OT John Deere 175 Hydro

[slim]

I posted this on the garden tractor board but have not had any answer to my questions. Please forgive an off topic question.

This weekend I acquired a 175 Hydro lawn tractor with a 38" mower deck. It's somewhere around a 1989 or 1990 model with the Kawasaki engine. The engine and transaxle seem to run great. However, the fluid in the transaxle has never been changed.
The manual says not to change the transaxle fluid because doing so incorrectly can cause damage. Should I change the fluid and if so what is the proper way to do so? The problem seems to be air left in the transaxle from what little I have been able to read online.

Also I need to rebuild the mower deck because the bearings on the spindles seem to make a lot of noise. Is there a good online source of JD or aftermarket parts that anyone would recommend?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

slim

 

[buickanddeere]

Mother Deere has an online parts book on her site. 1-800-522-7448 for the service and operator's manuals.
There are HD versions of the factory bearings at industrial supply houses.

 

[JT]

First, you probably will not find the bearing any cheaper than through JD, especially if the part number turns out to be JD9296. I can buy them at retail from JD dealer cheaper most of the time, than wholesale from my normall supplier. Now, what makes you think there is "air" in the system? it is an enclosed system and really is no place to get air in the system, give me a little more info and I will answer the best I can.
Jim

 

[slim]

No, I don't have air in the system. My question was about changing the hyd fluid. It's the original fluid and has been in there since about 1989 or 1990. My owner's manual says not to change the fluid myself because it could cause damage to the unit.

What I have been able to find out online is that the main problem that occurs when you change the fluid yourself is leaving air in the system which causes cavitation and damages the unit.

Should I change the fluid and if so how do I get the air out so I don't risk cavitation?

Thanks

slim

 

[slim]

No, I don't have air in the system. My question was about changing the hyd fluid. It's the original fluid and has been in there since about 1989 or 1990. My owner's manual says not to change the fluid myself because it could cause damage to the unit.

What I have been able to find out online is that the main problem that occurs when you change the fluid yourself is leaving air in the system which causes cavitation and damages the unit.

Should I change the fluid and if so how do I get the air out so I don't risk cavitation?

Thanks

slim

 

[cat236]

In regards to your bearings I agree with the other post you will seldom find them cheaper then Deere, I pay about 8.00 a piece at Deere, Napa and most other parts houses start around 11.00. In reference to your transmission,unless you are having problems with the unit do not change the fluid. Let alone cavitation those Eaton trans just seemed to be sensitive to fluid changes kinda like the old ford C6 trans. I have been a Deere mechanic for many years and told all my customers the same thing, leave it be. If you have to do repairs,to limit cavitation you can remove breather on top of trans and fill slowly while maually rotating input shaft with freewheel check valve locked open. Good luck

 

[slim]

Thanks for the answer. That's the kind of information I was looking for. It kind of goes against my grain not to change fluids once in a while but if that's best, I'll leave it alone since I'm not having any problems now.

Thanks again.

slim