Mowing jinma finish mower question.

[TSMART]

My 224 with 6 ft finish mower is now 4 years old. How often should oil be changed in the finish mower transfer case? i have never changed it...What kind of oil to use? Hot climate here, central florida.

 

[greg_g]

My 224 with 6 ft finish mower is now 4 years old. How often should oil be changed in the finish mower transfer case? i have never changed it...What kind of oil to use? Hot climate here, central florida.

I'd definitely consider using 85W140 down there, maybe even straight 140W. I don't like how thin the original 80W90 gets in the July/August heat, so I use 85W140.

And I change mine as soon as I see signs of emulsification. If that's an unfamiliar term, it's when water (usually from condensation) mixes with the gear oil. It forms a foamy and/or buttery consistency that isn't water and isn't oil. And it isn't good for the transmission either.

//greg//

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

How often should oil be changed in the finish mower transfer case? i have never changed it...What kind of oil to use? Hot climate here, central florida.

I have never been able to determine what weight gear oil comes in China gear boxes from the factory ??......... but always change it out prior to selling.

If you see / find water in the factory oil ???... try to find out why. The gear box has a vent so the gear box can breathe. Vent damaged allowing rain water to enter ??

Since you have never changed it ......... I would do so now.

It has been common for me to see SAE 90 & EP 90 recommend for mower gear boxes in paper work from Bushhog, Woods etc........

I would prob put 80W90 in it.

It would not hurt to change it once a year. Hours of use a year helps factor in when to change.


Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[TSMART]

Thanks, I will change immediately. Mine has a little window on the trans case back there, and I don't see any milky oil inside there so I hope I am OK. 80W90 sounds good because if it is not WAY hot here, then the grass isn't growing at all....

Now I wonder how much oil is in that case.

 

[greg_g]

Now I wonder how much oil is in that case.

Not much, cuz the fill level is only about halfway up the housing. Mine takes less than a quart.

//greg//

 

[Diamondpilot]

Most gear boxes like the ones on my mower, bush hog, and post hole digger have 3 plugs. One plug is the drain, one is the fill hole, and the other plug is what is called a sight plug. You drain the oil then when you are ready to refill replace the drain plug and remove the fill and sight plugs. Pour in oil slowly until it comes out the sight plug then replace the plugs.

Usually the sight plug is about 1/3 to 1/2 way up from the bottom of the gear box.

In your earlier post you mentioned a sight window so if thats the case you probably do not have a sight plug. Simply fill the gear box until the oil is half way up the sight window.

Chris

 

[TSMART]

Appreciate that guys. Thanks.

I do have another question which has been bugging me...so could I please get an education.

My car has power steering, it goes all the way from left to right, and the middle is straight ahead. It never varys. (of course)

Yet when I installed a suicide knob on my wheel, I found that straight ahead is never the same....anybody understand what I am getting at??? I mean straight ahead the wheel is in one position one day, but straight ahead the next day the steering wheel is in a different position. I just want to understand this better as this seems strange to me. I'll never know unless I ask!! ??? ???

 

[greg_g]

I'm not sure, but I think you're asking about your tractor steering - right? If so, that typically means your steering cylinder is bypassing. Usually fixed with a seal kit.

//greg//

 

[TSMART]

Yes, I was talking about the 224. I thought this was normal , as it has been this way for a long time, but I have had no loss of power steering. Just the malady I described...but now that I know this is NOT normal , (seal kit?) I will check into it. Thanks!

 

[psj12]

The steering in your tractor is purely hydraulic, where the steering in your car is hydro/mechanical. This means there is a mechanical connection from your steering wheel gear box to your steering tie rods. This is done on automobiles as a fail-safe so if the power steering fluid is lost the car will revert to regular old mechanical steering.

On your tractor if the hydraulic steering is lost your steering wheel will simply go round and round without affecting the front wheels at all. This also means any bypassing in the steering box or steer cylinder translates into differing steering wheel positions. Unless it is extreme, like having to constantly steer right or left, I would not worry about it. If you have a separate steer oil resevoir and pump you could go to a heavier hydraulic oil like AW-64 (30W) and it should help with some of the bypassing.