Oil & Fuel Front axle fluid

[jtheise4]

I wanted to get some opinions on what fluid to use in the front axle of my MF1643. According to the owners manual, it states to use Permatran III, but that seems really thin for axle gears. I'm inclined to use Mobi 1 75W90 synthetic. What are others using? Thanks.

 

[ray66v]

If your manual is worded like mine, it says something like: Permatran III -or- SAE 80 GL4, which is gear oil.

Permatran is fine in there, and not as thin as you think. The viscosity difference between that and SAE 80 gear oil, is not that great.

If you want the highest level of protection, use any GL4, or better, synthetic gear oil in that general weight category, with the EP, (extreme pressure), designation in the name. That's as good as it gets.

I am using: Amsoil Severe Gear® Synthetic Extreme Pressure (EP) Gear Lube 75W-90 (SVG)

 

[WilliamBos]

I wanted to get some opinions on what fluid to use in the front axle of my MF1643. According to the owners manual, it states to use Permatran III, but that seems really thin for axle gears. I'm inclined to use Mobi 1 75W90 synthetic. What are others using? Thanks.

Using Full Syn 75W90 in our front axle. (MF 1635.)

Had to take the front tires off, as this was the only way to get the vent plugs out on the top of each side of the axle.

 

[jtheise4]

Using Full Syn 75W90 in our front axle. (MF 1635.)

Had to take the front tires off, as this was the only way to get the vent plugs out on the top of each side of the axle.

Really? On the 1643, it only has one fill/vent plug on the right side and then the two drain plugs on each side of the axle. No need to take the wheels off thankfully!

 

[WilliamBos]

Really? On the 1643, it only has one fill/vent plug on the right side and then the two drain plugs on each side of the axle. No need to take the wheels off thankfully!

Actually, yours is the same as our 1635, except for the 4cyl. On the top of each final drive case is a vent plug, and removing it makes it easier to fill the final drives properly. If you do not take the out, it takes a lot longer to fill them, can be done, but takes longer.
They help purge the air out of the final drives.


Fill/breather plug.



Final drive breather right side.




Final drive breather Left side.





So much easier to remove them, but had to take the tires off, as they are in tight, and could not get a ratchet on straight.

I have the factory service manual for the 1635/1643, so if you need to know anything specific, feel free to ask, and I can scan it for you.

 

[Don87]

Actually, yours is the same as our 1635, except for the 4cyl. On the top of each final drive case is a vent plug, and removing it makes it easier to fill the final drives properly. If you do not take the out, it takes a lot longer to fill them, can be done, but takes longer.
They help purge the air out of the final drives.


Fill/breather plug.



Final drive breather right side.




Final drive breather Left side.





So much easier to remove them, but had to take the tires off, as they are in tight, and could not get a ratchet on straight.

I have the factory service manual for the 1635/1643, so if you need to know anything specific, feel free to ask, and I can scan it for you.

Looks like a 'box end wrench' will fit right on there in the first pic.

 

[WilliamBos]

Looks like a 'box end wrench' will fit right on there in the first pic.

Yes, but the Gorilla that tightened on the oil filter, also tightened these on. Used a ratchet/socket, as it was the easiest way to get it off.

Plus, I do not have a box end wrench with that long of a handle, leverage made it easier with a longer ratchet.

 

[Don87]

Yes, but the Gorilla that tightened on the oil filter, also tightened these on. Used a ratchet/socket, as it was the easiest way to get it off.

Plus, I do not have a box end wrench with that long of a handle, leverage made it easier with a longer ratchet.

I use a box end wrench, that has the open end on the other...........then grab another box end , and put it on the open end of the first, makes for a long reach:thumbsup:

 

[WilliamBos]

I use a box end wrench, that has the open end on the other...........then grab another box end , and put it on the open end of the first, makes for a long reach:thumbsup:

Taking the wheels off made it easier to drain it, less mess.

 

[Don87]

Taking the wheels off made it easier to drain it, less mess.

You didn't post a pic of the drain.......... if it's on the final drive, then it could be messy with the wheel on.
Unless one diverts the flow with something like the cardboard tube from paper towels or toilet paper.

 

[WilliamBos]

You didn't post a pic of the drain.......... if it's on the final drive, then it could be messy with the wheel on.
Unless one diverts the flow with something like the cardboard tube from paper towels or toilet paper.

I'll grab one Tomorrow. Yeah, it is on the bottom of the final drive, so the mess was a concern. May try and make something up for next time. a 4L coffee can worked good last tie with the wheels off, will have to think of something.

 

[Don87]

I'll grab one Tomorrow. Yeah, it is on the bottom of the final drive, so the mess was a concern. May try and make something up for next time. a 4L coffee can worked good last tie with the wheels off, will have to think of something.

Give thought to the toilet paper, or paper towel roll...........I've used them to add tranny fluid to cars and pickups also. A few cuts, fold the cuts over, and they fit right in the fill tubes.:thumbsup:

Heck, I've made funnels out of notebook paper..........those get messy, but it's better than trying do dump a quart of tranny fluid down the dipstick tube.

 

[Soundguy]

I wanted to get some opinions on what fluid to use in the front axle of my MF1643. According to the owners manual, it states to use Permatran III, but that seems really thin for axle gears. I'm inclined to use Mobi 1 75W90 synthetic. What are others using? Thanks.

pt3 is a utf. it's designed to be used in gear, hyds and tranny.. that includes ps too.

soundguy

 

[WilliamBos]

May try that, or heating up a Rubbermaid, and shaping the one side to fold over the wheels.

 

[jtheise4]

Thanks for posting all the pics. I didn't realize there was a breather/fill plug (the plastic one only on the one side of the axle) and seperate breather plugs on each side of the axle. Your pictures really helped. Not sure why they can't take more pictures and put them in the owners manuals. Maybe its just me, but I find owners manual drawings pretty much useless. I can see now why you removed the wheels. I don't need to do the axle service for 20 more hours, but wanted to get an idea what I was up against before I had to do it. Thanks again for the help!

 

[ray66v]

Not sure why they can't take more pictures and put them in the owners manuals. Maybe its just me, but I find owners manual drawings pretty much useless.

If you using the owners manual that's the problem, get the service manual. :thumbsup:

I have not seen the service manual for this tractor, but the one for mine is pretty good.

 

[WilliamBos]

The service manual for the 1635/1643 is a 5" binder, was approx $275. I did get it, as other than warranty, the dealer will never see it.
So, if you need anything, please feel free to ask.

Good luck.

 

[ray66v]

other than warranty, the dealer will never see it.

My kind of guy. :thumbsup:

I actually even did 2 of the 3 warranty repairs myself.

 

[WilliamBos]

My kind of guy. :thumbsup:

I actually even did 2 of the 3 warranty repairs myself.

Sweet!! What repairs did you do??