svejkovat
New member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2009
- Messages
- 23
I've browsed forums. I've practically worn out Google search. Yes, I've read the owner's manual cover to cover.
I've telephoned JD, Peerless, as well as Eaton Pump.
ASTONISHINGLY only Peerless seems familiar with the fact that there are separate drains and fill ports on this transaxle. JD seems to think I'm imagining something and offers no help beyond escalating the question and getting back to me within "three business days". Peerless (their placard is riveted to the body of the xmission along with model number) tells me that when their trans-axles leave the factory they can use anything from 30wt, 10w30, or 80/90w gear oil.
Peerless also tells me that JD sets up the trans-axle in a few ways. Either sharing the fluid with the trans-axle, in which case the JD HY-Gard or equivalent is appropriate. Or they also have mounted the hydraulic pump, (usually an Eaton according to the guy at Peerless) so that it uses it's own hydraulic fluid.
So I called Eaton. I described the Peerless trans-axle and the mower and he said that his pump needs to be fed HYDRAULIC fluid at or near 20w. The tech said DO NOT use motor oil, gear oil, or transmission fluid to run this pump.
Sorry my camera is no longer working so no pics. But the Peerless trans-axle has a drain plug nearest the ground and far to the back end (mounted in the mower) of the unit. I drained this. The level of oil on the dipstick under the seat remained the same. So I drained the next plug. This one is further forward on the unit and directly under the hydraulic pump and about six inches higher off the ground. (pump and trans-axle appear to be one solid unit but are apparently not sharing fluid). After draining this one the fluid on the dipstick disappeared.
So even though it looks as if the "transmission fluid" filler port with dipstick is the large plastic capped one accessed from under the seat, it is actually the hydraulic fluid reservoir and NOT the transmission fluid as everyone else seems to think.
Upon closer inspection I can see the filler port on top of the trans-axle but it's on top of the unit housing with only 1/2 inch clearance from under the body of the mower. I'd have to remove the entire body to get at this thing, and I've already drained the unit. No big deal. I can always tip the mower 180 degrees to the side and fill from the drain hole as soon as I determine the exact capacity of this xmission.
Every post I've read, on every forum, seems oblivious to all of this. In fact JD seems oblivious to all of this.
Can anyone comment? If anyone else concurs with my own finding, what fluids did you use and how did you drain and fill them?
Right now I'm going to fill the hydraulic oil reservoir under the seat with NAPA fluid that lists itself on the label as "meeting or exceeding John Deere Hy-Gard". Since the Peerless rep said 30w motor oil or 90w gear oil I'm going to fill the trans-axle with 70-90w Valvoline limited slip gear oil since the worn old unit could use all the help it can get.
I realize this is a lot of bother over a 30 year old mower. But it's in great shape and I'd like to spend an extra five bucks where I need, and use the EXACT appropriate fluids in it to get the last hours of life out of it.
I've telephoned JD, Peerless, as well as Eaton Pump.
ASTONISHINGLY only Peerless seems familiar with the fact that there are separate drains and fill ports on this transaxle. JD seems to think I'm imagining something and offers no help beyond escalating the question and getting back to me within "three business days". Peerless (their placard is riveted to the body of the xmission along with model number) tells me that when their trans-axles leave the factory they can use anything from 30wt, 10w30, or 80/90w gear oil.
Peerless also tells me that JD sets up the trans-axle in a few ways. Either sharing the fluid with the trans-axle, in which case the JD HY-Gard or equivalent is appropriate. Or they also have mounted the hydraulic pump, (usually an Eaton according to the guy at Peerless) so that it uses it's own hydraulic fluid.
So I called Eaton. I described the Peerless trans-axle and the mower and he said that his pump needs to be fed HYDRAULIC fluid at or near 20w. The tech said DO NOT use motor oil, gear oil, or transmission fluid to run this pump.
Sorry my camera is no longer working so no pics. But the Peerless trans-axle has a drain plug nearest the ground and far to the back end (mounted in the mower) of the unit. I drained this. The level of oil on the dipstick under the seat remained the same. So I drained the next plug. This one is further forward on the unit and directly under the hydraulic pump and about six inches higher off the ground. (pump and trans-axle appear to be one solid unit but are apparently not sharing fluid). After draining this one the fluid on the dipstick disappeared.
So even though it looks as if the "transmission fluid" filler port with dipstick is the large plastic capped one accessed from under the seat, it is actually the hydraulic fluid reservoir and NOT the transmission fluid as everyone else seems to think.
Upon closer inspection I can see the filler port on top of the trans-axle but it's on top of the unit housing with only 1/2 inch clearance from under the body of the mower. I'd have to remove the entire body to get at this thing, and I've already drained the unit. No big deal. I can always tip the mower 180 degrees to the side and fill from the drain hole as soon as I determine the exact capacity of this xmission.
Every post I've read, on every forum, seems oblivious to all of this. In fact JD seems oblivious to all of this.
Can anyone comment? If anyone else concurs with my own finding, what fluids did you use and how did you drain and fill them?
Right now I'm going to fill the hydraulic oil reservoir under the seat with NAPA fluid that lists itself on the label as "meeting or exceeding John Deere Hy-Gard". Since the Peerless rep said 30w motor oil or 90w gear oil I'm going to fill the trans-axle with 70-90w Valvoline limited slip gear oil since the worn old unit could use all the help it can get.
I realize this is a lot of bother over a 30 year old mower. But it's in great shape and I'd like to spend an extra five bucks where I need, and use the EXACT appropriate fluids in it to get the last hours of life out of it.
