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Craftsman transmission fluid question

17K views 24 replies 6 participants last post by  Whirly 
#1 ·
I've got a Craftsman riding mower, 917.289081. The axle seal was leaking. Craftsman says the only way to repair is to replace the transmission at $800+. No way I'm doing either of those for just a seal. I took the transmission apart last weekend. I've already found a company that makes a seal with the correct specs and found they have a distributor in my city. I've already ordered and received the new seals this week. I would like to replace the fluid when I reassemble the transmission but I'm not sure what type of fluid I should use.

Does anybody know what type/weight of gear oil the mower uses and the quantity?

Thanks in advance.
Randy
 
#2 ·
Is there a tag on the tranny itself (make, model and serial number)? You may get more service info from the OEM.

Mike
 
#4 ·
this is ur tranny..

CRAFTSMAN TRACTOR Parts | Model 917289081 | Sears PartsDirect

that is possibly a plastic case tranny.. never have seen one of these.. I did find out there is a variator belt on the top of the tranny.. (item ## 1 in the parts area)..

if the tranny has a hard plastic case I suggest u sell the mower as soon as possible.. u might get some recovered cost doin that..

this tranny may have come out in the last 5-6 years.. I've herd reports that they were no good..
 
#5 ·
That is it. It does have a plastic case. I've had it for almost about 8 years and it's has done fine all this time. It just needed the transmission axle seal replaced. I've got it repaired I just to find out what type of fluid to use when reinstalling the transmission. Not selling it yet. Couldn't sell it with the transmission out now so I'll have to put it back together anyway. So I'll still need to find out what fluid to use.
 
#6 ·
I didn't find any info on the oil used.. looked in the manual & the parts breakdown.. no info on it there..

I don't know who made that tranny.. still lookin for info..

on edit.. u might take a sample of the oil to ur auto parts store.. they could identify it maybe..
 
#9 ·
I googled General Transmission.. got this

Home | General Transmissions

then clicked on the center pic.. found they made 2 trannies.. RS 800 & RT 400.. the first is for 23 inch tall wheels.. the other is for 20 inch tall wheels..

here is their contact page..

Contact Us | General Transmissions

scrollin down a bit brings up phone numbers u can call for info.. (under North America)
 
#11 ·
GMorning Gents, Hard to tell from the craftsman manual that I D/L for this machine, but I'll share what I've learned, the hard way. I believe this transmission is made by General Transmission Co. They make CVT's for the OPE market. I believe they make 3 models, 1 for snowblowers, and 2 models for riding mowers, depending on wheel size. I think they also produce little gear boxes for walk behind mowers. It's been a few years since I had this 'Experience' with them. But if you visit their website, they have more complete information. What they DONT have is the internals and fluid requirements. I had the 'Pleasure???' of opening up a brand new snowblower unit, on a new machine, during a blizzard. I ended up speaking/emailing an engineer from GT, that of course said "this is a new unit and that 'shouldn't' happen". In any event, I opened it up, and identified the broken parts. All in vain, because they or a distributor will not sell me parts. They are what's called, "lubed for life", sealed unit. AKA as 'Throw Away' unit, as it's affectionately known in the industry. But to answer your question, I was told by the GT rep, that it was factory filled with 10w-30 motor oil. I cannot confirm this, as I could not repair the unit, so filling it was not necessary. Had to buy a new transmission. GLuck, Jay
 
#12 ·
Thanks for the info. The lube looks/smells like gear oil. It is thicker than motor oil.

I found this thread that says is uses EP00 grease and has a link to the product:
http://www.mytractorforum.com/14-craftsman-sears-forum/1035569-gentrans-cvt-fluid-type.html

EP00
https://www.amazon.com/Oregon-4049H..._SR160,160_&psc=1&refRID=X6409SHP60RBZ1P3KJJ6

I also found a bulletin on General Transmissions site with instruction on how to replace the axle seal I was originally looking for. I guess this is a known problem and is bad enough they had to publish a fix.
Bulletins - Home

Still nothing on the quantity yet. I guess I can just fill up the lower case when I reassemble the upper and lower case halfs. I know it couldn't be filled anymore than that when it was new because there were no fill holes. I thought about drilling and tapping a hole but there isn't a flat spot large enough to do that.
 
#17 ·
from what I see in the seal replacement.. u do not have to split the case to do it..
 
