Gear oil change on Brush Hog necessary?

[Farmwithjunk]

With a fulltime mowing business, some of my mowers log more hours in a season than what most people accumulate in a lifetime. One mower in particular accumulated over 1400 hours last summer. It's still got the same oil in it again this year. I'd suggest checking the oil every so often. Make sure it's not leaking, or, check for contamination. SOME mower gearboxes tend to draw condensation. (Or leak water in around the gearbox vent. A good idea to watch for signs of moisture if you frequently pressure wash your mower) If you detect any signs of water contamination, use a siphon to draw out all the old oil and replace it. MOST mower gearboxes will require 90wt gear oil. (or a multi-weight gear oil)

[pitt_md]

Originally Posted by Tractorbeam

Do any brands even have a drain plug on the gearbox?

Good point. I kinda wondered how would go about getting the old stuff out. I thought that when I use my FEL to inspect the blades I would tilt it up side down and let it drain into a bucket. I have a woods and I don't think it has drain on it.

[daBear]

Originally Posted by Tractorbeam

Do any brands even have a drain plug on the gearbox?

I have never seen one and my bush hog RDTH-72 finish mower or the bush hog rotary cutter I used to own do not. The gear box holds about 5 dollars worth of synthetic oil and a new box cost a couple of hundred. So I plan to change my oil once a year whether it needs it or not. Sounds like cheap insurance to me.

[RobJ]

Originally Posted by pitt_md

Good point. I kinda wondered how would go about getting the old stuff out. I thought that when I use my FEL to inspect the blades I would tilt it up side down and let it drain into a bucket. I have a woods and I don't think it has drain on it.

I had to look, my TSC/King Kutter 4' does not. I just took out both of the plugs and tipped it over.

Funny, my Snapper 21" walk behind mower (2003 model), doesn't have a drain on the oil either. Has the crappy Briggs 6.5hp OHV motor. Just dump it out the filler tube.

[Soundguy]

Originally Posted by 3RRL

If you bought it used it sure wouldn't hurt to change the oil just for the self satisfaction that you know you did it. After that, just keep an eye on it before you use it to make sure it's got oil in it.

I agree with 3rrl.. If it's a 'new to you' machine.. why not change the oil, and then monitor it from there.. perhaps changine every few years as needed.. etc.

soundguy

[thatguy]

Originally Posted by cisco

<deleted text> Have no clue how one would get the oil out - maybe by siphoning - unless one pulled the gear housing off.

I could not get the fill or check plug out of my JD LX4, so I just ended up taking the top of the gear box off.. that made it much easier to see the oil level and get the oil out.

Brian

[Soundguy]

Originally Posted by Tractorbeam

Do any brands even have a drain plug on the gearbox?

I've seen some that one of the bottom bolts holding the gear box to the deck went up into the gear box.

soundguy

[xlr82v2]

Originally Posted by Tractorbeam

Do any brands even have a drain plug on the gearbox?

My Rhino SE5 doesn't have one... You have to take the input shaft out to get the oil out... unless you can remove the bottom bolt... haven't tried it to find out.

[Doc_Bob]

Change it. If you have to fix it, you will have to replace the gearbox oil.

Bob

[Glowplug]

Originally Posted by Tractorbeam

Do any brands even have a drain plug on the gearbox?

That's what I have wondered for a long time. I know my Rhino doesn't. I would like to remove the oil and actually replace it with Type 00 grease.