Woods Rototiller SOIL in my chain housing!

davepays · Apr 21, 2012

Oh *&%($. I noticed that my rototiller was hot to the touch after finishing tilling (Woods GTC52-2) so I took out the plug to check the oil level and found that the entire chain housing is full of oil soaked soil, all the way to the top. I haven't taken it apart yet, and can't imagine how so much soil (let alone ANY) could get in there. It's only 3 years old. I keep it greased. It lives outdoors in summer, indoors in winter.

Any thoughts?

sweettractors · Apr 21, 2012

davepays said:
Oh *&%($. I noticed that my rototiller was hot to the touch after finishing tilling (Woods GTC52-2) so I took out the plug to check the oil level and found that the entire chain housing is full of oil soaked soil, all the way to the top. I haven't taken it apart yet, and can't imagine how so much soil (let alone ANY) could get in there. It's only 3 years old. I keep it greased. It lives outdoors in summer, indoors in winter.

Any thoughts?

Can you say " neighborhood kids" or "prank"? We had a customer that bought a new tractor from us and had neighbor kids put red clay dirt in the fuel tank within the first month. Ken Sweet

davepays · Apr 23, 2012

Anything's possible, but I don't think that's it. Any other ideas? Anyone? What would you do at this point if it were yours? I have no time to tear it down and need to use it this weekend, arrgh.

sweettractors · Apr 23, 2012

davepays said:
Anything's possible, but I don't think that's it. Any other ideas? Anyone? What would you do at this point if it were yours? I have no time to tear it down and need to use it this weekend, arrgh.

I would not want to run it filled with that crap in there. Ken Sweet

KYErik · Apr 23, 2012

Do you have a chunk of metal broken out of the chain cover at a spot higher than the level of the check plug? This would allow dirt in but would not leak any oil out.

easygo · Apr 23, 2012

davepays said:
Anything's possible, but I don't think that's it. Any other ideas? Anyone? What would you do at this point if it were yours? I have no time to tear it down and need to use it this weekend, arrgh.

I think you have a pretty good chance of destroying sprockets, chain and a few other things if you use it like that. I would tear it down even if it means having to put things off.