Gear Box Fluid in MMM

AMR · Jun 17, 2009

I changed the front axle fluid in my B3030 this weekend and decided to pull the mower off while I was waiting to clean it up and grease it.

It struck me like a brick that I have never even looked in the gearbox. I grease it without fail and keep it clean but the gear box just flew right over my head. I pulled the filler bolt and the level looked just fine but I probably have a hundred hours in it.

I decided that I would pick up some 90 weight oil to change it and when I looked at it, how the heck do you drain the oil without making a mess? I thought I would just pick the deck up but I am fearful of racking it when I am lifting it. Any good ideas out there?

My plan for now is to use a plastic cup to catch what I can and let newspaper get the rest. Ahhh the smell of 90 weight on your hands in the morning.

magnatic · Jun 17, 2009

I've used a very small, low-sided tin foil pan for the mmm fluid drainage. No matter which method you use, you're always going to get some that seeps by your drainage container

JD F350 · Jun 17, 2009

I use a empty tube from a paper towel roll and cut it in half (long ways) and drained into a shallow pan

thavil · Jun 17, 2009

I use a cheapo oil drain pump that I bought at Sears. I think I paid less than $20 for it. Since the gear oil is thick, I have to keep pumping the handle to drain but since there isn't a lot of oil in the gear box, it doesn't take long and I don't spill any oil on the pully or belt.

easygo · Jun 18, 2009

When I changed the gear oil in the MMM I used duct tape to hold a quart size zip-lock bag under the drain plug. It worked very well. I taped the bag in place, removed the drain screw, removed the fill screw and propped up the deck to hasten the process of draining. I didn't get a drop of oil onto the belt or the deck. I left it like that for 20 min or so to let the oil drain.

However I did spill some oil when filled the gear box with the fresh SAE 80-90. Used one of those bottles with the tapered top and filled with oil to the top. The problem was that I had to make sure the plastic bottle didn't suck any of the oil back so I kept pressure on it after I replaced the top screw. Hence. When I pulled the bottle out some oil came spilling onto the deck. Not too big mess tho.