Transmission Purging

LUBRICATION

4.Install the new filter by hand, turning it three- quarters to one full turn after the filter gasket contacts the filter base surface.

Drain old oil filters of all free-flowing oil prior to disposal. Place used oil in appropriate containers and dispose of it in accordance with laws in your area.

5.Reinstall the filter guard. Torque screws to 65 in/lbs. each.

6.Repeat steps on the opposite side.

7.Drain old oil filters of all free flowing oil prior to disposal. Place used oil in appropriate containers and dispose of it in accordance with laws in your area.

8.Remove the top port plug (see illustration) from the left side and right side of the transaxles prior to filling with oil. This will allow the transaxles to vent during oil fill.

9.Remove the cap from the transaxles’ expansion tank located on the vehicle frame.

10.Fill with 20W50 motor oil until oil just appears at the bottom of each transaxles’ top port (approximately 2 quarts per transaxle, 4 quarts total). Install the top port plug into each transaxle as the oil level reaches the port.

11.Install and torque the top port plugs to 180 in./lbs.

12.Continue to fill the transaxles through the expansion tank until the FULL COLD line is reached (this will take approximately 23 additional ounces).

13.Reinstall the expansion tank cap by hand. Be careful to not overtighten.

Due to the effects air has on efficiency in hydrostatic drive applications, it is critical to purge the system.

These purge procedures should be implemented any time a hydrostatic system has been opened for maintenance or if any additional oil has been added to the system.

Resulting symptoms in hydrostatic systems may be:

•Noisy operation.

•Lack of power or drive after short term operation.

•High operation temperature and excessive expansion of oil.

•Shortened component life.

Before starting, make sure the oil tank is at the proper oil level. If not, fill to the specifications outlined previously.

The following procedures are best performed with the vehicle drive wheels off the ground, then repeated under normal operating conditions.

See Moving Machine By Hand in the Operation section for bypass linkage adjustments.

1.Disengage the brake, if activated.

2.With the bypass linkage disengaged and the engine running at fast idle, slowly move the directional control in both forward and reverse directions five or six times. As air is purged from the unit, the oil level will drop.

3.With the bypass linkage engaged and the engine running, slowly move the directional control in both forward and reverse directions five or six times. Check the oil level and add oil as required after stopping the engine.

4.It may be necessary to repeat Steps 2 and 3 until all the air is completely purged from the system. When the hydraulic drive operates at normal noise levels and moves smoothly forward and reverse at normal speeds, the hydraulic drive is considered purged.

5.After the vehicle has been used two times, the oil level should be checked while the oil is cold and adjusted accordingly.