#13 · (Edited)
GAfternoon Rande, I want to apologize for the incorrect info..... The 'Experience' I had was two years ago, and involved a GT CVT unit for a SnowBlower. The info I had gotten was from a GT Trans Rep/Engineer, and involved lube for low temps. I've been looking for the emails, but I also had phone conversations with him. I never got to assemble it, because they would/could not sell me internal parts.....so it sits on my shelves as a non-working model. But, there is another post here about seal replacement on a similar unit. His leaked after replacement..... from the external part of the seal to the housing. He resealed with a silicone of some sort and it worked. But there is a product designed for this application. I use Permatex* Anaerobic Flange Sealant, applied to the outside of the seal...helps seal and hold it in place. Part number is PX451531. GLuck, Jay
 
#16 ·
did all the greese come out.. if some stayed in it like a 1/2 pound u'd need 2 containers of new stuff.. 13+ $$ a pound is like buyin steaks..
 
#18 · (Edited)
I also found this tread this eve..

http://www.mytractorforum.com/14-craftsman-sears-forum/1035569-gentrans-cvt-fluid-type.html

the OP of that tread said there was no way to get greese past the axle bushing or bearing.. the OP also stated that after he replaced the seals.. it continued to leak around the seal where it went into the case.. not on the axle.. he used RTV stuff to seal where it was leakin.. so far no more reports of it leakin again..

now the problem this OP has stated he wants to replace the oil with new.. splittin the case to do that..

in my book the most amount of oil that leaked out is prolly about 1/10 of an ounce.. since the leak was found so quick.. replacin the lost greese will not harm the tranny.. splittin the case is also a no-no.. there is not a vid supplied by the maker to do that.. they do show how to replace the seals & how to do a clean up of the tranny when it wants to 'creep' after removin ur foot from the pedel.. in either of the vids they do not split the case.. splittin the case may also require a clean up & more sealant applied.. just remember all the info supplied in both treads.. if the case is split ur on ur own if something is not placed in the right place..

if the seal is not sealin up against the case as it should I would think they could come up with a better seal.. one with an 'O' ring around the part that seals to the case.. B & S & Kohler use this type to seal up the plastic oil dip stick tubes on their engines.. they do work..
 
#19 ·
Randy,

Not sure of your year Craftsman. I am the original owner of a 1974 ST/12 ( 917.25731 ) I believe these tractors were mfg by AYP ( American Yard Products ). My original manual calls for 30HD. I believe that the last tine I changed the oil, it took about 4 qts.?

Let me know if this helps

Pete
 
#21 ·
The older Sears tractors like the Suburbans did use SAE 30 motor oil in the transaxles..

But yours is a new tractor ,that has nothing in common with the older ones..
I cant believe they would use plastic for a transaxle case...just seems wrong to me!..
I thought die cast aluminum ones were weak :eek:..
 
#23 ·
the single cyl Kohler & Tecky engines held about 2 quarts.. not a gallon.. I have a 2 cyl Wisconsin THD that weighs close to 300 pounds that takes a gallon..

as I reported before I don't see Y u need to change the oil in that tranny.. the maker did not make it to b replaced.. nor did they show a vid of how to change the oil..

with the low hours on ur machine & the amount that leaked out will only lower the level inside the tranny by 1/64 to 1/32 of an inch.. this should not have any effect on the tranny's condition..

in the other tread the guy reported that the seal was NOT leakin around the axle.. (after he replaced the seals once).. it was leakin at the outter side where it seals up to the tranny.. that guy said he used a silicon sealant there & no leak after doin that..

ding... ding.... ding...
 
#24 ·
How do you know how many hours on my machine? I never stated how many hours or how old it was. You also don't know how long it has been leaking so you have no idea how much has leaked out. And neither did I.

Also just because someone else has a similar axle seal problem does not mean all axle seal problems are the same.
 
#25 ·
u sound a lil testy with ur comment.. the info u didn't state should have been stated already.. this is a lack of info supplied by u.. all we can do is make a qualified guess.. don't place the blame on us..

that tranny only has been on the market for the last 5-6 years or so.. so if u mow with it.. the average guy will put 50-75 hours a year on one.. that's about 300-450 hours.. if the seals r leakin this is tellin me POOR quality..

true that the seals may have been leakin since day one since u got it.. another sign of bad quality.. now then too since another guy reported leaky seals.. have u determined if ur seals r leakin on the outter part that meets the case.. no report from u on that.. but I'm guessin it is... cause of the same tranny with a plastic case..

this tranny is ur problem.. NOT mine.. if u can't take any hints from a guy that has had 125 mowers in his life time.. then suffer when u make a mistake.. I've been around the block or 2..

I've been in factories that made trannies.. u can eat ur dinner off the floor in most of them with out a plate.. in other words the dust in ur shop air can destroy ur tranny if u open it up..

don't get me rattled up..
 
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