Mustard yellow gear oil.. Help please

[Cavjock22]

Per my post inn the attachment page. I bought a used Bushog 3210 shredder. I knew the gear boxes had water when I purchased. Figured I would drain or suck out and all good..
I spent most of yesterday doing that. I would run about 30 minutes then suck out the oil with a marine engine oil pump. I went through 5 gals of oil and could not get the oil to look any better. Short of lifting the cutter and laying down upside down.. I don’t want to do that.... What are the suggestions of getting rid of the water/oil mix that’s below the gear box that I cannot suck out?
Kerosene or Diesel is what I read to use but then how do I get that out?
Oh and by the way gear oil stinks......lol

Help appreciated..

 

[Turbys_1700]

You probably have a thick layer of scum in the bottom of your gearbox and the new oil is not dispersing it out when flushed. I doubt any damage will occur to your gearbox if you have a little of that present. For peace of mind try flow-able corn head grease instead of gear oil. My Brown 472 actually specified it over 90 wt gear oil.

 

[RickB]

The oil with water emulsified in it will be heavier than clean oil. You will not get that contaminated oil away from the lower down shaft bearing until you either flip the mower over and let it drain overnight or just wait until the bearing fails and the oil runs out the bottom.

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Look carefully at that oil and you will see very small airbubbles in it . Leave it in !

 

[PILOON]

Mild heat, (not hot enough to harm seals) would render the lube more fluid as well as help evaporate any water in there.
Probably also flushing with fuel would thin out and slush/solids in there making suction removal easier.

 

[ruffdog]

Up north, that muck that has water in it will drain on it's own when it freezes. Either it will push the lower seal out or something cracks. I have done my share of hanging them from trees or hoists and letting them drain for a day or two. The water will sit right down in the bottom bearing where you can't get at with your sucker. If you drain it like this, save what comes out and wait for it to separate into oil/water and get a good look at it. You will be glad you went through all the work.

 

[CalG]

pour a couple of bottles of Dry gas into the housing and churn the lube oil, water and alcohol mix around for five minutes or so.

The liquids will better mix, and more easily sucked out.

A wet or dry vacuum, suitably prepped for the task, can make a great "sucker". ;-)

 

[RickB]

Suction does not work well with most rotary cutter gearboxes because there is no way to get the suction tube between the upper down shaft bearing and the lower bearing. There is usually several ounces of contaminated oil there and below the lower bearing.

 

[nyone]

Theres no drain under the mower? If its oil your pulling out i would drain and fill once or twice then run it for a while. 30min is not a while. 30min is what i would run it if i put diesel in it.

 

[Texasmark]

You probably have a thick layer of scum in the bottom of your gearbox and the new oil is not dispersing it out when flushed. I doubt any damage will occur to your gearbox if you have a little of that present. For peace of mind try flow-able corn head grease instead of gear oil. My Brown 472 actually specified it over 90 wt gear oil.

I like your answers.

Continuing with the original question: Putting in a solvent (naptha) with your gear oil change will help. With the rotation and heat of the gear friction it will start dissolving it. How long it takes who knows. If you keep the water in solution it's not like if the machine sits and the water separates from the grease and is against metal and rusts. Course a good grease like you mentioned would tend to stay attached and repel the water.