Peerless 1200 Series Transaxle Durability?

I know you guys are very knowledgeable with the Peerless transaxles here, so I was wondering if you could help me out. I'm working on a project which is a 3 wheel infield groomer/sand bunker rake (which I'll explain and show pictures in a future thread). It came with 21" tires , an 8HP Kohler engine, and a Peerless 3 speed 1400 series transaxle (which is in the same family of transaxles as the 1200 series) and power is supplied through Comet CVT belt driven torque converters like on a snowmobile or golf cart.

I'm putting an 18HP Briggs Vanguard in it along with 22" tires and I was wondering how durable the 1200, 1300, 1400, etc series of Peerless transaxles are before I start sinking money into the project. Will it handle the torque of the 18HP Briggs Vanguard without issues? Thanks in advance!

Not familiar with a 1400 series nor do I see it on their manual.  1200 is a pretty stout unit and should handle 18hp just fine.  1300's while still stout I believe were hydrostatic.


Oh.. and welcome to ATLTF.

To be fair there isn't a really bad peerless transaxle.
In general these are really good transaxles.

Some modifications could be available to have the transaxle running better however

I have a 1200 in my 1969 MTD Seven Hundred, 3 speed w\reverse. It feels pretty solid and shifts nice.

Thank you for all the replies so far.  You guys are great, and I appreciate all the knowledge you share.  Sorry for my mix up on the numbers.  I've been reading so many Peerless manuals lately and the numbers all get mixed up in my head.  I meant the 1200, 1400, 1700, and 2000 series, as seen in section 4-1 of this manuals of the website Isavetractors (I couldn't post the link because I'm a new member).

So far the only thing I've seen that uses the 1400 series Peerless is this 3 wheel bunker rake/infield groomer that I have and the Wheel Horse 800 Special tractor.  

Based on your feedback that you guys were kind enough to provide, I'm feeling good about proceeding with this build.  I hope you guys don't mind if I share more about it when I do it.  It's not really a lawn/garden tractor, but it shares lots of drive components.  Thanks again and even more replies would be great as well.

https://isavetractors.com/content/Peerless%20Mechanics%20Manual.pdf

Not seen that manual.  I'd say definitely a stout unit.  Looks to be a 2300 with 3 forward gears instead of 4.

I've only seen:

Tecumseh / Peerless Motion Drive System (wfmfiles.com)

Thanks for the heads up!

Wheel horse 800 is more than welcome, beautiful little things imho

MightyRaze wrote:

Not seen that manual.  I'd say definitely a stout unit.  Looks to be a 2300 with 3 forward gears instead of 4.



Thanks for the heads up!

One of the Peerless manuals said the 2300 transaxle is for use with ground engaging implements (plows, cultivators, etc) and the 1200, 1400, etc aren't) even though I too would say they look very similar, just that the 2300 has an extra gear like you stated.  I'm going to go ahead and continue with the build and freshen up the 1400 with some good synthetic gear lube and any seals where it might need them. It seems like a good transaxle and it has a cast iron case, so I'm hoping 18HP (maybe 20 if I go with a 2bbl carb and intake) will be no problem for it.  Thanks again for the welcome and all of the excellent advice.