48" PTO Rotary Tiller General Oil Level question

[lrkellogg93]

Hi everyone,

I picked up a 48" PTO rotary tiller the other day. The seller originally said it was a Befco, but after looking for any markings, the only think I could find was on top of the gearbox and it says Breviglieri (unsure of model #)

Before operating this tiller, I want to make sure that the oil level is sufficient. There is no dipstick or weep hole on the gearbox, and since I can't find the model # anywhere, I can look up the manual online. I stuck a thin metal wire in and there was about 1.5 inches of gear oil. The gear itself was between a quarter and half submerged, is this likely adequate?


Also, as a side note, I noticed that the chain cover on the side of the unit appeared to be cracked at some point in time (see first picture) and repaired. Same situation with the chain lubrication...there's no weep hole or dipstick. I stuck the metal wire in and it primarily just picked up a thick black grease (looked like heavy duty axle grease; see second picture). Should there be some kind of oil or flowable grease in there for the chain? (I'm new to PTO tillers if you haven't figured it out by now )

Thanks!

 

[seville009]

I just fill up gear oil to the top.

I’ve never had oil in a reservoir for a snowblower chain. Most likely just grease (but not on the chain itself). Look around for grease zerks (or a hoke where a zerk was or should be).

I’ve always just sprayed my blower chain itself with WD40 once in awhile.

 

[bigtiller]

It sounds like it's full enough to me with corn head grease.
Maybe the previous owners chain cover fix wasn't the greatest and it leaked a little.

Grade 0 grease (corn head grease) would slow the leak to nearly nothing.

 

[oosik]

I wonder. The far right picture of the gearbox cover. That middle bolt has a small hole in it. Could that be a breather hole for the gearbox??

 

[Mr. Orange]

I think oosik is right. If you unscrew that center nut it may have a dipstick on it. The photo on right is the fill plug (with a breather hole & dipstick) on my Agric tiller. If yours has no dipstick or level plug hole, use a wire or some such, fill 3“ to 3-1/2” above bottom. My old Land Pride tiller was similar.
Is your chain case cover an aluminum casting that hit something & broke? All the covers I’ve seen were stamped Steel. Maybe original owner sealed inside with RTV or somesuch to seal up the break to stop the leak.
If no lower level plug, my level is about 4 or 5” from the bottom.
To drain the oil on mine, I lift the tiller up on its back or upside down As there are no drain plugs.
Standard disclaimer. I’m No Expert.

 

[lrkellogg93]

Thanks all for your previous replies.

I went out today and noticed the tiller had a bit of gear oil on top of the platform, right under the gearbox. It's leaking out the shaft seal on the left side.

I have a feeling I'm in trouble, as nowhere on this tiller (or gearbox) is a model number of any kind. All it says is Breveligeri.

What is the course of action in scenarios like this where the shaft seal is leaking, but I don't stand a chance of identifying the model number to order a replacement?

As you can see in the image, there is a white material (almost feels like Teflon tape), that has come out of the seal area

 

[jfsawatzky]

It sounds like it's full enough to me with corn head grease.
Maybe the previous owners chain cover fix wasn't the greatest and it leaked a little.

Grade 0 grease (corn head grease) would slow the leak to nearly nothing.

As bigtiller suggests, corn head grease can replace the gear oil when your seals leak. It’s thicker but will liquify to a degree when you are running the tiller but should not leak

 

[lrkellogg93]

As bigtiller suggests, corn head grease can replace the gear oil when your seals leak. It’s thicker but will liquify to a degree when you are running the tiller but should not leak

Ok thanks, that's how I initially interpreted bigtillers post as well, but wasn't 100% certain, thanks for confirming.

I knew corn head grease in the chain/sprocket drive reservoir was appropriate, just wasn't sure about using it in the actual gearbox.