John Deere Question
- Freddy
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G' day! I have a John Deere 655 hydro type garden tractor. The manual says to use only John Deere low temp, extra special blah blah blah oil in the hydraulic transmission. Do I need to see the JD dealer & pay the big bucks for this oil, or will any quality low temp hydraulic oil be OK? It takes 5 gallons of oil & is costly! Thanks for any help.
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- freetown fred
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Ya know you're talkin to somebody that uses tranny fluid for all my 2 cycle mix stuff I use TSC hydraulic in the 8N & I know they call for something else--same in my Cub lawn tractor--that Cub hydraulic is way out of my price range!
- CoalHeat
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I have 2 JD 316 tractors, that's the smallest model in that series. I use ATF, seem to remember that's what the manual calls for. Could be the larger in the series uses a different fluid.
The N series tractors use Mineral Lube, yep available at TS.
The N series tractors use Mineral Lube, yep available at TS.
- Freddy
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You WHAT? LOL My gut says if I used tranny fluid for a 2 stroke it would have to be a quart to a gallon.freetown fred wrote:Ya know you're talkin to somebody that uses tranny fluid for all my 2 cycle mix stuff
All over my manual it says not to use tranny fluid. I guess I'll go to my local supply house....they have 3 or 4 flavors of hydraulic oil. Cheap stuff ( that I use in the old Case backhoe) is $35 a 5 gallon pail. The good stuff is maybe $50... I'll find out this morning. Even the good low temp stuff isn't a brand name. I think it's called "Thin Gulfskim" or something. It seems JD told me $150 for 5 gallons. Ouch!
- Rob R.
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DO NOT just put some universal hydraulic fluid in this. The transmission requires a torque fluid that meets the J20D specification. The John Deere product is Low Viscosity HY-GARD, but you can use any fluid that meets the J20D spec.
Lots of people think any fluid will do...and they wonder why the brakes or PTO clutch chatters, pump whines, etc. I personally made this mistake on some much larger equipment...trust me that using the wrong product will not save you any money long term.
Lots of people think any fluid will do...and they wonder why the brakes or PTO clutch chatters, pump whines, etc. I personally made this mistake on some much larger equipment...trust me that using the wrong product will not save you any money long term.
- Freddy
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Pump whine! My pumps DO whine. From the first time I drove it I thought it was rather loud and thought it was normal , but never hearing one before, perhaps it's not. Perhaps it has the wrong oil in it! OK, OK, you got me. Off to the JD dealer I go. It had better be quieter! LOL It only calls for changing every 500 hours, so it's not like I'll be needing to spend the money every year.
Years back when I was riding competition Observed Trials motorcycles I rode a Scorpa that used $3 a quart oil, but a friend of mine bought a new Honda. It used a special Honda oil in the tranny. It was $30 a QUART! But, nothing else worked nearly as well. He was forced to pay the extra.
Years back when I was riding competition Observed Trials motorcycles I rode a Scorpa that used $3 a quart oil, but a friend of mine bought a new Honda. It used a special Honda oil in the tranny. It was $30 a QUART! But, nothing else worked nearly as well. He was forced to pay the extra.
- freetown fred
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Nope just a glug per gallon. But like Rob said, there are equivilant viscosity fluids out there, ya just need to do a lot of readin the pails. I don't think using the JD stuff will eliminate your whine but $150.00 for--probably, ever-- not a bad deal. Reminds me of the old $2.00 coffee cup story---guy put a Harley decal on it & got $12.50--
Freddy wrote:You WHAT? LOL My gut says if I used tranny fluid for a 2 stroke it would have to be a quart to a gallon.freetown fred wrote:Ya know you're talkin to somebody that uses tranny fluid for all my 2 cycle mix stuff
All over my manual it says not to use tranny fluid. I guess I'll go to my local supply house....they have 3 or 4 flavors of hydraulic oil. Cheap stuff ( that I use in the old Case backhoe) is $35 a 5 gallon pail. The good stuff is maybe $50... I'll find out this morning. Even the good low temp stuff isn't a brand name. I think it's called "Thin Gulfskim" or something. It seems JD told me $150 for 5 gallons. Ouch!
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Freddy,
use a HyGard equivalent ,its not any more expensive but it is critical ,ya don't want to burn up your hydrostatic pump or drives as its all one system for drive and cylinders. My local convenient store carries two types in 5 gal buckets as were in logging territory.$45 either kind.
waldo
use a HyGard equivalent ,its not any more expensive but it is critical ,ya don't want to burn up your hydrostatic pump or drives as its all one system for drive and cylinders. My local convenient store carries two types in 5 gal buckets as were in logging territory.$45 either kind.
waldo
- Rob R.
