Tiller Grease or oil for chain drive?

[cboyd10406]

I have a 30 year old tiller without a manufacturers plate. It is chain driven I assume because of the adjustment bolt on the side cover.

The question - the side cover has a cap on top that says oil. Right under it though is a sticker that says grease with an arrow pointing to the cap/filler.

At the bottom there is a bolt which has another grease with arrow pointing to it.

Inside the neck of the filler (that has the oil cap on it) there is a piece of metal that can be seen and that痴 all. It is near the top of the filler - seems like there is room for some liquid around the edges of this piece of metal.

Long story short - I don稚 know whether grease or some heavy oil goes in there. The 登il marking on the cap throws me off. Looks like there was grease in there previously.

Any thoughts?

 

[RickB]

Use a flowable grease like an 0 or 00. They probably bought a bunch of fill caps from a third party. Gear lube or oil may get past the seal on the rotor bearing.
At work we sell Bush Hog and Landpride tillers. The chain drive LP tillers use a flowable 00 grease. The gear drive Bush Hogs use gear lube.

 

[Peter 315]

John Deere Corn Head Grease is flowable it's about $4.00 a tube

 

[cboyd10406]

Thanks! Follow up question - any idea where I can find new tines? A few of mine broke off.

Thanks!

 

[Peter 315]

For a 30 year old tiller I would take one to a welding shop and see how much to make one or look to see if you can match one up idk :confused3:

 

[sweettractors]

I like a flowable oil/grease. Ken Sweet

 

[cboyd10406]

Another question
How much grease do I put in?

 

[sweettractors]

Another question
How much grease do I put in?

There should be a sight glass or mark on the gearbox, If not and a owners manual cannot be found, I would fill to approx where the decal says danger. Ken Sweet

 

[Gary Fowler]

My chain drive tiller calls for 90W gear oil. It has been a while since I bought mine but I dont think it took more than 1 quart to fill to the proper level. Mine has a plug to remove then fill till oil starts coming out.

 

[Grumpycat]

It would be best if you could identify the tiller so as to find a proper manual. But lacking that, open the oil cap and look inside. Agree with Gary, if it is a chain then good old simple gear oil would be the right thing. Oil gets in to the pins holding the links together in ways grease will not.

As for how much? Without a fill mark or check hole I would guess half way up the bottom sprocket. Chain will have plenty of opportunity to dip into the oil and splash about. It doesn't have to be submerged, only kept damp. Even if the sprockets are supported by caged ball bearings, splashing oil should keep them happy too.