Oil & Fuel 3x20 Front Axle Oil

Spudland_Dave · Oct 13, 2009

Doing my 100 hr change of transmission oil, etc...Question on the front axle...

Conventional wisdom on gearboxes or differentials is Gear oil is best...I know JD lists the reccomended fluid as Low-Viscosity HyGard as the oil of choice...but IMO isnt that a little thin for a "Gearbox"....
I dont want to deviate from JD Specs, but I'm almost thinking of using the Normal Viscosity HyGard for the front end only....Still approved and a little "thicker"...

I'm in Maine so cold weather operation is a given... Any aspect of this i'm not thinking about?

jeffster · Oct 13, 2009

I wondered the same thing. I went ahead and used the recommended LowVis Hy-Gard, but I have regular JD20C here as well. Would be interested to see what others say about this. I tell you what though, I paid $33 for a 5 gallon bucket of JD20C fluid from NAPA (used this for years) versus the $80 for the same amount of LowVis Hy-Gard. Ugh.

Cocre · Oct 13, 2009

I just completed the 400 hour service on the front axle of my JD 3320. I used the Lo-Vis stuff per my local dealer. I am in the deep south, so for sure you should be OK in Maine.

sunnyside360 · Oct 13, 2009

I use Low-Viscosity HyGard in the front drive/axles on both my 3720 and 4320 tractors as recommended by the Owners Manual. Haven't had an issue yet.

WH401 · Oct 13, 2009

When I changed the hydro system and front axle a few weeks ago I replaced the fluid with Low-Viscosity Hygard. So far I have noticed that the axle seems slightly easier to engage, other than that anyone wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

nmu98 · Oct 14, 2009

I have thought about going to gear oil. I would think a good syn 75/90 would be better than the hydro oil...... But the warranty issue if it ever came up....

I do not use hydro oil in the front of any of our large tractors!

How did the Trans oil change go Dave. How many gallons did you get out? I plan on doing mine this weekend.

OrangeJbird · Oct 14, 2009

Low viscosity doesn't necessarily mean lower "lubricity" ie. film strength or whatever other terms may be used.

Spudland_Dave · Oct 14, 2009

nmu98 said:
I have thought about going to gear oil. I would think a good syn 75/90 would be better than the hydro oil...... But the warranty issue if it ever came up.....

Exactly my problem...Still got warranty on her too...

nmu98 said:
I do not use hydro oil in the front of any of our large tractors!

Neither do we! we put gear oil in pretty much every other similar "device" (Truck rear ends, tractor front ends, etc)... What does Deere reccomend on the 5x and larger series? It just doesnt feel right...Which is why I was thinking about the regular viscosity HyGard..BUT...OrangeJbird has a point, thicker doesnt always mean "better"..

nmu98 said:
How did the Trans oil change go Dave. How many gallons did you get out? I plan on doing mine this weekend.

Trans oil went great...un-eventful really. Used some 3.5 Gallon buckets which worked PERFECTLY for catching fluid...also got some lids for them so I can re-use this oil in things like a Wood Splitter, etc......filled 2 buckets with the drain plug and my catch pan caught another 2 quarts or so from the Suction filter...
Speaking of suction filter...seen some posts on here with flecks of metal in the suction area, etc... I looked and looked and there was NOTHING in the way of large specks/flakes of metal...

JD Specs say 6.8 Gallons but I feel I took out more and put more in...if i had to guess I'd say 7.5 Gallons came out and 7.5 went back in...Hard to tell because I used 5 Gal pails of oil... the remaining pail feels about 1/2 full... and my Dipstick is spot on.

nmu98 · Oct 15, 2009

Thanks Dave. I was thinking about this last night and I did put the low vis stuff in the gator axles last year. I am not sold on this stuff, but I am sure it works if JD has us use it.

I do not have 3.5 gallon pails. I am going to see if I can find some at HD or lowes. Its getting cold here now and I can tell the fluid in the tractor is too thick. Last year the front end loader was jerking when it was cold... That cannot be good for stuff... So...

Thanks again.

Spudland_Dave · Oct 15, 2009

nmu98 said:
I do not have 3.5 gallon pails. I am going to see if I can find some at HD or lowes. Its getting cold here now and I can tell the fluid in the tractor is too thick. Last year the front end loader was jerking when it was cold... That cannot be good for stuff... So...

Havent seen them (but havent really looked) at HD or Lowes....I got mine at Fastenal...along with some brand new lids...I wanted to keep the used oil clean & uncontaminated for future use in things that dont cost 30k..LOL.
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=0603053&ucst=t