Checking oil in mower gear box

[Raye]

I just bought an L 3010 with a 72 inch belly mower. Wanting to check the oil in the gearbox. There’s a big plug in the side I removed and the oil is about 1/4 inch below the plug. Is that how you check it? I’m assuming the smaller plug below is a drain plug. Thanks.

 

[85Hokie]

I just bought an L 3010 with a 72 inch belly mower. Wanting to check the oil in the gearbox. There’s a big plug in the side I removed and the oil is about 1/4 inch below the plug. Is that how you check it? I’m assuming the smaller plug below is a drain plug. Thanks.

Based on what you are describing - you have it correct. I would add a bit, or drain and refill with your favorite 85w-90 oil.

 

[hodge]

Oil should be filled to the bottom of that upper plug. Either a little will weep out as you remove the plug, or you stick your finger in the hole to find that the oil is right at the bottom of the threads.
As Hokie said, now would be a good time to drain and replace it, unless the oil looks clear and clean.

 

[RCW]

Since you just bought it, go ahead and drain it.

Water can sit in the bottom of the box, so you don't know it's there until let it loose anyway. Won't take much to refill.

That way you have a baseline for future reference, and it's time/money well spent.

 

[SDT]

I just bought an L 3010 with a 72 inch belly mower. Wanting to check the oil in the gearbox. There’s a big plug in the side I removed and the oil is about 1/4 inch below the plug. Is that how you check it? I’m assuming the smaller plug below is a drain plug. Thanks.

Yes. It's a fill/level plug.

SDT

 

[Raye]

How much oil does it take. Thanks.

 

[RCW]

How much oil does it take. Thanks.

Enough to get to the top plug....

I have no clue what model "72 inch belly mower" you have...you should look up specs for the particular attachment.

I'll guess a quart will be plenty....you'll have a better idea after draining....

 

[BruceP]

When I changed my gearbox-oil, it held less than a quart.

I also know that this gearbox takes a BEATING and runs hot so I sprung for a quart of HIGH QUALITY synthetic gear-oil.

By HIGH QUALITY, I do not mean Mobil1 or some other off-the-shelf synthetic wannabe. I mean PAO-ester based lubricant like AMZOIL or REDLINE. It may be $12 quart... but it noticibally reduced the operating temperature of my gearbox.

The gearbox used to be too hot to touch after mowing.... now it is lukewarm.

This reduction in heat tells my engineering mind that less power is being wasted within the gearbox as heat....more power is going into mowing the grass. (Untimately consuming less fuel)

 

[mattwithcats]

I think Mobil 1 Delvac 75W-90, which is used in trucks and buses, to be a great gear oil...

https://www.mobil.com/English-US/Commercial-Vehicle-Lube/pds/GLXXMOBIL-DELVAC-1-GEAR-OIL-75W90

 

[SDT]

Since you just bought it, go ahead and drain it.

Water can sit in the bottom of the box, so you don't know it's there until let it loose anyway. Won't take much to refill.

That way you have a baseline for future reference, and it's time/money well spent.

I agree and would also change it.

That said, changing the oil in most mower gearboxes is a PITA due to the lack of a suitable drain plug.

I hang mine from a FEL such that the fill plug is at the lowest level and let it drain overnight.

SDT

 

[RCW]

That said, changing the oil in most mower gearboxes is a PITA due to the lack of a suitable drain plug.

I hang mine from a FEL such that the fill plug is at the lowest level and let it drain overnight.

Yeah, I make a mess. I prop mine up, but still messy.

Hanging it is a good idea.