Abstract: A gear motor has a hydraulic oil drain path through bearings which support the spindle and mounted mower blade. The drain path is through two plain bearings and two opposed thrust bearings to a low pressure port located adjacent to the spindle shaft seal. A drain from the low pressure port through one of the hydraulic motor shafts leads to the case drain. A check valve prevents fluid from leaking through the drain should the spindle shaft seal fail. The plain bearings and thrust bearings have a press fit insert in the shape of a cylinder with a planar lip. The cylinder portion of the insert forms the plain bearing and the planar lip of the insert forms the thrust bearings. The bearing insert cylindrical surfaces have two helical grooves which extend across the cylindrical surface to conduct lubricating oil through the plain bearings. The grooves in the plain bearings communicate with similar grooves in the thrust bearings.