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It isn't just the viscosity, the additive package of "universal tractor fluid" and "hydraulic oil" can be very different. More anti-wear additives, plus friction modifiers for any clutches/brakes that are in the compartment.
The hydro system on those tractors tends to be "whiny", I doubt you will see a big difference after the oil change.
If you want to put a premium product in, I have used this in the past. It pours at -50, great for cold weather: http://texasrefinery.com/images/lb-speciallowtemp ... que(1).pdf I can get you a price on a 6 gal. pail if you want.
Also, your local oil "jobber" probably has a Shell/Mobil/Citgo product that meets the J20D spec, give them a call.
Edit: Waldo beat me to it.
The hydro system on those tractors tends to be "whiny", I doubt you will see a big difference after the oil change.
If you want to put a premium product in, I have used this in the past. It pours at -50, great for cold weather: http://texasrefinery.com/images/lb-speciallowtemp ... que(1).pdf I can get you a price on a 6 gal. pail if you want.
Also, your local oil "jobber" probably has a Shell/Mobil/Citgo product that meets the J20D spec, give them a call.
Edit: Waldo beat me to it.
- Rob R.
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Considering the low cost of "real" 2-stroke oil and the fact that you burn coal and not wood...I'm not sure I see the logic for using ATF. Whatever works I guess.freetown fred wrote:Ya know you're talkin to somebody that uses tranny fluid for all my 2 cycle mix stuff
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Rob,
if ya use one oil for everything ya don't have to remember all the different things. That about sum it up Fred? (and don't ask me how I know)
if ya use one oil for everything ya don't have to remember all the different things. That about sum it up Fred? (and don't ask me how I know)
I agree with above comments...
My Kubota Zero Turn calls for Kubota Super UDT2 Synthetic Universal Trans-Hydraulic Fluid, because it meets the spec. They just buy it and slap their logo on it. The same spec can be found outside of Kubota, and it is a lot cheaper.
My New Holland tractor calls for New Holland Tranny oil (of course). But It was so cheap, I did not bother trying to find the generic equivalent, I just buy from the dealer. It all gets mixed up anyway when I borrow an implement from my neighbor, and I know he does not use the same oil.
My Kubota Zero Turn calls for Kubota Super UDT2 Synthetic Universal Trans-Hydraulic Fluid, because it meets the spec. They just buy it and slap their logo on it. The same spec can be found outside of Kubota, and it is a lot cheaper.
My New Holland tractor calls for New Holland Tranny oil (of course). But It was so cheap, I did not bother trying to find the generic equivalent, I just buy from the dealer. It all gets mixed up anyway when I borrow an implement from my neighbor, and I know he does not use the same oil.
- freetown fred
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That plus my Grandfather & father both used it & who would I think I am to break a functional family tradition PLUS, we NEVER had any problems w/ our 2 cycle machines. Of course that was before all the current brainiacs got involved in the design issues:(
waldo lemieux wrote:Rob,
if ya use one oil for everything ya don't have to remember all the different things. That about sum it up Fred? (and don't ask me how I know)
- Freddy
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I did it..... I got real honest to goodness John Deere Low temp Hy-gard from the dealer and it wasn't so bad.... $82 for five gallons, more or less reasonable.... BUT, the freakin' oil filter was $28!!! I bought some caps for my hydraulic lines , add 5.5% tax & the total was $139.... close to $150.
As for using tranny fluid in two strokes.... it's hard to argue with success. I buy those little "add to one gallon" synthetic low smoke two stroke oils. They cost more, but I only use one or two a year.
Oh ya.... what about the oil that's IN the loader bucket cylinders? How da heck does THAT get changed? LOL
OK... off to work I go. Thanks for the chat!
As for using tranny fluid in two strokes.... it's hard to argue with success. I buy those little "add to one gallon" synthetic low smoke two stroke oils. They cost more, but I only use one or two a year.
Oh ya.... what about the oil that's IN the loader bucket cylinders? How da heck does THAT get changed? LOL
OK... off to work I go. Thanks for the chat!
- freetown fred
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I would suspect that when the cylinders work, they are pushing the oil back into the reservoir & for the small amount they take--just mix & fix (follow the lines from the cylinders)----other then that---I don't have a clue:) FILTER??????????????????