d160 trans fluid?

[bmrdoc 0]

Have been searching and cannot definitive answer of which trans fluid and filling/checking procedure for a 1980 d160 auto hydrostatic trans. any help is appreciated

[Trouty56 567]

More than likely motor oil....10-30....some guys use synthetic. I haven't yet. There is a dipstick on the top of the tranny to check the level. That is where you fill/add oil. There is a plug on the bottom to drain it. They changed to motor oil from ATF in '73 but to be sure it is oil check the color...yellow - oil...red - ATF (dexron II). Oil filter is on the right side behind the rear wheel...most guys use a Wheel Horse filter....some NAPA...but not just a regular filter....use a hydraulic filter. Don't know the part numbers off hand but you can search the site or another member will chime in soon....

NAPA 1410

[bmrdoc 0]

when u say the dipstick, are you referring to the square plug? how do you judge if there is enought fluid?

[tommyg 152]

You can find the dipstick by looking at the back of the tractor. It should sit slightly right of center of the transmission in a tube about 5" long. The plug is underneath. Assuming that your tractor is using regular oil, you can use either 10W30 or 10W40. Synthetic or other wise, I'm not sure it matters much. Ditto Bob on the filter. Use a genuine Toro/Wheelhorse filter. Filling the transmission is done through the dipstick tube. I bought a funnel with a long hose attached and filled it with the funnel sitting above the fuel tank. I'd let you borrow it, but my dog just chewed it to smithereens! Stupid dog.

[bmrdoc 0]

i must be blind the only thing i see right of center is a square plug on top. no tube.

[rmaynard 15,609]

Here is a drawing of your transaxle with the dipstick.

If it is not present, then maybe it has been removed and replaced with a plug, or you may have a plug with a dipstick attached to the underside.

[bmrdoc 0]

that is where the plug is.. Now call me crazy but I would think this is for differential fluid not trans fluid for the hydromatic. Is there a fill or check point seperate for hydro?

[rmaynard 15,609]

I only have a Charger 10 hydro, but the only fill for the fluid is the transaxle.

[Trouty56 567]

The tranny is the reservoir for the hydraulic system. The pump is in the front behind the engine but the fluid reservoir is the tranny.

sent via mobile....

[tommyg 152]

It's very possible that the previous owner (PO) removed it for some reason. Perhaps the dipstick got lost and he needed to plug it somehow. The tube itself (#34 in Maynard's drawing) is really nothing but a piece of pipe similar to galvanized water pipe that threads into the tranny. That should be easy to rectify. It's the dipstick that might be a bit harder to come by. For the time being, if you would like, I could get some measurements so that you know how far into the tranny the dipstick goes to read "full". Then at least you could get an idea of your oil level.

You can't think of your hydro system like an automobile. While there is indeed a differential, it's inside the tranny. Oil is moved through the tranny to the hydro motor to the valves and cylinders to the charge pump and back to the tranny again. (maybe not in that order). While a typical differential is a sealed unit with just a plug for filling and draining with oil that pretty much just sits there, on a hydro, the oil is more like the lifeblood of a circulatory system that carries "blood" (oil) to the organs and back to the "heart" (charge pump) again. BTW, that's about all I remember from college biology. :)

[pfrederi 17,885]

Until you get a dipstick just fill it to about 1" from the top of the trans axle case. Run it for a bit operate the hydraulics and check it again.