[phred42]

Hi all, newcomer to the forum...

I recently acquired my first WH (came with the house), and love it. I just performed my first round of basic maintenance on it, and everything went well except changing the transaxle fluid.

Drained the oil, no problem. Changed the filter, it put up a fight but I won (a large hose runs diagonally across the filter, so you can't grip it from any angle, hard to even get a filter wrench on it). Putting the oil back in, here I have a problem. The first pint or so went right in. The next pint went in slower as air bubbled out past it, but went in at a reasonable pace. The next few pints trickled in over half an hour or so (each).

Now, I have less than half of the 4.5qts in it, and can't get any more oil to go in. Half a pint has sat in the funnel overnight, and shows no signs of taking any more. I suspect I somehow need to bleed out the air trapped in the transaxle, but see no way to do this. :banghead3

Any advice for a newbie?

Also, I have no intention of selling it, but just as a ballpark figure, how much would it cost to replace this thing? A fairly old (10+ years?) 520lxi, with ~300 hours on it... Basically, if something major breaks on it (I in no way claim myself as a skilled mechanic, as you can probably tell from my question ), should I bother having it fixed, or just plan on replacing it?

Thanks!

 

[arthurb]

phred42,

I own a 2004 520xi with 475 hours on it. I 've changed the transaxle oil and filter twice so far. I never experienced the problem that you are having with trapped air in the transaxle. I can only suggest loosening the drain plug to release any trapped air, or raise the rear wheels off the ground with a floor jack to turn/rotate the rear wheels with the transmission in neutral??? Are you sure you drained all of the old oil out?

Also, after changing my transaxle oil and filter my oil level would always be changing between low or high on the transaxle dip stick. The difference would be about an 1/8 of inch on the dip stick. It seemed like it took a few weeks of use before the transaxle oil level would keep its mark in the same location on the dip stick.

I don't have any complaints about my 520xi, but I've been wanting to upgrade to a sub compact tractor. My local Toro WH dealer said my 520xi is worth around $2800.00 with the 60" mower deck, 48" front blade and rear sleeve hitch earlier this spring.

 

[arthurb]

phred42,

Do you have power steering on your 520lxi? You're suppose to check and clean a screen for the power steering. If so, might this be the culprit to your problem. My 520xi doesn't have the power steering option.

 

[arthurb]

phred,

Here's another idea. Don't let the funnel set down tight in the fill spout when pouring the oil in. Hold the funnel just above the top of the fill spout when pouring the oil in.

 

[CHDinCT]

I have similar issue with changing the hydro fluid on my 520-H which has the same transmission I believe. I have tried cracking the filter to let the air out but it just leaked oil too fast, and putting a straw down the filler tube as I replaced the oil. The best solution I've found is to place a funnel into the tube and seat it down firm so oil can't leak past it, then fill the funnel about half way up and then use the dip stick to "burp" the air out. I just keep poking it down as far as I can get it and it will release air on every up stroke. It's still slow, but a lot faster than waiting for the air to come out on it's own. arthurb's idea of rotating the tires might work too, but the air will need to come out the tube so a funnel to "catch it" is advised. Good luck.

Oh, and same on the oil level taking some time to settle down. I don't get a consistent reading until I mow with it 2-3 times.

 

[phred42]

Thank you, Arthur and CHD...

Yes, I have power steering on mine, so I will see if I can find that screw in the service manual.

I tried turning both the drive wheels and the steering wheel, no luck with that.

I will also try the dip stick idea next, that sounds promising (especially since you've had the same problem and that helped).

:thanku:

 

[CHDinCT]

Thank you, Arthur and CHD...

Yes, I have power steering on mine, so I will see if I can find that screw in the service manual.

I tried turning both the drive wheels and the steering wheel, no luck with that.

I will also try the dip stick idea next, that sounds promising (especially since you've had the same problem and that helped).

:thanku:

If the dipstick isn't long enough, try a piece of coat hanger wire. Let us know.

 

[billyban]

Come on, guys! I know you all are smarter than that! Here's the fix. Remove one of the two fender/seat mounting bolts on top of the cast housing. These two bolts screw straight down into the rearend housing and go through the top of the case and into the gear area. This will let the air out as the oil runs in thru the dip stick tube. Simple! Just make sure you clean around the bolt before you remove it, so you don't get dirt in through the threaded hole and into the fresh oil. I had the same problem when I changed the oil in one of my first Wheel Horses, almost 40 years ago. I'm hooked on those red machines. They are the best! There's no competition.

 

[CHDinCT]

Billyban,

My seat pan doesn't mount to the tranny. There's a gas tank and a frame around the tank that the seat mounts to. Must have changed the seat mount since the early wheel horses.

 

[billyban]

CHD,
The seat, fender pan & gas tank all mount to a steel frame that mounts to the top of the rearend casting, unless you have one of those vertical crankshaft model tractors with a different type of tranny. I know absolutely nothing about those models. Never had one. If you have a Unidrive rearend, there is two 3/8" bolts in the top/center of the casting. They will vent the air out as the oil goes in. You can't see them with the fender pan in place.

 

[phred42]

Just wanted to post a followup with my results...

The dipstick ended up not long enough, but a coat hanger worked just fine. The remaining oil took about five minutes to get in (though the bubbles made quite a mess Next time, I'd do that *outside* the garage).

I'll have to try removing those bolts next time Billy... That sounds like a much easier solution, if I have the right sort of mounting for it to work.

So, thanks all, my WH has returned to useful service - Now if it will just stop raining here, I can get the lawn back under control.