Case VAC tractors

Hi. I'm new here and new to the vintage tractor owning though I have 6 now in about 2 months time. I have a 48 and 53 case VAC. The 48 does not have the eagle hitch and the 53 does. I had the 48 first and changed all the fluids when I got it and in the torque tube I used 80w90 and the rear. The 53 I did the same thing but it sounds like the hydraulic pump is screaming/whining really loud like the fluid is too thick so I'm wondering if I need hydraulic fluid in it? Can someone help me out? I don't currently have manuals for these tractors but plan on getting them. I also noticed, though I'm not sure if they're supposed to or not, the fluid is "shared" between the torque tube and the rear. Thanks for any and all help in advance!

Hello John 80w90 is to heavy of oil. I think 30w or less. The torque tube and trans/ rear axle DO NOT mix. Check the Case forum lots of great info. Steve

I use hyd oil in my VA series with the live pump, 80-90wt is too heavy for sure, 10 wt engine oil will also work

I put 2 gallons in the torque tube and 7 gallons in the rear I think and when I drained the torque tube today got maybe 3 quarts out only and when I checked the rear it was about 2" over full. Something must be wrong that it took it from the front and put it in the back.

i got the tractor last Saturday and brought it back to the shop. It's a 51 too, sorry for the wrong year. Anyway, I had my 48 first 2 months ago and did the same thing. Changed all the fluids and rebuilt the carb etc etc. I used it to mow the yard the rest of the summer/fall and check my fluids before every start up and don't notice that one swapping fluids. This one I changed all the fluids because I noticed water on the dipstick and had the air filter full of nothing but water and got 5 gallons of water out of the rear but I wanted to change it before it froze this winter since it's getting cold here in pa. I put 2 gallons in the torque tube and 7ish in the rear. Drove it about 200'. Took it from the shop to the shed and back to the shop where tonight I drained the torque tube because of how loud the hyd pump sounded I figured I had too heavy of oil in it so I drained it and only got 3 quarts give or take out and since I remembered hearing that those tractors "swap" torque tube and rear fluids pulled the dipstick for the rear right next to the shifter and it was 2-3" over full and I know I didn't over fill it when I changed the fluid so I'm guessing something must be wrong. Tractor runs good, trans shifts good, arms work good on the back. Any ideas? Thanks for the replies.

As I recall, we always just used plain 30 weight oil in the hydraulic pump on our VACs when we had them.

after rebuilding dad's va13, we filled the
torque tube and rear with permatran. the
eagle hitch works perfect and doesn't drop
when parked with the back blade left up.

check with the experts on the case forum,but i think you want to run hytran in the torque tube,not gear oil. i run hytran in my 420.it doesn't share fuild with the rear end.

Try the link below. University of Nebraska has a copy of the original owners manual online. You can also purchase from CaseIH or find one on Ebay. Good luck and enjoy, the VAC is a great little tractor.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1443&context=tractormuseumlit

I am betting it has a seal out between the two compartments allowing the oil to transfer, the Eagle hitch is a spate unit so transfer is not the same as later units, the "VA" series has seals on the trans shafts to keep oil from migrating,, a split between the transmission and torque tube would be my next step, I do use only Hy-Tran in all of my equipment, I said hyd oil as many here slam me for recommending the higher dollar but Much better Hy-Tan oil
cnt

Thanks for the help. So what about the VAC without the eagle hitch? Is that one 80w90 or hyd fluid? Thanks.

you can run either, the book called for 80-90 wt when no hyd system is used, if it has the belly pump I would use like the Eagle hitch unit
cnt

i don't know about the belly pump. I have a belly mower on it and a tank on the right side by the belt pulley that I put hydraulic fluid in for the little cylinder that lifts my deck up and down on that one.
So assuming my other case has a seal bad or whatever causing the fluid to go between the torque tube and rear is it safe to run hyd fluid in the torque tube and rear? I plan on using this tractor with a lands pride 3pt 60" pto driven deck to mow meadows?

yes you can run hyd oil in both, but as some say it may leak a bit more than the heavy oil
cnt

That's understandable. The 51 even with the heat oil I. Leaked out the axle seals in the back. I saw it dripping on my rim and like I said didn't drive it but maybe 200'. Do you know if they're time consuming to change? The axle seals that is. Thanks.

remove the wheel and pop the seal out drive a new one in,, easy fix for me
cnt

(quoted from post at 18:51:21 11/11/15) Hi. I'm new here and new to the vintage tractor owning though I have 6 now in about 2 months time. I have a 48 and 53 case VAC. The 48 does not have the eagle hitch and the 53 does. I had the 48 first and changed all the fluids when I got it and in the torque tube I used 80w90 and the rear. The 53 I did the same thing but it sounds like the hydraulic pump is screaming/whining really loud like the fluid is too thick so I'm wondering if I need hydraulic fluid in it? Can someone help me out? I don't currently have manuals for these tractors but plan on getting them. I also noticed, though I'm not sure if they're supposed to or not, the fluid is "shared" between the torque tube and the rear. Thanks for any and all help in advance!

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I use 5w-30 (Wallyworld house brand) in my '51.

I use 5w-30 (Wallyworld house brand) in my '51's torque tube. Go here for VAC info:

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