Help with clipper 400 brush hog

[warriorsrus]

First time on the site guys so go easy on me lol. Friend of mine is loaning me his yanmar 2020d tractor with clipper 400 brush hog while he is deployed. I have little experience on tractors and only a quick class over the phone on this before he deployed. My question is regarding the hog. Oil is surging out of the gear box from a plug towards the top. It had some oil on the deck when he left it with me but after using it a few hours the other day it was really spurting out the oil. I'm guessing this is some type of vent plug and hoping that maybe he overfilled this since he did service it before he left. I have no manuals on this but lots of photos. Hoping you guys can tell me how much oil should be in this box? I did find a small square bolt on the bottom right side and wondering if this is the drain bolt? Should I just drain this and start with a refill assuming I can find the correct amount to put in? Should I continue to run and let it finds its own level? Just concerned that I'm doing damage and don't want to run this thing dry. Appreciate any help or advice.

 

[JRobyn]

On MOST gearboxes I have seen, that lower plug is the "fill-to-here" level. And that would look about right for that box since the entire lower shaft and the outside edge of the driving gear would be running in lube. So my hunch is that it's spewing because it's overfilled. Can you wipe down the box and that logo to maybe figure out who manufactured the box? That might help find an actual manual. I don't recall seeing one quite like that before.

You are correct that the top plug is the fill/vent. It may be that the box has some water in the lube which is boiling and causing the spewing. After hard work, the box should get warm, maybe even hot, but not 212 degF or over. Have you felt it to gauge the temp?

Welcome to TBN! :welcome:

p.s. - poked around a little more. That is made by Lowery Manufacturing (LMC). This is from their webpage - http://www.lowerymanufacturing.com/company/guidebooks/GEAR BOX IDENTIFICATION.pdf
So looks like that is the Cheetah gearbox. I can't find an actual manual for the Cheetah or the Clipper 400 on their webpage, but a call to them should resolve what he correct fill level (and lube viscosity) is.
Manuals

Did find a manual for one of their finish mowers with a similar gearbox (?) that confirms to fill up to the plg on the side with 90w gear oil.
http://www.lowerymanufacturing.com/...uals/Finish Mower-LMC Finish Mower Manual.pdf

 

[warriorsrus]

Wow, really surprised that the lower one would be the fill to line, doesn't seem like there would be enough fluid in the box. I think my friend took the top plug out and filled it to the rim here which would explain why so much is coming out. If that lower plug is indeed the fill to level where is the drain plug going to be or how would you ever go about completely draining the box?

I thought clipper was the manufacturer and 400 was perhaps the series. Have looked all over the thing and found no other info or ident plates, all either faded out or long gone.

I do have a laser temp gauge and will shoot it the next time I run system.

Appreciate your reply

 

[warriorsrus]

Called Lowery this morning and they did indeed confirm everything you suspected. The bottom right plug IS the fill to plug, only takes 23 oz of oil. My friend had oil in this thing going all the way to the top vent so no wonder oil was surging from the vent when I used it. Really appreciate you digging around and finding that info for me.

 

[JRobyn]

NP! That is exactly what TBN is here for. Bunches of great folk and tons of info on here.

Thanks for reporting back. As long as there is a vent, too much oil is way better than too little!

Oh, and there is sometimes a drain plug on the very bottom of the gearbox.

 

[clemsonfor]

pull that lower plug out and let it drain until that level, you don't want to blow out the seals from too much oil and pressure from running it but it does puke it out until its basically where it needs to be. The drain "plug" is taking the whole front off the gear box or turning the whole bushhog over.

 

[JRobyn]

Another poster on a similar thread on here suggested the Howse website - evidently they make/sell the identical(?) cutter, model "400" with "Cheetah" gearbox. Their website DOES have a manual, here - Single Spindle Rotary Cutter Operator's Manual - Product Manuals - Service & Support
(free download after registering)