Water in rotary cutter gearbox

[Buffalo]

I have a Landpride 5 foot rotary cutter that I acquired from my Kubota dealer at the same time I got my L3901. It's about three years old. Today I checked the oil in the gearbox and found it to be exceedingly "milky" in color. I assume that water had somehow gotten into the gearbox. I cannot fathom how.

At all events, I undertook to drain the old oil and replace it with new oil. There was no apparent way to drain that oil. I eventually dangled the cutter from a chain attached to the FEL in order to allow oil to flow from the filler hole in the gear box. I admit that seems a little less than subtle, but it seems to have worked.

I replaced the oil, without incident, and can not detect any problems. But ...

Is there a way to drain the oil from the gearbox that I have not detected ? How do the "pros" do it ? With a siphon maybe ?

And ... does anyone have any ideas about keeping water out of the gearbox ?

 

[rjcorazza]

I have 2 gear boxes with only a fill port, no drain or check ports. For those I get the oil warm and suction it out with a 50cc syringe and tubing.
For water contamination you were better off turning it upside down. Suctioning out the gear oil doesn’t get it all out, but is fine imho for routine replacement.
Assuming your mower is stored outside, perhaps throwing a tarp over it will keep the water out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[mickeyd]

On my LP RCR1860 cutter, it has a Level Hole on the side that I use to drain it with.

Yes I have to turn it on it's side or as RJ states, use suction.

 

[JerryMT]

I have a Landpride 5 foot rotary cutter that I acquired from my Kubota dealer at the same time I got my L3901. It's about three years old. Today I checked the oil in the gearbox and found it to be exceedingly "milky" in color. I assume that water had somehow gotten into the gearbox. I cannot fathom how.

At all events, I undertook to drain the old oil and replace it with new oil. There was no apparent way to drain that oil. I eventually dangled the cutter from a chain attached to the FEL in order to allow oil to flow from the filler hole in the gear box. I admit that seems a little less than subtle, but it seems to have worked.

I replaced the oil, without incident, and can not detect any problems. But ...

Is there a way to drain the oil from the gearbox that I have not detected ? How do the "pros" do it ? With a siphon maybe ?

And ... does anyone have any ideas about keeping water out of the gearbox ?

Most likely the water is from condensation and there is little you can do to prevent that unless you store it in a heated building.
Look carefully on the gear box for a drain plug. It may be an NPT pipe plug or a bolt. Check the owners manual. Otherwise you'll have to use a suction gun ( looks like a big hypodermic needle) to suck out the old fluid and replace it with fresh gear oil.

 

[Bulldog]

Probably just condensation is were your water came from.

No drain on the gear box so a good suction gun is your best tool in this case.

Not to start a oil war but if you want to eliminate this issue get rid of the standard gear oil and put Amsoil severe gear in. It will run cooler and you won't have the condensation problem. The difference in heat is mind blowing.

 

[SDT]

I have a Landpride 5 foot rotary cutter that I acquired from my Kubota dealer at the same time I got my L3901. It's about three years old. Today I checked the oil in the gearbox and found it to be exceedingly "milky" in color. I assume that water had somehow gotten into the gearbox. I cannot fathom how.

At all events, I undertook to drain the old oil and replace it with new oil. There was no apparent way to drain that oil. I eventually dangled the cutter from a chain attached to the FEL in order to allow oil to flow from the filler hole in the gear box. I admit that seems a little less than subtle, but it seems to have worked.

I replaced the oil, without incident, and can not detect any problems. But ...

Is there a way to drain the oil from the gearbox that I have not detected ? How do the "pros" do it ? With a siphon maybe ?

And ... does anyone have any ideas about keeping water out of the gearbox ?

Common.

The water is from condensation.

You can drain it by suspending the mower from a FEL, etc., in a fashion such that the fill plug is at the lowest point.

I have a vacuum tank intended to change engine oil in I/O boat engines. It works well to remove MOST of the oil but it is not possible to get the tube into the lowest part of the spindle shaft collar so one cannot get quite all of the oil. Removing the oil just after use when everything is well mixed is acceptable.

Alternatively, add half a pint or so of dri gas prior to use/change to absorb the water.

SDT

 

[Buffalo]

And ... thanks for all the replies !

 

[Dave_eng]

I have a Landpride 5 foot rotary cutter that I acquired from my Kubota dealer at the same time I got my L3901. It's about three years old. Today I checked the oil in the gearbox and found it to be exceedingly "milky" in color. I assume that water had somehow gotten into the gearbox. I cannot fathom how.

At all events, I undertook to drain the old oil and replace it with new oil. There was no apparent way to drain that oil. I eventually dangled the cutter from a chain attached to the FEL in order to allow oil to flow from the filler hole in the gear box. I admit that seems a little less than subtle, but it seems to have worked.

I replaced the oil, without incident, and can not detect any problems. But ...

Is there a way to drain the oil from the gearbox that I have not detected ? How do the "pros" do it ? With a siphon maybe ?

And ... does anyone have any ideas about keeping water out of the gearbox ?

Make certain you are not chasing ghosts. Many have mistaken the color believing they had water when they did not.

Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Oils boil at a much higher temp.

Go to youtube and search "test for water in oil."

There are many to choose from but all come down to water boiling at a temp when oil does not.

Dave

 

[JDubya]

On my old Fe35, it uses GL 1 mineral oil. After a fresh change and about 4-6hrs of running, the oil looks milky, but with no water present.