John Deere 820 oil in air filter

[slotoro]

I just acquired a John Deere 820 tractor. There is a cup on the bottom of the air filter that had oil in it. There is even a marking on it that says "Oil Level" Can anyone tell me what this is for?

 

[beenthere]

I believe that is to bubble the incoming air through the oil bath to collect dust, etc. That is the air filter.

This the 820 compact, not the big 820 2-cyl diesel?

 

[art]

Older cars as well as tractors had oil bath air cleaners!!

 

[jenkinsph]

I guess some of us are getting old? Just not used to all the new whippersnapper newfangled dry type air filters.