Author Topic: Peerless 820 Transaxles -- Models, Ratios, Gears, Axles, Shift Keys, Lubricant  (Read 7882 times)

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Offline RoMow

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Peerless 820 Transaxle Models, Ratios, Gears and Axles

   If you are planning on using a Peerless 820 transaxle and are lucky enough to find a good used one that hasn't been opened up and/or had the ID tag removed, the following chart will tell you the shift-gear ratios of all 820 transaxles.  With one noted exception, these ratios were compiled from the Peerless 820 Illustrated Parts Lists (IPLs). 
   In the Input column, 'A'-Input refers to a transaxle mounted with the input pulley, shifter and brake Ahead of the axle ("Axle-Rearward").  'B'-Input refers to a transaxle mounted with the input pulley, shifter and brake mounted Behind the axle ("Axle-Forward").  Incorrectly mounting a transaxle will result in multiple Reverse speeds and one Forward speed. 

Model         1st     2nd     3rd    4th    5th    6th     Rev.   Input      OEM
820-001**   4.55   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61             1.40      A           Murray
820-002       3.08   2.33   1.78   1.50   1.00   0.67   2.00      B           Ferris
820-003**   3.08   2.33   1.50   1.00   0.79             2.00      B           Scag
820-004       3.08   2.33   1.50   1.00   0.79             2.00      A           MetalCraft   
820-005       3.08   1.78   1.50   1.17   1.00   0.79   2.00      B           Ransomes

820-006       2.33   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61             2.00      A           (Export)   
820-007       2.33   1.78   1.50   1.17   1.00   0.67   2.00      B           Ferris
820-008       3.08   2.13   1.50   1.00   0.79             2.00      B           Bunton
820-009       2.33   1.50                                         2.00      A           Aeroil
820-010       4.55   3.08   2.33   1.50   0.79   0.61   2.00      A           FHP/AYP/Sears

820-014       3.08   2.13   1.50   1.00   0.67            2.00      A
820-015       2.33   1.78   1.50   1.17   1.00   0.79   2.00      B           Ferris
820-016       4.55   2.33   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61   2.00      A           Husq/Sears
820-017                                                                            A           Snapper
  Snapper     2.33   1.17   1.00   0.79   0.61            2.00      
  Peerless     2.33   1.50   1.17   1.00   0.61            2.00      

820-018       4.55   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61            2.00      A           Murray
820-019       3.08   1.78   1.50   1.00   0.79            1.40      A   
820-020       3.08   1.78   1.50   1.00   0.79            2.00      B
820-021       4.55   2.33   1.50   1.17   1.00   0.79   1.40      A
820-022       4.55   2.13   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61   1.40      A           Murray

820-023       4.55   2.33   1.50   1.17   0.61            1.40      A           Greencare   
820-024       4.55   2.33   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61   1.40      A           Toro
820-025       4.55   3.08   2.13   1.50   1.17   0.79   2.00      A           Tecumseh
820-026       3.08   1.78   1.17   1.00   0.79            2.00       A           Garden Way
820-027       4.55   2.13   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61   1.40      A           Smithco West

820-028       4.55   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61            2.00      A           Murray
820-029       4.55   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61            2.00      A           Murray
820-030       4.55   2.13   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61   1.40      B
820-031       3.08   1.78   1.17   1.00   0.79            2.00      A
820-032       4.55   2.33   1.50   0.79                     2.00      B

820-033       4.55   2.33   1.50   1.17   1.00   0.61   1.40      A          Toro/Lawn Boy
820-034**   4.55   3.08   2.33   2.13                      1.00      B           Deere
820-035       3.00   2.07   1.50   1.225  0.90  0.67   1.40      A           Deere Sabre
820-036       1.78   1.17   0.61                                1.40      A
820-037       4.55   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61            2.00      A           Murray

820-038       3.08   1.78   1.17   1.00   0.79            2.00      A
820-039       3.08   0.67                                         1.40      A
820-040**   4.55   2.33   1.50   1.00   0.79   0.61   2.00      A           Husq/Sears
820-041       4.55   2.13   1.50                               1.40      B

