King Kutter tiller-oil change question

[Mean Jean]

Brand new tiller, barely 3 hours on in.
I checked oil level at side gear box, level is fine although the oil is milky.
Should I remove the entire cover (roughly 10 bolts) to get a complete drain?

 

[Wolfy]

I would drain it, then pour in a little new oil with the drain still open. When that drains install the plug, then fill it up.

 

[JC-jetro]

Brand new tiller, barely 3 hours on in.
I checked oil level at side gear box, level is fine although the oil is milky.
Should I remove the entire cover (roughly 10 bolts) to get a complete drain?

yes, absolutely, you don't want any moisture in there contaminating the new oil, watch the gasket condition. may be use a bot of blue RTV when you put it back. Mine is 3 years old and the oil still look good. Next time I change my oil, I'll be taking the cover off will drill out a low hole for oil drain with proper oil drain bolt.

JC<

 

[Mean Jean]

Thanks very much JC-jetro
I was confident that was the thing to do, just needed the reassurance.

 

[r8nger]

Don't use silicone, that stuff is outdated. Use gasket eliminator (562 I think) it works better and doesnt "slip" its in a red tube, apply very thin, hardens under pressure. Or just use a new oil free dry gasket.

 

[Mean Jean]

Cover is off and "oil" is draining.
Looks more link pudding than oil. Thick and yellow.

Re: gasket.
I will reinstall old gasket with a thin coat of red hi-temp gasket maker.

80W90 gear oil alright?


Thanks all for advise.

 

[Mean Jean]

The sludge

 

[Mean Jean]

More sludge.

The upper gear box also has the yellow sludge.
Draining it means I would need to remove a little plug.
All the contents will pour onto the top if the tiller.
Not enough room to slide a proper pan under it.
What a terrible design.
Will need to get greative on this one.

 

[638]

That "sludge" is grease, not oil with water in it. KK uses a flowable grease, 'oo' or 'ooo' I don't remember which.

 

[Mean Jean]

Great feedback, thanks.
I was thinking the seller used tapioca pudding!

Manual calls for gear oil GL5-85W 140 or triple zero grease.
I will leave the stuff in the top box, use 000 in the lower one.

Thanks again for the advise.