Transmission running hot: John Deere 5310-help

[JasG]

Hey guys,

Need your advice on this, my tractor's transmission runs hot with only 20-30 minutes running a bush hog. It has been doing this since I bought it used 2 years ago, I checked the screen, changed trans oil, and trans filter. As I only notice it after bush hogging I checked the PTO bearings today and they do not seem to be bad (not loose and spin freely). It will get so hot the trans will smoke. My hydraulic pump seem to have a very slow leak but not even enough to see it it drop.

Any idea on what to check is much appreciated!

* I did not use John deere Trans oil when I changed it, that have anything to do with it?

Thx,
Mike Taylor

Is your oil getting dark? Or do you smell anything like a burnt smell?

If not as Verticaltrx commented, it might be steam. Hydraulic oil I have read is made to absorb water, usually starts to turn color to a light green. It may very well be you are not working the tractor hard enough most of the time to get rid of any water from condensation. Then when you are working it hard the steam is what you are seeing.