2 Stage Blower gear box oil...

[Shuboxlover 479]

I was doing some maintenance on my 2 stage blower tonight, I pulled the plug on the gear box in front (where the auger shafts attach) and the "oil" looked more like grease.  I had to actually scoop it out to take a look at it.

 

Is this normal, or should it have some sort of gear oil (80w-90 or similar)

[MalMac 1,332]

Manual says they should have EP90 in the gear boxes.

[Shuboxlover 479]

Is that grease like...or is it oil???

 

Just wondering if a tear down is in my future...There's no way I'll be able to get that stuff out without dissembling the whole thing.  Then I'll be replacing seals and whatnot....

[dbartlett1958 96]

90wt is heavy oil. It should flow when you pull the plug.

[Shuboxlover 479]

POOP!!!!!!!!

[squonk 42,881]

For what it's worth,My brother has my Grandfather's old tiller. It's a 63 Wizard front tine. A few years ago he wanted me to put new belts on it, change oil ect, I pulled the gear box plug and thick goo came out.l I put 90 wt. in it and it leaked out. I ended up putting outboard lower unit grease in it. No problems until the Briggs finally died.

[MalMac 1,332]

From what I have read the EP 90 is different from the 90 that goes in transmissions. The EP is for Extreme Pressure. So there must be a difference or the manual would not have specified it. I have never looked on Heavy 90wt oil containers for transmission for the EP rating, It may be on there. I have never had to add to mine thus have not had a reason to go looking for the EP rating. Something tells me that it's probably not that easy to find. could be wrong though just never had to look for it.

Edited November 8, 2013 by MalMac

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,411]

I checked at my local NAPA last year and they did not have it or never heard of it. I just did an ebay search and the 90EP is there but nothing in the US only overseas and the shipping is about $30-wow ! Does anyone have a source here in the US for this?

[MalMac 1,332]

You might check a regular Petroleum supply place. We have a few around here. Usually places that sell diesel, heating fuel oil, carry oils or could point you in the right direction. You can also go to your local farm CO-OP.

[squonk 42,881]

The outboard grease is extreme pressure oil/ grease. I learned this trick years ago. Worked at a Chevy dealer. The transfer cases on 4x4's used to be hard to shift. We had BG salesman stop in and he gave me a tube of extreme pressure grease to try. He told me it was the same stuff used in boat lower units. I had an S-10 Blazer that was difficult to put in 4 hi. I put that grease in with the ATF that was in the transfer case. Drove it home 15 mi. And when I got home, I could put that thing in 4 hi with one finger. Whenever we got a truck in that was hard to shift we got a tube of lower unit grease and it went in. Auto parts store thought we were working on the owner's boats.

[Hydro 131]

I would just raise the front of that blower up and let a good heavy gear oil pour in until it fills.  If the front auger bearings are still tight on either side of the gear assembly I would not worry about it.  The rpms are not high and it's cold out when it's operating. 

 

One time with an old snow blower I drilled and threaded the plug for that gear box.  I put a grease fitting in the plug and used a lighter grease.  Never had a problem.  Make sure the main bearing for the blower shaft is in good shape and the augers are tight at both outside ends.