Gear oil change on Brush Hog necessary?

[acohen100]

I bought a used 42" Brush Hog Squealer last year. I routinely service everything in the spring. I checked the manual and it does not recommend changing the gear box oil at all. It doesn't even suggest a grade. What's the deal? Is it in fact unnecessary to change the oil on these things?

[RobJ]

I'd change it every few years. I changed it when I bought it...used and haven't hit a "few" yet. Still has oil and it doesn't leak.

[RoyJackson]

I'll top it off...if I ever have to...same applies to the finishing mower.
You do want to grease the axles and pivots though.

[thatguy]

I would atleast check it regularly.. I just checked mine this spring and IM lucky I did.. The vent valve on top didnt work correctly so it had been blowing the gear oil out of the seals..

After getting a new valve the oil level is constant (hence no other leaks). BUT when i checked the oil it was cloudy from what I assume is condensation that built up inside of it and wasin the bottom of the box.. I drained/refilled 2x and finally the oil didnt get cloudy

brian

[Bird]

It would just sorta seem logical to change the gear oil periodically, but I've never personally known of anyone doing it. I had a tiller, a finish mower, and I've had two brush hogs, and I tried to remember to check the oil level once a year, but in 7.5 years none of them ever needed any oil added and I never changed the oil.

[Tractorbeam]

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

[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.

[RalphVa]

I'd only change it if the bottom seal starts slinging oil. This is what I follow on my cars and pickup, too. Have NEVER changed transmission and gear oil in the VW and Toyota. Changed them on the Benz at around 180k miles when the seals started slinging a tad of oil. The change stopped the slinging. About 5 or 6 years later and about 205k miles, changed them again.

Changed transmission oil on my Gravely when one axle seal started to leak. The change almost stopped the leakage.

May have the Toyota's changed this year when it goes in for the state inspection. It is 12 years old and has 149k miles on it.

Ralph

[cisco]

Nope. I check the oil a couple of times a year (when I pull the blades for sharpening), but have yet to add oil, and I've had 7 years on 2 different brush cutters (Woods). Have no clue how one would get the oil out - maybe by siphoning - unless one pulled the gear housing off.

[browns40]

I tell ya cohen...

I am a maintenance freak: have the hand pump and a bucket of gear oil to change out the gear oil when it starts getting to the point of needing it... expected I'd need to fill the KK tiller when it came in, but the good folks at Agri-Supply had it covered.

They've gathered dust for a year now, and from what I see will likely sit gathering more until I really see a loss, change in viscosity, or contamination.

I feel I should change it as a preventative measure; it makes no sense to change good oil though!

Check the level & feel of it prior to using it, check the level & color after you use it... if it's still good, run it.