New GT2550

[mephisto4711]

Just got a new 2550, now with 7hrs on it. I changed the engine oil/filter and greased the 10hrs fittings. Just like its said in the manual.
But I have 100's of questions......
Dealer said to leave the transmission oil/filter for 100hrs, is this ok?
Do you all grease the fittings as per the manual or is once a year ok?
Mine has a cover in the middle of the hood, to cover this ugly extra hood support, should or do I have to remove it for better air circulation?

Thanks for helping......I guess more questions will come up after I use it some more.

Frank

 

[JTKub]

I would change the 6qts of hydro oil and filter somewhere between 10-20hrs, then every other year, 100hrs, etc. Many of us have found gray, cloudy looking oil on the first drain due to break-in or machining debris. Do a search for "Drive System Fluid Plus". Many of us use Shell Rotella-T 15w40 in place of the $10/qt Cub oil. The hydraulic spin-on filters can be had at napa or carquest, but they're the same price at the dealer. I don't grease more than 2x year. More I find just makes a mess. Keep that support on the hood. Some early models had melting and deformation issues. Good luck and welcome! You got a great machine for the $. I loved my 2544.

Joel

 

[SHUNKSTER]

I have a 07 GT 2554 that the only issue I had was when the Tractor was delivered I noticed that one of the plastic Bosses where the Hood is attached to the hinge had cracked due to over tightening at the factory and the hood was tilted. They replaced it and it's been fine since. I did replace the transmission filter at 10 hrs and 50 hrs but not the fluid, It looked fine. Same with the oil. Twice a year I hit the grease fittings with just a little grease. I over greased it when I first got it and am still wiping up grease on the tractor. The engine runs HOT, I noticed that on hot days if you leave the tractor on the grass to cool two days later all the grass will be yellow where you parked it. I solved that problem by lifting the hood as soon as I am done mowing. I have a very bumpy (roots) yard and have thrown 2 belts and had to replace them ($50/each) but that wasn't the tractors fault. I mow all summer and plow all winter, all in all it's been a great machine. Enjoy It!!

 

[mephisto4711]

thanks for your answers.
So far I'm happy with my GT. I have another question, maybe its stupid, how do you measure the oil level for the engine and transmission? The dealer told me not to push the dipsticks in, just slide them in and measure from there. The manual says to push in all the way.
What is the correct way?

Thanks

Frank

 

[CCinCT]

Dealer said to leave the transmission oil/filter for 100hrs, is this ok?

NO! At the very least you want to change the filter by 25 hours. However, like JTKub said, many of us (myself included) changed the filter AND fluid at 20/25 hours because of the potential for break-in material. The gears are made from powdered metal, so you don't get shavings in the fluid. What you do get is a "fog" in the fluid that changes the viscosity of the fluid, eventually changing the way the transmission performs, such as the tractor not going as fast, and not stopping as quickly when you take your foot off the pedal.

It is expensive to do for sure. But if you're like me and plan on getting 15+ years out of the tractor, it's cheap in the long run.

Do you all grease the fittings as per the manual or is once a year ok?

I've done this religiously at 10 hours, and wipe off any excess to minimize the potential for making a mess. If you're going to cut back on the frequency, I would suggest at least sticking to the 10 hours time frame for the deck spindles and steering box.

Mine has a cover in the middle of the hood, to cover this ugly extra hood support, should or do I have to remove it for better air circulation?

You can remove the cover, but do not remove the brace. The cover probably won't make much of a difference one way or the other. But if it's off there is the potential for more heat to dissipate out the top. That is never a bad thing.

 

[savageactor7]

mephisto our deck comes off for sharpening/cleaning often so I grease about every 10 hrs. Change oil every 50 with Rotella.

Make sure that oil dip stick is snapped securely around that 'O' ring before you start up.

My advice is to do what the book recommends for the trans. At the 10 hrs change I left the hydro oil in. At a hundred it came out and looked good to me...but I replaced it anyway. I hated to do that too.

Enjoy your GT and welcome.

 

[highboy1975]

i have a 3185. i took the spindle covers off the deck so that grass clippings arent held in there. i recommend the same to everyone. the stuff really piles up in there and collects moisture. i also grease mine when i take the deck off for sharpening. i do that about once a month, definately within the 10 hr interval. grease is cheap insurance. as far as making a mess with grease, grease is easy to clean up and cheap insurance to prevent a failure. theres no such thing as too much lube, but not enough is always bad.

 

[mephisto4711]

Hi,

just wanted to give a quick update on my 2550. Now with 25hrs I still love it. Everything works just fine, nothing broke....Did the first oil/filter change at 10hrs and greased all fitting at 10 and again at 25.
Now I'm getting ready for the trans oil/filter change. I guess its worth spending the money and keep the tractor happy.....

I'll get the filter from the dealer, but what oil other than the cub cadet oil can or should I use in the trans?

Frank

 

[highboy1975]

does your call for the synthetic blend or regular? my dealer sold me some stuff thats made locally. he said pretty much any tractor hydraulic fluid will be good. i pulled motor oil out of it and its quieter with the hydro fluid.

 

[Captain Ned]

I'll get the filter from the dealer, but what oil other than the cub cadet oil can or should I use in the trans?

I took the global recommendation to use Shell Rotella 15w-40 (non-synthetic) and have no reason yet to complain.

Mind one thing, though. Filling the tranny cannot be accomplished cleanly without a funnel and some attached tubing, and you can only add fluid/oil in small amounts.