Lagersolut 661 #1 Posted August 24 My tractors are garage kept - I was always taught if the gear oil has no water and a good color you're good - so my transmission oil stays in for quite a few years . All my units are 8 speeds - I know stored in a unheated shed or barn with a wide range of temp fluctuations could draw condensation without water going through a worn shifter boot Thoughts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,170 #3 Posted August 24 IMO, gear oil with no additives has a long life if it is clean. If you have any indication it may have been contaminated with water or metal chips from a noisy bearing or gear. drain , flush, and refill. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,557 #4 Posted August 24 (edited) Thats how I do it... check routinely and change only if visually cloudy due to water... My machines get maybe 10-15 hours / year max. Garage kept. Never run in the rain. Ain't flying fighter jets... Edited August 24 by SylvanLakeWH 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lagersolut 661 #5 Posted August 24 12 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said: IMO, gear oil with no additives has a long life if it is clean. If you have any indication it may have been contaminated with water or metal chips from a noisy bearing or gear. drain , flush, and refill. I pull my dipsticks to check level and color - my 315 has the same factory oil in it - 19 years - color always looks good like it just came out it’ll the bottle - my 416 going on 5 since being rebuilt - I’m fishing around to see if anyone has a general consensus if and when the gear oil should be dropped and changed …. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,625 #6 Posted August 24 @Lagersolut regularly pull my dip sticks , clean and full , once eliminating shift boot issues , mine have been , years since drainage , have had axel seals fail , that makes for a fluid change , my shift boots all have a chassis grease INSIDE the lower edge allowing it to effortlessly slide over the irregularities on the sop of the trans , another detail for longer life , is to put a TYE WRAP , JUST ABOVE a full fit of the boot , have had zero problems , also regularly look things over for any problems . since going to LUCAS climbing gear lube , no noise or shifting issues at all . have a regular tank top off , inspection , check trans , STABIL FUEL ADDITIVE , check engine oil , maybe something itself , plan on a modification fix . never put it back to fail as it was . pete 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,739 #7 Posted August 24 8-10 years Think 8 was in a WH publication My L-107 that father bought in may 1967 is still doing just fine in weekly service running on 40 wt motor oil changed a couple three times...but she has probably only been outside over night 2-3 times in 57 years and never in the rain 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,318 #8 Posted August 24 (edited) 4 hours ago, Lagersolut said: see if anyone has a general consensus if and when the gear oil should be dropped and changed If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Unless a leak or mechanical noise dictates draining & dis-assembly, if it is clean & JUST oil, run it. A mess of milky oil means it is contaminated with water, time to drain, flush, new boot and a drain & refill. Edited August 24 by ri702bill 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,472 #9 Posted August 25 I've recently learned that ENGINE oil should NEVER be more than 5 years old because of the anti foaming agents falling out of suspension. I'd be prone to following the same rule for gear oil. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,305 #10 Posted August 25 6 hours ago, ebinmaine said: I've recently learned that ENGINE oil should NEVER be more than 5 years old because of the anti foaming agents falling out of suspension. I'd be prone to following the same rule for gear oil. Here is video addresses the old oil topic. I was surprised at how much effect time had on motor oil and especially gear oil. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,472 #11 Posted August 25 30 minutes ago, lynnmor said: Here is video addresses the old oil topic. I was surprised at how much effect time had on motor oil and especially gear oil. Thanks for posting that. Everyone that maintains a machine should watch it. Very enlightening. Air (foam) is NOT a lubricant. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lagersolut 661 #12 Posted August 25 I have quarts of Lucas 80/90 gear oil left over from doing the Troy Built horse last year - gonna tilt the front of the 315 up and change it - might do the 416 too since I was inside it 4-5 years ago to fix a ticking that turned out to be a faulty gear - 315 has little over 600 hours on it 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Bill 633 845 #13 Posted August 27 On 8/24/2024 at 1:56 PM, peter lena said: since going to LUCAS climbing gear lube What Lucas product are you referring to? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,625 #14 Posted August 27 @Wild Bill 633https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-10043-80W-90-Heavy-Duty/dp/B0007ZFTOA/ref=asc_df_B0007ZFTOA/?tag=hyprod- climbing oil additives , assist in spray and fling lubrication , realise this not a space shuttle problem . however since going to lucas gear oil in my 3 horses , they are very smooth / quiet in operation . regularly check my tractors over after every use , fuel top off , STA BIL added to my tank 1 oz , check trans oil and engine oil . their greases , have eliminated bearing failure for me , all my roller bearings , with wide rubber side shields , for easy removal , clean out original lube .brake cleaner flush , repack , no noise or whyining , mower deck moves by hand , at PTO down belt to mule drive . my pto lever very easily / smoothly engages attachments'. just my experience , with repetitive issue , track it down / eliminate it . new shift boot , pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
