Betstco flail gearbox

[blperk]

Hi guys, I just took delivery of a 60" Betstco medium duty flail mower. I'm struggling to figure out how much gear oil the gearbox is supposed to have in it. The manual says roughly 3 quarts, which seems like a lot. A service person at Betstco said that there is a drain plug on the gearbox and that I should fill it up to the drain plug, which makes more sense. My problem is that I can't find a drain plug anywhere! The only access to the gearbox that I can find is the fill plug on top. Does anyone have a Betstco flail who can help me out? Thanks loads!

 

[Dunbar]

I bet you are supposed to fill using the 'fill' plug until you can't put anymore in. That is what we do on differentials manual gearboxes and transfer cases. By the way. before draining one of the above make sure you can get the fill plug open before pulling the drain plug.


In your case there might not be a drain plug but only a fill plug. The unit would be drained by a pump or turning it upside down. Or there might be a hidden Allen headed drain plug under another part of the machine that partial disassembly would reveal. By the way, what does the users manual reveal?

 

[blperk]

Dunbar, owner's manual parts diagram shows a drain plug, but it doesn't show a fill plug, so I'm guessing they are one and the same. I have looked everywhere and have ripped off a safety shield, and I can't find another plug anywhere. If the gearbox is filled full of oil, isn't there a risk of blowing out seals when it foams and heats up?

 

[D2Cat]

The fill plug may have a small hole drilled in the center with a bronze screen like thing stuffed in to keep thing out. That allows the expansion from heat.

 

[blperk]

Good point, D2Cat. I'll have to look more closely at the plug. Thanks.

 

[GeoHorn]

Here's my Betstco gearbox with the oil level plug on the side and Fill plug on top. I can't imagine it needing more than 1 qt.

 

[blperk]

Here's my Betstco gearbox with the oil level plug on the side and Fill plug on top. I can't imagine it needing more than 1 qt.

Wow, I wish mine looked like that! They must have changed the design, because I have no drain plug at all. Thanks, GeoHorn.

 

[dirtydeed]

Great, now you made me go look at mine as well. No drain plug.

Mine was filled to near the top. it's been pushing some some gear oil out of the top from the fill plug (but there is no vent in the plug).

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Wow, I wish mine looked like that! They must have changed the design, because I have no drain plug at all. Thanks, GeoHorn.

Post a picture of yours.

 

[blperk]

Wolfman, here's a picture of my gearbox. Just a fill plug with no vent.

This is the first image that I've tried to attach, so no guarantees that it worked correctly!

 

[blperk]

UPDATE: I just found a TINY vent hole in the filler plug, which hopefully will prevent seals from blowing out if there's too much oil. The actual problem began when someone at Betstco filled it right to the brim with oil. They swear that they won't ship anything with oil in it, but they sure did this one. I'm just going to go ahead and run it and not worry too much. I wish they hadn't changed the design away from a gearbox with a drain plug. Thanks everybody!

 

[D2Cat]

If you really want to change the oil you can use a suction gun or turkey baster (just don't let your wife know!)

 

[RVS PERF]

I just got one of their flails a few weeks ago. I filled it just to the top of the gears inside. Leaving room for some expansion. Ran about 3 hours on it the first day and no issues. Quiet as can be and smooth.