efm 520 gear box

I have the older style cast iron gear box. I noticed that stoker man posted that the oil to be used is 20 weight. I am assuming this is a gear oil but am not sure where to obtain it. Is there a substiture such as a gear oil available at the auto stores such as a 85-90 wt gear oil.

It was a straight 20W oil that efm recommended. Others have used heavier oils

You will have a hard time finding SAE 20 machine oil in small quantities. An ISO 68 hydraulic oil or industrial gear lube would be roughly the same viscosity, but those products aren't readily available in small quantities either.

I use plain 80w-90 gear lube in the gearboxes and ratchet drives with good results...75w-90 will my next choice when my current supply is exhausted.

You can buy straight 30w non detergent oil at just about any auto parts store.

Also using 80w-90

that is what I have on hand for my Farm equipment gear box oil.

mozz wrote:You can buy straight 30w non detergent oil at just about any auto parts store.

Yes...but there is no real reason to use it in this application. My opinion is you would be better off with a gear lubricant, but in this case the load and temperature is so moderate that it might not matter very much. Back in the 1940's a lot of extreme-pressure rated gear lubricants were not compatible with yellow metals, but that is not the case today.

On a new 520 how do you check oil level in gear box and do I have to oil the fan motor. I noticed a small hole on top of motor is this for oil

The newer gearboxes used synthetic 90W oil and it does not have to be changed. There is a plug around the level of the shaft that should just seep oil if opened.

Thanks stoker man what about the motor does that need any small drops of oil, I see a small hole on top of motor

I think they came with a yellow plug. There should be info on the motor. Maybe 8 drops a year?? Search 4MA10 motors on Grainger for info.

cardinal wrote:On a new 520 how do you check oil level in gear box and do I have to oil the fan motor. I noticed a small hole on top of motor is this for oil

There is a small hole in the motor housing above each bearing. 2-3 drops once per season should be fine.

OK Thanks two small holes on top of motor gotcha