Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box?

   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #1  
easygo

easygo

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Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
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Location
Maine
Tractor
Kubota B7800
I just got a used Bush Hog FTH720 that seems like was used but not much. The thing is that the previous owner has not used it about 2-3 years and the lower seal in the gear box gave up and leaked out all the oil. I know that there was oil in there because the top of the deck was smelling like gear oil and covered with it.
So. Now I have a gently used mower with a bad lower seal.
My options are:
#1 Should I fill the gear box with 00 grease and leave the seal as it is?

#2 Should I replace the seal and then fill it with 00 grease ?

#3 Should I replace the seal and put 80-90 gear oil in there?

I read a good bit about it here, but I'd like to throw this out there for discussion to help me make up my mind.
Thank you.
 
   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #2  
You should replace the seal and refill with the recommended type of gear oil.

If you do not replace the seal and use the mower- you will likely have gently used mower with a bad gear box.

I'am not aware of any gear box- that uses straight grease???

(Grease is used for bearings-Oil is used for gears)not neccesarily so-My Bad- see thread below
 
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   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #3  
Repair and fill with 80W90.

Chris
 
   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #4  
A 1955 JD bush hog was given to me 10 years ago the bottom seal was out and the owner had packed it with wheel bearing grease. I make gravel out of rocks on my place with it ( more rocks than grass) I replace the blades every year they wear down to about 6 in long, and repack the gear box and I havent had any problems with the gear box. Just the way I do things real cheep. B in law used it this year and broke a blade bolt an some rocks we found the blade 150ft from the rocks. replaced the bolt and it works as good as new.
 
   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
The mower I have is in very good shape not counting the effects of several years of outside storage and I want to use it for years to come.
I guess I will replace the seal to be sure that it will not leak. The thing is that I read a lot here about people putting 00 grease into gear boxes of mowers, bush hogs and tillers and use them with no problems. Someone even mentioned putting in a mixture of lithium-based grease and gear oil. How often should I expect to have to replace that seal?
Just like Travis Potter posted about his cutter with grease. The flying brush hog blade however sounded very scary and lethal.
 
   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #6  
I have not seen the threads with guys putting grease in their gearboxes- to me that does not make sense- when you can replace a seal and you are good to go-
 
   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #8  
   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #9  
My PTO 20KW - 40KW surge generator has a slow leak in the gear box and the generator place is asking $300.00 to replace the gasket and it is more than I can do myself so what would be wrong with me adding the 00 grease or a combination of grease and gear oil..I tried the Lucas stop leak but since the lube just sits at the bottom it really does not circulate enough to work on the gasket leak..this generator sat unused for a long time before I bought it and it works fine except for the small leak...leaks about 1 pint over 2 months. I have read the above threads and searched but am still wondering..any thoughts ? I just don't see what it would hurt..the gears get lubricated in any case whether grease of gear oil..right ?
 
   / Bush Hog finish mower oil or grease in gear box? #10  
I bought a brand new Rhino 172 bush hog last May and it was delivered with 00 grease in the gear box.
 
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