Proper tranny fluid for my Model 140

rockriver · Sep 16, 2010

Hello Tractor wizards,

I hope this is the right forum, not sure if my 1974 JD 140 is "vintage". The chassis isn't stamped steel, so I'll give it a shot.

I'm new to the world of old tractors, and facing my first transmission fluid change. My Model 140 H1 has a hydrostatic transmission and the operator's manual calls for ATF type F. What I drained out doesn't look red or smell quite like ATF, but that may just be because it's so old. Or maybe Type F doesn't smell the same as the Dexron stuff I'm more familiar with.

I bought a pail of tractor hydraulic fluid from NAPA, which claims to be compatible with J20A,B (Hygard), J14B,C (303), and J21A. But I'm not sure if this is OK to use. The guy at NAPA said it's what they put in all the Deere tractors, which seems kind of vague to me.

I talked to the local John Deer parts guy and he says Hygard is fine, and I want the low viscosity stuff. The pail I have doesn't mention viscosity. I looked up the viscosity specs on Hygard, but I don't know what is considered "low viscosity".

I also remember reading I shouldn't mix fluid types. Is it OK to drain and fill with another type, or would I need to do some sort of flush or disassembly.

Am I overthinking all this stuff? Should I just use the hogwash I got from NAPA? It's still sealed, so if it's wrong, I want to find out now while I can still return it.

I'm in Vermont, so I'm especially worried about using higher viscosity than I should.

Thanks in advance for your advice!
Jason

Brimstone10x · Sep 19, 2010

Hi , yes you are overthinking . Deere has hygard and low vis hygard . regular hygard would most likely be fine in your 30+ year old trans , but low vis is the correct oil, but ether one would be fine. They stopped making the red hydrostatic fluid a long time ago and speced low vis hygard in its place.

rockriver · Sep 25, 2010

Thanks for the sanity check. I wound up with a 5 gal pail of Hygard low-vis, and the little green fella seems happier. Someone had written 6/2000 on the oil filter, I'm guessing the owner BEFORE the guy I bought it from.

Jason