Snowblower Gear Oil

[Ausfahrt]

The snowblower on my Kubota tractor is now 5 years old and so when I was mounting it to the tractor last month in preparation for winter, I decided to change the fluid in the gear box for the first time. Upon draining out the old fluid it looked like 3/4 of it was like new and 1/4 of it was gray and pasty. I suspect that since this only gets cold weather use that the gear oil doesn't really warm up enough to mix and that only a portion of it is actually doing the lubricating.

The owners manual specifies 80w-90 oil and that's what I put in but I'm wondering if an oil that's just a bit thinner might be better. Thoughts?

 

[TnT_M]

I would stick with what the manufacturer recommends. If you didn't run it at all before changing the fluid then it likely just separated over time. IMO it uses all the fluid and the last bit that drained out contained the evidence of use.

 

[greaseguy15]

Going to a 75W-90 gear oil would give you better cold temperature performance. That said Kubota says 80W-90 so I’d just stick with that and fill it.

 

[#18FAN]

I'd run a 75w90 absolutely no down side to it.

 

[nbpt100]

You could go with a full Syn gear lube if you want better protection. A magnetic drain plug will pull some of the steel particles away from circulation. If you have a bronze worm gear in the gear box make sure you use GL4 or a GL5 that states it is safe on "yellow metals".

 

[NibbanaBanana]

Stick with the manufacturers recommendation. I emailed Mobil and asked whether I could use their 75w-90 synthetic when my Chevy Aveo called for 80w-90. They said "No". No explanation but just no. So I didn't.

The dark oil was just the dirty stuff that settled to the bottom of the reservoir.

 

[Marcozi]

Contact the manufacturer of the snow blower and ask if a GL$ or a GL5 gear lube is recommended. I doubt if there's any brass in that gear box, but who knows.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Before thinking of the viscosity to use,
I'd change the gear oil every year.
But no longer than 2 years.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I will probably just stick with the manual but I am definitely going to start changing it out annually.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I know you have that long driveway and a lot of stuff to clear. Just want to say dang, now that's a serious residential snowblower. I'm picturing Tim "the toolman" Taylor rollin' up your driveway.

 

[2013ecof150]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a snowblower that big before! I’m sure you could go to a 75w85 if you really wanted to with no ill effects. Or use Amsoil 80w90 to stick with the recommended grade and have a synthetic lube.

 

[repairman54]

Standard equipment in a real snow area. Nothing like a 54'' blower that throws snow 50 feet to git er done.

 

[Marcozi]

Standard equipment in a real snow area. Nothing like a 54'' blower that throws snow 50 feet to git er done.

Looks like it's AWD! That's some serious gear!

 

[Ausfahrt]

Here's a short video of the Kubota earning it's keep.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Probably not needed for you. I'm thinking of getting something like these rubber add on for my Toro 2 stage. The gap with the slushy snows we have does clog some or not throw that far.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Probably not needed for you. I'm thinking of getting something like these rubber add on for my Toro 2 stage. The gap with the slushy snows we have does clog some or not throw that far.

View attachment 316237

I'm actually shopping for a Honda tracked walk behind blower. The Kubota is great but I have areas that it can't get to that I am tired of shoveling at my rapidly advancing age.

 

[repairman54]

I'm actually shopping for a Honda tracked walk behind blower. The Kubota is great but I have areas that it can't get to that I am tired of shoveling at my rapidly advancing age.

I hear you. My dog has short legs so I'm blowing paths in the yard for her ''yard access''.

 

[Marcozi]

Here's a short video of the Kubota earning it's keep.

Nice!

 

[nbpt100]

I'm actually shopping for a Honda tracked walk behind blower. The Kubota is great but I have areas that it can't get to that I am tired of shoveling at my rapidly advancing age.

Are you sure you want a tracked snow blower? The Tracked have pluses and minuses over wheeled machines. In my observations, Most people do not like a tracked after they get one. So just be sure you understand what you really want.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Are you sure you want a tracked snow blower? The Tracked have pluses and minuses over wheeled machines. In my observations, Most people do not like a tracked after they get one. So just be sure you understand what you really want.

Thanks for the input.

My only experience with walk behind blowers is a wheeled/tired Ariens that I had before I bought the Kubota blower attachment. It was ok but two things annoyed me.

The handles were too low and it tended to ride up in deep snow instead or plowing through it. I don't have enough experience with these machines to know how to proceed and I started another thread in the OPE section of this forum that addressed that.