Did I ruin my JD 4100 HST transmission?

[rsmith02184]

hi

I was doing my 500 hour service and I drained the hydraulic transmission. When I was replacing the fluid with new, I by accident, put in a gallon(at least) of contaminated (old) transmission fluid. I didn't notice and I used the machine for a few months with the contaminated fluid (it was contaminated with front axle oil).

As soon as I realized it (a few months later), I changed the fluid and the filters and cleaned the screens/magnets (they did have shavings on them). Anyway, now I hear a strange whirring noise coming from the bottom of the tractor.

Is it my transmission? Did I do irreparable damage? How would I know if I did do a lot of damage?

any advice you have would be welcome. I am really worried I just took 15 years off the life of my tractor.

Thanks

 

[kennyd]

I would say you are OK...the couple quarts of gear oil would have been diluted by the several gallons of hydraulic oil, and the filter/strainer should have taken care of any major contaminates.

The noise you are hearing might just be normal-but now you are overly sensitive due to your situation.

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Doesn't the front axle use universal fluid same as the trans? I don't think you hurt anything. Hydros whine all the time. It's the nature of the beast.

M.D.

 

[kennyd]

My 4110 (newer version of the 4100) uses gear oil in the front differential.

 

[rsmith02184]

my 4100 also uses gear oil in front differential. that is what had contaminated the trans fluid. we are not talking about a little amount here...we are talking about quite a bit.

i swear i had never heard this noise before. it is like a whirring and a little bit of a grinding.

like i said, when i took out the screen with the magnets, there WERE a good amount of metal shavings on it.

and now, when i hear that noise, i start to worry that i ruined something.

my question is: are there any other signs of a damaged tranny other than strange noises? it seems to be functioning (it moves foward and backward like normal) and i haven't noticed any reduction in speed.

thanks

 

[vettemanwight]

Well if you did any damage to HST, I would run it till it doesnt run anymore then get it rebuilt. If parts are damaged now what ever is damage will need to be replaced anyways, you might as well get your moneys worth out of damage. The dealer probably wont be able to get a real estimate till they have it apart . V

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Interesting, my 4200 uses hy-gard in the front diff.

M.D.

 

[rsmith02184]

that is what i wanted to know: if i already did some damage, does it make any sense to take it in and get it checked OR if there is damage, do i just ignore it and wait until the tranny shows signs of not working anymore.

in other words, by continuing to use it...am i doing more damage?

you guys are saying that if i did do some damage, just wait until it becomes a big problem and then deal with it. that was going to be my plan.

i am glad i am not the only one who thinks that way.

 

[Dutch445]

I'm not a mechanic,
but I would think that the sooner you
address the problem, the less damage will
be done internally. Your transmission oil runs
thru the whole tractor, steering, implements,
rockshaft, etc.. and any contamination or particles
that start to deteriorate and run thru the system
can't be good for these other components.. not to
mention the hydrostatic pump, transmission, or differential.
Am I wrong to think it's cheaper to just rebuild the differential (or other
failing part)than
the entire transmission , pump, etc?

 

[Whitey]

Interesting, my 4200 uses hy-gard in the front diff.

M.D.

Are you sure about thatThe front MFWD axleI have 80w gear oil in mine. As far as the hydro is concerned my wife's 425 AWS whines from time to time and we have not noticed anything adverse in that behavior.