Notes:
A.  Most 820s were 5- or 6-speed transaxles.  However, there are a couple of 2-speeds (820-009 & 820-039), two 3-speeds, so far (820-036 & 820-041) and two 4-speeds (820-032 & 820-034).
B.  Letter suffixes behind the transaxle Model and Spec Number will have the same ratios as the unlettered base model.  For example, an 820-016D has the same ratios as a plain 820-016.
C.  I tried to supply as many OEMs as possible.   The "OEM" listing shows for whom the transaxles were made.  Therefore, if someone tries to sell you "an original, good condition 6-speed 820-016 off a Murray rider," beware, since Murrays didn't come with the 820-016.
D.  The OEM designation also includes their "badge-engineered" models.  For example, Toro (820-024) can also include Lawn-Boy; Murray can include Scotts; Ferris = Simplicity; Garden Way = Troy-Bilt, etc.
E.  The 820-035 transaxle parts breakdown showed MST 200-Series gear ratios and part numbers for the gears.  I find no reason to doubt this, but until recently, I was not aware that the MST 200-Series gears would interchange with the 820 gears.  Since this is the case, then the 820 gears should work in the MST 200s and, by extension, the 700-Series transmissions. 
F.  The Snapper IPL shows different Forward ratios for the 820-017 than the Peerless IPL. I have two original NOS 820-017 transaxles that came from a Snapper distributor, and these have the Peerless ratios.  I haven't yet been able to learn why there is a discrepancy.
G.  The Reverse Ratio for the 820-034 is a "high-speed" Reverse, if you want to get out of trouble as fast as you got into it. 
** H.  Transaxles with ** after the Model-Spec Number are still available new.  The 820-003B transaxle is now obsolete from Peerless and remaining inventory is limited to what is on distributors' and dealers' shelves.
I.  The 820-017 mounts "upside-down."  The input shaft is on the bottom, but the shift shaft is still top-mounted. 
J.  Special axle-spider gears are available to lock the differential without damaging or welding the original gears.   


All Possible Peerless 820 Transaxle Gear-Speed Ratios

    All Peerless 820-Series transaxles have a non-changeable bevel-gear input ratio of 2.54:1 (13T:33T).  Final-drive ratios can be 8.02:1, 5.61:1, 3.44:1 or 2.31:1. 
    The 8.02:1 final-drive ratio is standard stock for all transaxles except the obsolete 820-017 which has a 2.31:1 final-drive ratio and a 1-piece live axle.  There are 5.61:1 and 3.44:1 final-drive gearsets available which can be used with the 820 transaxle for faster axle speeds without increasing the input-shaft speed.
    The ratios shown in this list are the selectable Forward gear ratios for the various cluster-gear speeds.  Ratios are listed from low to high gear.  Current gear-pair prices are also given.

Ratio      No. of teeth   Part Numbers         Current new gear-pair price
4.55:1        9:41      776291:778216A      $ 176.00 (9T w/ctrshaft)
3.08:1      12:37      778211:778207A      $   65.00
2.33:1      15:35      778199:778206A      $   82.00
2.13:1      16:34      778259:778258A      $   70.00
1.78:1      18:32      778240:778239A      $ 146.00
1.50:1      20:30      778200:778205A      $   81.00
1.17:1      23:27      778249:778250        $   86.00 (820-010C only)
                              778257:778256A      $   65.00 (others)
1:1          25:25      778201:778204A      $   70.00
0.79:1      28:22      778202:778203A      $   75.00
0.67:1      30:20      778222:778219        $   83.00
0.61:1      31:19      778208:778273        $   73.00
Gear-free Countershaft      776276A         $   23.00

   Reverse is done with sprockets and chain. Reverse has five options, using available sprockets:
2.00:1        9:18
1.80:1*    10:18
1.56:1*      9:14
1.40:1      10:14 
1.00:1      14:14
    *Will require custom-made chain. Check for availability.      


Peerless 820 Axles

Part Nr.     Length - Overall         - Exposed                  Status  (2020-2021) 

