Previous ''Peerless 206-545C Transaxle - MAJOR Problem!!''

What this indicates is that, even though no one intentionally abuses or damages their mower, at some point they accidentally drove off a curb or allowed the mower to fall off a too-high pickup tailgate or maybe even backed into a tree trunk -- something to apply enough force to bend the axle. Also, not to offend those well-endowed mower operators, but an overweight individual is going to apply more load to a transaxle than a ''98-pound weakling.'' Continuing to run with a bent axle places a load on the internal components they weren't designed to handle, eventually resulting in failure.

So...before one critizes either Tecumseh OR Sears, do some honest soul searching and try to determine what REALLY caused the problem. I am sure there will be some cases where the transaxle itself may be flawed, but if a detailed analysis were undertaken, in most cases the problem will NOT be the transaxle. It seems like more of a problem with the 206-545s because there are so many more of these units out there compared to other transaxles.

Sincerely,
Rodney

1. No, this isn't ''really just a very long ad (for my) selling a transaxle on eBay.'' My mentioning my eBay Ad was just an answer to Jamesdub's last Reply to the original Post in which he mentioned seeing ''complete units being sold on eBay.'' Note that I also offered to sell these transaxles direct. I have also seen complete used units offered on eBay but mine is one of the few new units offered, and the only new unit with the axle-bearing upgrade. Which leads into your next misconception...

2. My ''true impression'' of Tecumseh Peerless transaxles is NOT that they are made ''CHEAP AS POSSIBLE.'' Quite the contrary, I've had the opportunity to tour the Peerless Gear plant in Indiana and have witnessed firsthand the quality that goes into them. Note that I stated the heavy-duty axle needle bearings are an OPTION. Your comment that you are one ''of us who work on these'' tells me you probably either own the shop you work in or are one of its regular mechanics. Doesn't your shop have a pick-up-&-delivery truck? Is it a compact S-10 or Courier, or is it a full-size RAM, Chevy, F-150 or equivalent? Even if it's a full-size, I would be willing to bet that it has ''options'' and is not a stripped-down, bare-bones model. The same with Peerless transaxles -- the ones I offer have ''options'' to make them perform their intended jobs better. That isn't to say the ''stripped-down'' transaxle is inadequate for the job -- it just isn't the equivalent of the one with options. Would you expect Peerless to voluntarily add heavy-duty options to transaxles on the AYP/Sears order line just so they don't have future complaints? When you do a service job on a transaxle, do YOU upgrade and install options at your expense just so the customer won't have to return to your shop for another 20 years? Of course not!

3. '''CHEAP' as possible''? Again, having viewed what goes into Peerless transaxles -- the engineering as well as the manufacturing -- AND also being one ''of us who work on these'', not only ''after the warranties are done'' but before installation and during the warranty periods as well, I would substitute ''inexpensive'' for ''cheap.'' Like you said, Peerless builds them to Sears' specs and if Sears specifies an inexpensive, light-duty transaxle, the customer has no beef with Tecumseh -- Sears ''should ultimately be held responsible.''

After studying your Reply, I get the impression you work for Sears and are trying to defend them. If so, that's understandable, but it doesn't change the fact that if Sears doesn't want post-warranty complaints, they need to specify ''optioned'' transaxles to start with.

Sincerely,
Rodney

Thanks, Paul.