- Thread starter Geo-TH,In
- Start date
Larry EC-OH
Member
Just be glad you can change the hydro oil. I was shocked that I could not do this on my X300. Sealed for life, whichever comes first.
Larry
Larry
gtractorfan
Well-known Member
I have a JD 275 I bought new in 1998 and like it, never been back to the dealer. Have never thought about changing the hydrostat fluid and didn't know there's a filter. Still working good as new and looks like new. What decides when the fluid & filter needs to be changed? Couldn't you go to an auto supply store and get the equivalent oil and filter? One thing I learned when I was doing a thorough cleaning (took the rear wheels off) was that there's a plastic fan on top of the transmission, it had a lot of dried grass around it. I only use it for mowing so the hydrostat doesn't get worked hard.
gtractorfan
Well-known Member
Here's mine halfway out of the garage on this rainy day.
Buy your lottery ticket today.
Hydrostatic transmissions are built to close tolerances and are not tolerant of improper maintenance intervals and improper lubricants and are expensive (often times not cost effective) to repair/replace.
I would buy two lottery ticklets.
Dean
Hydrostatic transmissions are built to close tolerances and are not tolerant of improper maintenance intervals and improper lubricants and are expensive (often times not cost effective) to repair/replace.
I would buy two lottery ticklets.
Dean
The NAPA Gold and Fram may cross reference but if you cut them open the NAPA filter will have more filtering area and is made of better quality materal. NAPA also would have that filter in a Silver witch is a cheaper filter. NAPA Gold is the top of the line filter for NAPA and the Silver is the cheaper filter. I would take their Silver over a Fram.
Determined
Well-known Member
Bob
It is obvious you are not a fan of Fram filters.
Myself I despise Champion spark plugs.
Either way until the manufacturers start voiding warranty if you run a Fram filter or a Champion spark plug, I guess we need to consider the fact that multi billion dollar companies don't have issue with the use of other brands parts on there equipment so how bad can they be.
In reality an oil filter will catch a few bits of gasket material and any other material that was floating around in a new engine.
After that first filter change very little exists to be filtered out until things start wearing out and the rings get weak and start allowing blow-by into the crankcase.
Be it a cheap filter or a high tech expensive filter, once something fails and starts making metal neither is going to save the engine at best it might briefly prolong the inevitable failure.
I have seen engines with a 1/4 million miles on them where the oil was as clear as a glass of water.
You cut open the filter for a look after an oil change and they are as clean as a new filter as there was nothing there for them to clean out.
I will continue to use non Champion spark plugs and im sure you will continue to use non Fram filters.
Just thought I would share my view on the topic.
I've seen spin-on Fram filters where the threads were improperly cut. I've seen the after-effects of these filters falling off and instantly draining the oil at hi RPMs (motorcycles, not tractors). Long ago, and I realize that most every manufacturer eventually has QC issues, but I choose to not send Fram any of my $. (Not a fan of champion either, but I'll put them in if I need to get back up and running and that's the only option -- I just know I'll need to replace them sooner rather than later. If the choice is a Fram filter or wait for re-assembly, I'll wait.)
I run a OLD John Deere 240 garden tractor with the manual transmission. The tractor was given to me as the owner couldn't make it run for more than a 1/2 hr. at a time. The problem turned out to be a too small of amperage stator for the electric clutch. The Kawasaki single cylinder engine was swapped for a B&S twin. I've had to spend Quality Money on engine repairs but nothing SO FAR on transmission. I've bought JD belts but never again. I wouldn't have owned a JD bought with my own money just because of the expensive replacement parts. bjr
I had an MTD that was that way - no way to maintenance it. I bought it when it was 10 years old, used it four years and sold it to my younger brother who used it another 5 years then sold it to another guy - still in use as far as I know. Says something for those "cheap" hydrostats that last 20+ years with the same oil.
