Oil & Fuel JD 609 gear box oil level?

[Rfisher42]

Brought a 609 rotary mower when checking gear oil was filled to about 1/2" from top. Is the hole in the dip stick the full mark or the lines about 4" down the upper mark at the bottom of stick?
Thanks for your help

 

[jd110]

The dipstick is the proper level. you should drain some out before you run it. If there is not enough room for expansion, excess pressure will build and blow out your seals. Oil will also push out of the breather.

 

[kuboman]

Brought a 609 rotary mower when checking gear oil was filled to about 1/2" from top. Is the hole in the dip stick the full mark or the lines about 4" down the upper mark at the bottom of stick?
Thanks for your help

Normal level for a 90* gear box is not over half full. Usually half way up the horizontal shaft or just to the bottom of the horizontal shaft.

 

[Rfisher42]

Thanks for the information, not sure why the previous owner had it so full?

 

[jenkinsph]

I would watch it closely as it may be leaking already and the prior owner kept filling it up. Sometimes more is not better and some people are ignorant. I agree with both posters above and hope it isn't leaking. The 609 is a great heavy duty model too, good luck with it.

 

[Rfisher42]

Looking closely the other day when the air temp was 106 degrees I did notice a slight seepege of oil along the PTO seal

 

[Rfisher42]

What is recommended with a slight leak? Wait and see how much it leaks when running? Go ahead and replace oil seal?
Thank everyone for your advice, as you can tell first rotary cutter.

 

[kuboman]

What is recommended with a slight leak? Wait and see how much it leaks when running? Go ahead and replace oil seal?
Thank everyone for your advice, as you can tell first rotary cutter.

I guess it depends on what you call a slight leak. If all it does is collect dust then I would run it. Also is it where you can see easy if it gets worse.

 

[Rfisher42]

I guess it depends on what you call a slight leak. If all it does is collect dust then I would run it. Also is it where you can see easy if it gets worse.

Collects dust but would classify as wet, plan on running this weekend to see the size when running. The plastic plug was clogged, I install a vent/muffler in the plug location, the unit has a cover that covers the vent. The only location of oil is the top seal where the PTO shaft connects to gear box, which makes it easy to inspect. Thank you for your reply.

 

[SantasForest]

Alot of those gear boxes will weep after a while...Some of ours need to be filled a little bit after 10 hours of cutting (I'd consider that a leak!) But if yours just has some dust gathering without collecting a puddle, I'd just wash it real well every now and then to keep from dirt getting in it.