774812     9-7/32"                                                           Obsolete
774973   11-13/32"                                                         Obsolete 20120101 
774937   11-17/32"                                                         Obsolete 
774907   11-21/32" (29.6 cm)                                          $ 74.00 
774796A   12-1/4" (31.1 cm)                                            $ 109.00 
774832 (L)   12-5/16" (31.3 cm)   4-11/16" (11.9 cm)       $ 70.00   
774958   12-9/16" (31.9 cm)                                           $ 65.00 
774826   13"                                                                   Obsolete   
774813   13-3/32"                                                           Obsolete
774960 (L)   13-9/32" (33.7 cm)   5-5/8" (14.3 cm)           $ 73.00
774856 (L)   14-5/16" (36.4 cm)   6-11/16" (17 cm)           $ 68.00 
774972   15-9/32"                                                           Obsolete 20160101 
774938 (L)   15-15/32" (39.3 cm)   7-13/16" (19.8 cm)     Obsolete 20170101 
774906   15-17/32" (39.4 cm)                                          $ 80.00
774831 (R)   16-3/16" (41.1 cm)     4-11/16" (11.9 cm)    $ 81.00   
774959   16-7/16"                                                           Obsolete
774970 (L)   16-31/32" (43.1 cm)   9-5/16" (23.7 cm)      Obsolete 20060801 
774961 (R)   17-3/16" (43.7 cm)     5-11/16" (14.4 cm)    $ 86.00 
774855 (R)   18-3/16" (46.2 cm)      6-11/16" (17 cm)      Obsolete 20190819 
775055   18-7/16" (46.8 cm)                                            $ 103.00 
775127   18-9/16" (47.1 cm) (Shallow/wide E-ring groove)    $ 60.00 
774915 (R)   22-1/16" (56.0 cm)    10-5/16" (26.2 cm)     Obsolete 20090109 
774971 (R)   22-7/32" (56.4 cm)     10-11/16" (27.1 cm)  Obsolete 2005;
                                                           Re-instated 2007; Obs. 20110819   
774823 (R)   23-13/16" (60.5 cm)    12-5/16" (31.3 cm)     Obsolete 20060801 
774795A (R)   26-1/4" (66.7 cm)     14-3/4" (37.5 cm)       $ 159.00 
774825 (R)   27" (68.6 cm)         15-1/2" (39.4 cm)           $ 104.00 


NOTES: 
1. Axles are interchangeable left-to-right; they will work on either side, provided there is sufficient length to extend past the axle housing. 
2. (L) and (R) following the Part Number denotes their normal usage, Left or Right, with the transaxle positioned with the axles closest to the viewer.
3. "Exposed Length" is the amount of axle that is beyond the axle housing, where spacers and wheel hubs would mount. 
4. All axles listed have snap-ring or E-ring grooves at the ends to hold the wheel hubs on.  They can also be drilled-&-tapped for hub-retention bolts, if desired.
5. Special axle-spider gears are available to lock the differential without damaging or welding the original gears. 


Shift-Key Update 

As of January 2023, the shift keys for the early 820s that have the small-diameter end on the shifter-brake shaft where the shift-key collar slides (1.00"), Shift Key P/Ns 792123A, 792131, 792138, and 799012, are now obsolete from the Peerless Gear factory.  The P/N 792180A Shift Keys for the late-model 820s with the large-diameter collar-slide end (1.125" / 1-1/8") will be the only 820 keys available. 

There are some 792123A and 799012 Shift Keys still in stock at some Tecumseh/Peerless Gear dealers, me included.  (The 799012 replaced the 792123A, 792131 and 792138.)  After these are gone, if you need 820 shift keys for a small-diameter-end shifter-brake shaft, you will have to replace the shifter-brake shaft with a late-model large-diameter shaft (776385 or 776386, depending on brake side) and corresponding 784352 collar and 792180A keys. 


Lubricant Update 

I contacted Peerless Gear a while back to ask about their former-Bentonite Grease that no longer has the word "Bentonite" on the grease bottle, and I received the following reply: 
"Bentonite Grease is almost non-existent today.  We have changed over to a Renolit LSTO EP Grease (synthetic).  You can use essentially any grease that has an NLGI Grade of 0." 
This is neither an "oil" nor the old Bentonite Grease as such, but it is more fluid than the old Bentonite.  I don't recommend using gear oil, no matter how thick, since the 820 shaft seals are O-rings, not lip-style seals, and will leak as the oil warms up.  The P/N 788067D Peerless Grease can be gotten from any Tecumseh/Lauson/Peerless Service Center, or if you have access to the other recommended grease, you can use it. 
If you want to contact Renolit to get what Peerless uses, their contact is: 
https://www.fuchs.com/us/en/product/product/112957-renolit-lsto-ep/ 


Respectfully,
Rodney Rom 
. . Peerless Gear Master Technician 
Rom's Reworks 
Butler, MO     
https://ROMs-Peerless-Transaxle-Supply.eCrater.com
"No matter how many material possessions or awards you may acquire in your lifetime, the only thing you will ever truly own is your reputation." (Age 73)

 

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