Tiller King Kutter tiller water in oil

[Zork]

Tarps cause condensation.. I like to take old buckets and cut a notch out for the pto shaft, then flip em over the gearbox like a hat.

soundguy

I noticed my housing was full up. I had previously been using milk jugs with varying success, but today she gets the bucket. Thanks

 

[nyone]

A bit of water in a gear case like that isnt the end of the world.

 

[Zork]

A bit of water in a gear case like that isnt the end of the world.

Yeah, the assembly is under $300.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

We have a tiller, got it used in 1978. Used it every year. Believe me, it's had water in it many many times. Still works fine. Never taken apart. A few times we tilled a 40 with it. But later we only tilled the house garden and not the truck patch part.

 

[Williy]

IMHO I would think the moral ;of the story is to check you gear bo;x before you use it!

willy

 

[Zork]

IMHO I would think the moral ;of the story is to check you gear bo;x before you use it!

willy

Yes, and I hate doing that. I pop the hood and check fluids, but for the gearbox I just look for a leak and put my hand on the gearbox AFTER mowing to determine temperature.
That's how I found the water because the housing was unusually hot and I thought it was low on oil; it was actually high on water. I NOW prefer the bucket method, or a new storage shed, and I'll keep an eye out for a leak.

 

[Mike1955]

Does it have a breather plug? if so.. that's how water is getting in.

Also.. if it's so hard to service.. I think I'd pry that cover off one more time and add a drain plug to it.. shouldn't take too long if you have a drill, welder/tap/die set.

guess there is no chance of making one of the lower bolt holes 'non-blind' ?? ( ie.. drill thru the casting into the end of one of the lower holes.. that way you can just remove that bolt to drain.. etc. .. will always have to pucky that bolt.. etc...

soundguy

Perhaps he meant 'spray brake cleaner' ?

soundguy

Does it have a breather plug? if so.. that's how water is getting in.

Also.. if it's so hard to service.. I think I'd pry that cover off one more time and add a drain plug to it.. shouldn't take too long if you have a drill, welder/tap/die set.

guess there is no chance of making one of the lower bolt holes 'non-blind' ?? ( ie.. drill thru the casting into the end of one of the lower holes.. that way you can just remove that bolt to drain.. etc. .. will always have to pucky that bolt.. etc...

soundguy

Hey Soundguy good thinking. I used to talk to you on here. I was teddydo at the time. 15 years ago. Just wanted to say hello

 

[Zork]

One of my lower bearing cap retention bolts looks odd as compared to the rest, I'm going to remove the odd looking one and see if it is actually a drain.

 

[oosik]

We are so hot and dry here during the summer months - surprised that gear box oil doesn't heat up and evaporate.

Yesterday set new summer high - 104F.

 

[Zork]

We are so hot and dry here during the summer months - surprised that gear box oil doesn't heat up and evaporate.

Yesterday set new summer high - 104F.

I imagine a free breathing gearbox would and should evaporate some moisture in summer months when used. The big problem is after use the if you have water (not moisture) in the oil, the water settles and depending on the amount, the lower bearing surfaces are sitting in water and potentially deteriorating.