Gear ratios, 2nd gear
 

I know I read somewhere here that there are several different sized gears that were used for 2nd gear on the manual trans. models. My QL 1000 has a 2nd gear that is so close to 1st, that I can barely tell the difference.

My friend has a 73, and his 2nd is nearly as fast as his 3rd, and he has to mow in 1st gear. It's like I have two 1sts and a 3rd, and he has a 1st and two 3rds. While I'd rather have my situation than his, I don't understand why they didn't just use a 2nd gear that was more in between the other two.

I'm going to measure out a section on the street, and time it in 1st & 2nd, and convert it to MPH just to see the difference. I did see a MPH chart somewhere, but I think I must have the lowest 2nd gear they made.

What do you guys think about it, and what 2nd gear ratio do most of you have?

Josh P

i dont know, but i have a 61 original, and mine is the same way. i think i have 2 1st gears and one 3rd gear. :American Flag 1:

My 1200 has a low 2nd also. My 104 rear has a more balanced 2nd. Ill be putting that rear in the 1200 sometime.

The 2nd gear in my 128 is pretty good. For mowing it is about half a gear too slow, LOL if that makes sense. 3rd is too fast, 2nd a little too slow for my yard.

The first gear in most all gear drive cubs is 13 teeth, The early tractors had a 16 tooth 2nd . Later they went to a 19 tooth 2nd, and some had a 17 tooth 2nd, Usually the lower horsepower engines had a lower 2nd gear. 3rd gear is a 26 tooth gear. It takes a little more power to mow with a 19 tooth 2nd gear. All the 1200s that I worked on had a 17 tooth 2nd, 108/128/102/122 had a 19 tooth 2nd, and the early 100/70/72/73s where a 16 tooth. Anything less than 14hp I would want the lower gears. But I prefer to mow with a hydro.