Hydro oil for JD 317?

[bluechip]

We took a little John Deere 317 lawn tractor in trade, it has a leak in a hyd line leading to the front and now it won't go. The fluid in it seems to be red, (I thought it might supposed to be green!).Anyway I don't want to put the wrong stuff in.
Can anyone recommend the best oil to use to replenish the hydrostatic trans? Closest JD dealer is 50 miles away.
Thanks
Chip

 

[jayhawkRoy]

Call a JD dealer to confirm, but I was told that the red JD hydro fluid was equivalent to Type F ATF.
In fact, I still have some JD red hydro fludie I haven't used since I traded in my JD 212 in 1997. Don't know what to do with it.

 

[bluechip]

Thanks, that would be great if it was, plenty of type F around (I guess it is still around, been a while since I bought any).

I'll call the JD dealer and verify.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Yep, Type F automatic transmission fluid is good, or Deere low-vis Higuard fluid is good. (Don't mix the two) Might want to change the filter while you are at it. It's a spin on type filter available from Deere for under $10.

 

[yellowsocks93]

Deere recommends Hy Gard Low Viscosity and that is what I use in my 318. The Hy Gard is a replacement for Deere All Weather Hydro Fluid that was used in the 80's and earlier.