I have a 1990 CIH 3309 since new, which a is the 5209 painted red. Mine has the one piece shaft in it which I have changed due to wear on it. You get wear between the hex shaft and hex bore on the pinon gears. The gear bore doesn't wear its the shaft it seems. I looked at a replacement gear set and the pinon shaft bore has the hex part cut through the whole width, where as mine are only a couple inches. With all that said over the years I've change the shaft twice. Takes about a couple hrs and the shaft is around a $100. All my gear sets are original as the all the discs. No chains or belts on the machine and the crimper roller bearings are geasable.
The cutter bar I check in the off season every winter. It takes type 0 gear box grease. Its kind of a pain to clean and fill but at least then I know I'm good for the summer. Years ago when I didn't cut as much I checked it every 2nd year.
The unit works great it cuts day in and day out. This one I think should go another 15 years no problem. They last as long as you don't try and level out old hay fields that are full of moles. While driving 12 mph with a 150HP tractor pulling it!!! I run mine with a 95hp tractor at mostly 8mph max speed.
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