Do you do a 50 hr oil change for a new rotacutter gearbox ?

[dennis52]

The manual for my new 45 hp slasher (rotacutter) says to change the oil after the first 50 hrs. When I mentioned this to my dealer's mechanic doing the tractor's 50hrs service he was dismissive of this .

As the gearbox casing has no drain plug I would have to pump the oil out of the fill plug hole.

Seems to me that pumping would still allow metal wear particles to remain sitting at the bottom of the gearbox.

Is it no big deal to continue to use the original 90/140 gearbox oil ?

 

[TRR]

It's my understanding that the reason for that 1st 50 hour oil change is to get rid of any remaining metal particles from the machining operation. After that I just check to be sure the gear oil is at the right level.

 

[bp fick]

I changed by gearbox fluid, mainly because I wanted a synthetic in it. Like yours, my RFM has no drain hole. I just used a small fluid pump and pumped it out. I've seen some guys pick them up and tip them up-side-down to drain them.

 

[silvertramp]

My Howse brushcutter has never had its oil changed in 20+ years. Never been out of the weather or washed either. Works great.

 

[blueriver]

My Howse brushcutter has never had its oil changed in 20+ years. Never been out of the weather or washed either. Works great.

I would take a picture of it and sent that to Howse ... thats a heck of a testimony.

 

[sizzami]

I bougth a new ck 30 this year and brought it in for the 50 hour service at thirty hours because I had it on the trailer coming back from a job the oil they took out looked like day old cofee with glitter in it so I am glad I did it since I plan on my son using this tractor after I am dead

 

[Andrewnewy]

It's recommended to change the oil in these gear box's at the first 50 hrs as there will always be a bit of extra casting sand, metal filings. The easiest way to do it is just hang it off your front end loader, so the level plug is pointing straight down, this will let everything drain out, this also allows you to check change the blades and have a good look around the shaft to see if anything has got caught up and potentially damage shaft seals.

On a safety note, if you can use a chain block instead of your loader to lift it from the roof of your shed, as lifting it from your loader has the risk the hydraulics can fail. However this is the common way to do it.

 

[dennis52]

Could only get half the stated capacity of oil out with a suction pump. What I did get out was as clean as a whistle. I think I'll be safe and hook it up to the loader to drain it completely. I's all fun.
Thanks all for the advice

 

[Andrewnewy]

It's not uncommon to have clean oil, as really there is not much that can get in there, the process of changing it is really to keep it fresh, it also gives you an opportunity to check for ware, I.e metal filings coming out with the oil. Really they use so little and oil is cheap, so no harm in doing it!
All this said I know many gearbox's that haven't seen oil in 30 years, and they are still crunching away!

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. could hang and flush with mineral spirits, then drip dry and go with whatever oil it needs.. etc.

soundguy