Tiller Chain Lube Change

[oldballs]

My tiller is three years old with about 50 hours on it. Getting it ready for spring, I noticed that the gear lube 80W-90 was caramel colored and sort of milky looking. Thus I drained it and replaced it. I supposed that there was condensation (water) in it. Temps this winter have ranged from around 10 deg F to 70 deg F in short intervals in between.

Yet when I collected the old lube in a glass jar, I see no separation...........just the same, uniform caramel colored fluid. Although it was about due for a change, I'm not sure that the old gear oil was all that bad. Any comments?
Cheers,
Mike

 

[davesl708]

Hi. Mike.

My very very old tiller gets the same color and I see some milky coating on the chain after setting for a long time. I run the unit for awhile then drain the oil.
Seems to be fine. The tiller is about 40 years old and Japanese made. All labels are in Japanese so don't know the brand.

Dave.

 

[oldballs]

Thanks, Dave. It doesn't seem that the subject has much interest elsewise. Hope you have a good year behind the BX wheel. :thumbsup:

 

[Clay45]

While its just a "bath" for the chain there's not a thing wrong with your reasoning. "sorta milky looking" is reason enough to drain and replace it.

 

[davesl708]

Thanks, Dave. It doesn't seem that the subject has much interest elsewise. Hope you have a good year behind the BX wheel. :thumbsup:

It will be a good and fun year and the ballast box has helped a lot.

I finally got the mole problem under control after trapping 14 moles last year. Had to trap the neighbors moles as well to protect my lawn.
Hope your garden does well. Need to get some rain soon.