I had a Buick with a 430 V8 and with Fram filter the oil light would come on at idle but put Wix on and light never came on.The company I worked for went to Fram thinking to save money. It ended up with 2 DT 466 and 1 Cat that took a dump and it was due to the oil filters (Fram). They went back to Fleet Gauard and no problem after that.I have seen the same thing that Delta Red had seen. That desplay shows all the differant oil filter cut in half and if you looked some of them aren't worth taking home with some of them you might as well not even have a filter. Give me a Wix, NAPA Gold, Hastings and Fleet Gauard any day.
OP
OP
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
I think the O ring on my drain plug started leaking oil. Wasn't able to tighten it to stop leaking. Drained oil. Saw a small spring sticking out. Pulled on it and out came a long skinny filter and about 5 qts of oil. Oil looked dark, not real smelly. People at JD dealer said most people aren't aware there is a filter either. I think my JD 275 is a 1997, so I figured it needed changed. No hour meter on tractor, so I recently installed one. It has a good Kaw 17 hp single cylinder engine and I'm happy with tractor, the ride, the 30 inch tiller and 48 inch mower. Use tractor for just doing trim work before I get the 72 inch woods mower on Farmall C going. The boss things the world of the old farmall C. She has probably moved more grass than many. She grew up on a sod farm. She laughs when people brag about their ZTR's. Tells them she has the best 1950 ZTR.
I have another 48 inch husky and a 72 inch woods on a Jubilee for my other property. The Farmall is still my favorite even though I recently found a Monroe seat, like on the farmall, for the Jubilee.
As someone stated, there is most likely no other filter to replace this special filter.
However I cut apart old oil filters off my Kawasaki, Briggs and Kohler engine and found the steins 120-634 filter will work on all three engines and is better made. I hope I got the steins # right. I did buy a case of them off ebay for $40.
I have another 48 inch husky and a 72 inch woods on a Jubilee for my other property. The Farmall is still my favorite even though I recently found a Monroe seat, like on the farmall, for the Jubilee.
As someone stated, there is most likely no other filter to replace this special filter.
However I cut apart old oil filters off my Kawasaki, Briggs and Kohler engine and found the steins 120-634 filter will work on all three engines and is better made. I hope I got the steins # right. I did buy a case of them off ebay for $40.
gtractorfan
Well-known Member
Glad you brought up the subject, after 17 years it might be time to service this thing. I got out the book and found this. Tomorrow I'm going to find out what NAPA has as far as the fluid at least. Thanks for the heads up!
mattwillson
Member
The LX188 that I had had no filter or provision to change hydrostat oil, after 9 years it started getting a little noisy. I traded it on an X485. Best thing I could've done, although it was 3X the price. I doubt i'll ever wear it out.
Gambles
Well-known Member
On these mowers you run it until it's out of gas, remove the oil fill plug and tip the mower upside down to drain the oil.
Yes, it's a feature that was pushed by the manufacture's accountants, but you never have to worry about an oil drain plug getting loose.
When buying a lawn mower, this "feature" is not a deal-breaker for me.
Yes, it's a feature that was pushed by the manufacture's accountants, but you never have to worry about an oil drain plug getting loose.
When buying a lawn mower, this "feature" is not a deal-breaker for me.
Kent Petersen
Well-known Member
that sounds like BS to me
Probably can be worked on however. Check on YouTube, I found several videos on how to rejuvenate a couple of brands of hydros. You can get parts from the manufacturer. You do have to take it out of the tractor, so it's not routine maintenance. Actually looks like it might be a fun project, as long as you have a backup mower or do it in the winter.
OP
OP
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
May need to buy more than 2 tickets. The torque motor on my terramite sells for around $800. It's made by TRW ME-180. 11 years old and making all kinds of noise. No parts available to rebuild, just replace. I'm going to buy tickets and wait until it totally quits. Hope the Hyd filter does it job and keeps the crap the torque motor might be making from getting to the pump.
Looking at this from another angle, 1600 hrs on torque motor, $800 = $.50/hr. If I had to replace engine today, it would be $1/hr.
People don't think of cost per hour to operate something, but the older they get the more the cost.
Looking at this from another angle, 1600 hrs on torque motor, $800 = $.50/hr. If I had to replace engine today, it would be $1/hr.
People don't think of cost per hour to operate something, but the older they get the more the cost.
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