[AT] Tractor Fluid (OT, only maybe)

[Cecil R Bearden]

We use 20w-50w Mystic semi synthetic oil in everything here except the 
old Belarus tractor.  I tried to start it the other day in this 4 deg 
extended cold spell, and I think it is going to get the 20-50w treatment 
too.  I keep a barrell of 30w around for the air cooled engines as we 
had some trouble way back with a wisconsin engine that had been 
overhauled.  It later turned out that the oil supplier was under a 
criminal lawsuit for putting a cheaper oil in Mystic barrells.

Cecil in OKla

On 12/9/2013 2:41 PM, Greg Hass wrote:
> To get a little off track, I hate it when they change oils. Two years
> ago I bought a new JD Zero turn mower. The book said to use 20W-50 in
> the hydrostat; it came with the usual warning of (do not substitute),
> and of course the big one; DO NOT MIX OILS. Even though the mower was
> new, I like to have the basics on hand and as they didn't have the oil
> in stock I had them order a quart (according to the book you never
> change the trans oil, just add if needed). A couple of weeks later I
> stopped at the dealer to pick up the oil. The parts guy disappeared into
> the back for a while and then returned with an update sheet which stated
> that the 20W-50 oil is not available. It further said that engineering
> had approved 15W-40 Plus II for use in the transmission. WAIT A MINUTE:
> what happened to the DO NOT MIX OILS? I guess you need not read or
> listen to the book but just throw in some oil.
> To get back to old tractors, I have run into the same problem with my 49
> Cub. The book said, and I have used since owning it(about 12 years) to
> use 20W oil in the engine. Growing up and into my 20's, at various times
> we used, IH, a super c, a 350 utility, and a 504 Farmall. None were
> abused, but all were used hard. 20W oil was used in all of them year
> around and we never had a problem with any of them. A couple of years
> ago I tried to get some oil for the cub only to find that 20W is no
> longer made; I checked 5 places and the Penzoil dealer even called his
> distributor. The cub is the only tractor I have that now uses this oil
> and up until now I had enough for my needs but my supply is gone. What
> should I do now? 30W seems a bit heavy as most work is light and takes
> under an hour and it doesn't get all that hot, however I do have a disk
> and field cultivator for it and then it does really work. I could use
> 10W-30 but when it gets hot the oil pressure is almost on red; although
> it uses almost no oil. I almost never run it in freezing weather. I am
> leaning towards IH 30W low ash oil as I already keep it on hand for my
> 715 gas combine, but I just don't know.
> It's sort of like was has come up on the list before a couple of times.
> What oil is used in a Cub transmission? Some people said 90W; others
> said hy-tran. I couldn't figure the different answers until I found out
> that both answers are correct. Early Cubs use 90W, later models use
> hy-tran even though its the same transmission. I liked the common sense
> (which is sadly lacking today) answer one member gave as to which oil to
> use; if you have good seals, use hy-tran; if the seals leak some, use 90W.
>            Greg Hass
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