Bushhog question

[IslandManMitch]

I bought a used Bushhog rotary cutter that appears to be in excellent condition. The man I bought it from said he had only used it twice to cut 5 acres and it looks like it. He said he had done nothing to it since buying it from dealer. My question it the oil level in the gear box. It has two plugs one small one low on the gear box and a large one high up. I thought you opened both plugs and filled into the large plug until it ran out the small plug. When I opened the large plug to check the oil level, it was full enough to ooze out. What is the oil level suppose to be? Thanks Mitch

 

[Ford960]

First thing that you need to do is go to the Bush Hog website and download a manual for your hog.

Bush Hog®

Most likely you'll find that the lower plug is the drain and upper plug is the fill. The oil level should be at the upper plug.

 

[thingy]

It shouldn't be clear full,maybe half full or a little more of correct gear lub,[expansion],seals gaskets,,so,if the one plug is on top of gear housing,,oil shouldn't be at that level,,thingy

 

[sandman2234]

I have always kept mine at the level of the upper fill plug. That should still leave some room for expansion, since it isn't all the way at the top. When checking it, I stick my little finger in the whole, and if I can reach gear lube, it is full enough.
David from jax

 

[thingy]

Whatever,,you ain't supposed to fill them more than about 3/4 full,,plugs and fill plugs don't know where you alls is,,just keep what I said in mind or you'll have a leak,,thingy

 

[IslandManMitch]

I have read the owners manual and it says "Gearbox, Check oil level by removing oil level check plug on rear of gearbox. Add EP80W-90 gear oil if necessary to bring oil to check plug hole. Capacity is 18 oz." It shows nothing to tell me which one of the plugs is the "oil level check plug". I looked it up in the parts break down list and it just says "pipe plug". I guess I will drain the thing and put 18 ozs in and see where it fills to?

 

[Soundguy]

Sure it told you. It's only logical to assume the fill plug is at a higher level than the check plug... There would be no reason to have the fill plug -under- the check plug.. thus making you force oil in under pressure, then have to plug it with oil running out.

Don't make this too complicated.. sometimes a cigar really is a cigar...

Soundguy

 

[RedRiver]

Yep, the lower plug is where the gear oil level should be.

 

[agford4x4]

yes, the lower one is correct.

Fill it up through the top hole, when oil oozes out of the lower hole, its full.

Put the plug in both and forget about it.

 

[N80]

I had the same experience. Used JD LX-6. Gear box filled to the brim. Owner's Manual reflects what everyone else has said, fill it up till it runs out the lower hole then plug it up. At this level my gear box is about 1/2 full and the pinion gear isn't even all the way under the gear oil. I added just a tad more for good measure.