of the k66 the only downside is I don't know how hard it's been abused so just in case I'm keeping the original e120 transmission with all the linkages and everything but I mean if u want a nice good transmission most of the peerless gear transmissions are pretty stout I mean if u want to tow or drive up steep hills unless you have a high end hydro I'd go for a gear drive if u can find an old craftsman for cheap they all mostly used gear drives

 

[angelojrichetti55]

I would say they are all equally durable and reliable when used for their intended purpose, maintained, and not abused. A lot of people love to hate on the K46 because it fails from being used beyond it's intended purpose. The K46 is be far and above the most common turf torque you are going to see out there with a millions of them running strong for years. A lot of people are very vocal about them being weak because they don't handle hills or towing heavy things well. To me that is like saying the Toyota Corolla is a piece of junk that fails all the time because you decided to tow your boat with it regularly, in San Francisco.

There are different variations of the tuff torque k46 transmission it's not one K46 fits all..

 

[angelojrichetti55]

I would say they are all equally durable and reliable when used for their intended purpose, maintained, and not abused.

A lot of people love to hate on the K46 because it fails from being used beyond it's intended purpose. The K46 is be far and above the most common turf torque you are going to see out there with a millions of them running strong for years. A lot of people are very vocal about them being weak because they don't handle hills or towing heavy things well.

To me that is like saying the Toyota Corolla is a piece of junk that fails all the time because you decided to tow your boat with it regularly, in San Francisco.

There are many variations of the tuff torque k46 transmission it's not one k46 transmission fits all..

 

[Spencer]

There are many variations of the tuff torque k46 transmission it's not one k46 transmission fits all..

I wasn't aware of that, do the variations have different torque ratings? What specifically are the differences in K46's?

 

[angelojrichetti55]

I wasn't aware of that, do the variations have different torque ratings? What specifically are the differences in K46's?

My tractor dry weight with out the deck and 3 gallons of gas weights 630 pounds so yes you wouldn't stick the same K46 that's in a 450 pound tractor in mine..this is why they want the model number when you say I have a k46 transmission the model number is very important it's tells them witch one you have..my tractor is a 2021 built like a little tank it's the first run of the Craftsman Turn Tight Series that ran from 2019 to 2021 the newer versions 2022 to present have the TL200 transmission that's a downgrade from the k46 transmission..my tractor tractor takes steep hills and comes in and out of ditches without breaking a sweat I've also move a 3000 pound camper in and out of my driveway I would not try that with the tuff torque TL200..anything K46 and higher Transmissions you have a strong reliable hydrostatic transmission..what ever issues the K46 had tuff torque has resolved..

 

[Spencer]

My tractor dry weight with out the deck and 3 gallons of gas weights 630 pounds so yes you wouldn't stick the same K46 that's in a 450 pound tractor in mine..this is why they want the model number when you say I have a k46 transmission the model number is very important it's tells them witch one you have.....

But does the model of any lawn tractor identify the internal components and torque rating of the K46 transmission?

 

[Sergeant]

I wasn't aware of that, do the variations have different torque ratings? What specifically are the differences in K46's?

There are 56 different Variants of the K46. You find out what model You have, say It a K46HD and call Tuff-Torq, they Can Identify what they did for that specific Model. Here are the Maximums they Can do with that series K46 - Tuff Torq Corporation if You want something beyond those Maximums You would Probably have to go to the Next Model they make like a K57 if you wanted heat treated steel gears which is an Option in the K57. But not an option in the K46

 

[Stradguy]

I would say the K92 is the best Tuff Torque hydro transaxle offered in John Deere garden tractors.

 

[ptf18]

What JD Lawn Tractors come with the K92?

 

[nj82tj]

What JD Lawn Tractors come with the K92?

X7xx series mowers come with the K90 transaxle. X5xx have the K72. X3xx have the K58 and K46.

 

[Sergeant]

X7xx series mowers come with the K90 transaxle. X5xx have the K72. X3xx have the K58 and K46.

Deere has actually used the K91 since the 425 through the 455 and continues to use it through the present X700 Signature series.

2WD; it's a K91G 2WD from 425 through X750.

4WD K914 X575 through X748 shift-able 4WD

For HFWD/AWS K914B, X729 through X739

For HFWD K914G, X728 through X758 2WS/HFWD

For 2WD/AWS, K91H X465AWS through X754





What led to confusion was that during the X465 through X749, the K92 was listed on the Main Deere Model Landing Page website when it was actually a K91. But essentially, it has the same specs as a K92 anyway, so Deere just used the K92 on the Model Landing page for specs. Deere now just uses the K90 series. For the model specs landing page

 

[Frogtog]

As someone mentioned JD should never have installed K46 on lawn tractors with large rear tires because it indicates that it can be used for heavy work. I have an L120 with 300hours and the transaxle is shot. Yes, I used it for pulling loads plus uphill. I feel now that it's all marketing to trick consumers to buying what looks like a heavy duty tractor when it's actually not. If they were serious about not using it for heavy load they should have put a big sign on the tractor and sales floor indicating so.