Oil & Fuel When To Change To 80w90 Gear Oil From UDT In The Front Axle

[x703jko]

The manual for the BX24 (and I imagine all BX's as well as other machines) states that the front axle can use either UDT or 80w90 gear oil.

How do I decide that I need to change from the UDT to the gear oil?

 

[john_bud]

The manual for the BX24 (and I imagine all BX's as well as other machines) states that the front axle can use either UDT or 80w90 gear oil.

How do I decide that I need to change from the UDT to the gear oil?

There is no real need to change. The rear axle is lubricated with the UDT or SUDT and it has more friction than the front axle. When you do your service just put in the same stuff that you use everywhere else. UDT or SUDT.

jb

 

[rdsaustintx]

Alternately, gear oil is cheaper and better. Seals may leak a little less. I changed mine at first fluid replacement (50 hrs).

Russell in Texas

 

[Double 00 Soul]

My manual reads the same way. The dealer told me the same thing the manual did, either/or. Last year we had some days at 100 degrees, the tractor only had about 40 hours on it but I decided that gear oil made me feel better at those temps. I also changed it because I thought it might be a good idea to get rid of any metal shavings that might be floating around in the front end. I agree with the comment that gear oil is a lot cheaper than either UDT or SUDT and if the manual says it's OK, I'm going with gear oil. Also, I don't run the tractor very much in the winter so gear oil can stay there year round.

 

[art]

We only change out or recommend a change to the gear oil when there is a weaping condition, when it becomes a leak it is time to fix it..

 

[x703jko]

All: Thanks for the valuable input.

I guess for now I'll stick with SUDT.

I take it that if I use the tractor a lot in the winter, 80w90 is too viscous for cold weather?

 

[john_bud]

Well, it is a lot more like taffy than syrup at 0F.

The important thing is to keep the things full.

jb

 

[SkyPup]

I change the SUDT in our front axles every 400 hours.

Main thing is to be sure to spray off the dirt and debris routinely that accumulates around the tire rods where the axle junction is, this prevents that seal from becoming dehydrated and leaking.....

 

[lawn_king]

I changed over at the time of break in service 50 hrs. I prefer gear oil up front as do many others here at tbn. I rarely use 4WD so i only change that gear oli every 500 hrs. I have to remind myself to lock it in now & then so it doesn't freeze up on me.

 

[Volfandt]

We only change out or recommend a change to the gear oil when there is a weaping condition, when it becomes a leak it is time to fix it..

I tend to agree with this train of thought.
If my frontend starts to weep alittle I'll change out to a 89w90 or straight 90w then go from there.