RFM Gear Box Lubrication from Mahindra

[kootch88]

Madmax and I both bought RFM from the same Mahindra dealer and they told both of us he put some kind of gel lubricant in the gearbox, which he said NEVER has to be replaced or replenished. This sounds strange to me. He also told me the level will appear lower if checked and that it will expand to a proper level when in use, which indicates to me it has tremendous expansion properties when heated. So what the heck did they put in there and does this sound right to any of you? I've lubricated so many different mechanical devices in my life I can't begin to count, but have never heard of any lubricant that is forever or has such enormous expansion properties.

 

[Texan4Life]

I'd bet the manual calls for a gear oil... but I have never heard of a mystery lifetime never leak super gel... only thing I can think that is close would be corn head grease (NLGI#0 grease), which is solid like grease at room temp, but warmed up it is liquid.

JESCO/John Deere Corn Head Grease - YouTube

a common home brew is to mix normal NLGI#1 or #2 grease with gear oil.


personally I prefer my gear boxes to have gear oil.

 

[kootch88]

I'd bet the manual calls for a gear oil... but I have never heard of a mystery lifetime never leak super gel... only thing I can think that is close would be corn head grease (NLGI#0 grease), which is solid like grease at room temp, but warmed up it is liquid.

JESCO/John Deere Corn Head Grease - YouTube

Texan, It appears you hit it on the head, I spoke with the dealer finally and he said it is "EP 0" grease or gel which takes 30 minutes of use to actually heat up. I wonder what kind of lubricating it is doing prior to those 30 minutes of heating up.

 

[Texan4Life]

Texan, It appears you hit it on the head, I spoke with the dealer finally and he said it is "EP 0" grease or gel which takes 30 minutes of use to actually heat up. I wonder what kind of lubricating it is doing prior to those 30 minutes of heating up.

not sure. I guess I'm old fashioned and would stick with oil. Green isn't my color, but I'll give credit where credit is due. They know how to make quality equipment, so if JD says its good enough for their gear boxes, I'd say why not.

 

[kootch88]

not sure. I guess I'm old fashioned and would stick with oil. Green isn't my color, but I'll give credit where credit is due. They know how to make quality equipment, so if JD says its good enough for their gear boxes, I'd say why not.

So apparently JD uses it in their gearboxes as well? Cool, even though I have a Mahindra, I am still one of those Green guys at heart.

 

[ToolBoxTavern]

So if you wanted to change it you would need to drive or use the unit for 30+ minutes just so it will drain out? :confused2:

Or actually take unit apart and clean all the innards?

 

[Texan4Life]

So if you wanted to change it you would need to drive or use the unit for 30+ minutes just so it will drain out? :confused2:

Or actually take unit apart and clean all the innards?

you could probably get some out, but I would say to properly change it, it would require disassembly. Probably why they call it a "lifetime" fill.

to my knowledge the only time JD says to change it, is if the unit is being repaired.

 

[kootch88]

My understanding of this lubricant is you need to run the gearbox for 30 minutes so it reaches a liquid state and will drain.