I have a friend who is a very capable mechanic who will help me change my trans fluid on my x320. He said it would be very easy to do. I have some reservations though since it has only 10 hours and is under warranty for four years. I know it seems to be WAY early to change it but I thought since TT recommends synthetic, then why not put it in early in it's life in hopes it will benefit from it now. Do you guys think this would void my warranty if I had to take it in and they observed it had been "tampered" with?
Grasshopper67
I don't know, to each their own but I think this forum has developed a remarkably bad case of 'If it ain't a garden tractor transmission it must be complete arse'.
I was watching my neighbor cut his grass w/ a 15 year old cub cadet. He never scrapes his deck, changed the oil once in the past 5 years. I'm SURE he doesn't even know where the transmission IS let alone how to change the oil (if it can even be done easily). I know its a lawn tractor cub as it has no hitch plate on it, and the tires are pretty small.
Sounds rough, the deck sounds like a airplane taking off (REALLY needs to be cleaned). Runs fine. Probably will continue to do so.
You bought a higher end JD Botique tractor w/ a more capable transmission then the standard. Just kick back and enjoy your summer - that's what I'm doing. I refuse to believe that I have to spend 5-6k on a LAWN tractor to get long term reliability (assuming I'm using it as Deere says I should). IF my rig dies prematurely I'm just going to hire somebody to cut my grass because there is no way in **** I'm spending more then I already have to cut the lawn and tow a cart a couple times a year.
I was watching my neighbor cut his grass w/ a 15 year old cub cadet. He never scrapes his deck, changed the oil once in the past 5 years. I'm SURE he doesn't even know where the transmission IS let alone how to change the oil (if it can even be done easily). I know its a lawn tractor cub as it has no hitch plate on it, and the tires are pretty small.
Sounds rough, the deck sounds like a airplane taking off (REALLY needs to be cleaned). Runs fine. Probably will continue to do so.
You bought a higher end JD Botique tractor w/ a more capable transmission then the standard. Just kick back and enjoy your summer - that's what I'm doing. I refuse to believe that I have to spend 5-6k on a LAWN tractor to get long term reliability (assuming I'm using it as Deere says I should). IF my rig dies prematurely I'm just going to hire somebody to cut my grass because there is no way in **** I'm spending more then I already have to cut the lawn and tow a cart a couple times a year.
I've had my x320 now for one month and I've put on 22.5 hours already. I've also thought about putting synthetic in the trans as well as the motor. Perhaps in the future I will. I've been reading quite a bit on synthetic and see no drawbacks to it at all, but only positives. But, I have to believe that if John Deere wants us to use regular oils - then there must be little if any bad effect to the trans or motor by using it. They must have mechanical engineers who study things like this........ right?
But then........
The troubling thing is, if Tough Torque is recommending synthetic, why is JD using regular?
The other troubling item is that JD recommends changing the trans oil in the x360 at 50 hour break-in, and then every 200 hours. Granted, the x360 is a different trans, but how different is it really from the x320 trans where JD recommends never changing the fluid? Since the x320 trans is smaller, you'd expect it to be changed at the same schedule.
My old Wheelhorse that I bought new is ancient. She's a tired old rat-trap but still runs. I expect this x320 to last nearly as long with the same servicing, but by that time I'll be senile anyway....maybe.
I love the x320 - no complaints - it's a great piece of quality and I'm glad the money I spent on it is mostly going to American workers.
rich
But then........
The troubling thing is, if Tough Torque is recommending synthetic, why is JD using regular?
The other troubling item is that JD recommends changing the trans oil in the x360 at 50 hour break-in, and then every 200 hours. Granted, the x360 is a different trans, but how different is it really from the x320 trans where JD recommends never changing the fluid? Since the x320 trans is smaller, you'd expect it to be changed at the same schedule.
My old Wheelhorse that I bought new is ancient. She's a tired old rat-trap but still runs. I expect this x320 to last nearly as long with the same servicing, but by that time I'll be senile anyway....maybe.
I love the x320 - no complaints - it's a great piece of quality and I'm glad the money I spent on it is mostly going to American workers.
rich
grasshopper,
You could talk to your dealer and see how he feels about the warranty issue. I know I routinely have those kind of discussions with my dealer and most of the time he's fine with what I want to do.
You could talk to your dealer and see how he feels about the warranty issue. I know I routinely have those kind of discussions with my dealer and most of the time he's fine with what I want to do.
it can't hurt a thing. the manufacturer recommends synthetic and if anythign Deere is not meeting the recommended spec. so you should be ok.
i am with Jopopsy on this, some folks have gone overboard with the fear of tranny failure. if you use them as designed they are going to last. i recommend heavier duty machines for folks who have the potential to do more than JUST cut grass, but i do this from personal experience.
BTW, the K46 in my L130 has outlasted 2 cast iron front axles in the machine. ain't that odd for such a puny tranny?
i am with Jopopsy on this, some folks have gone overboard with the fear of tranny failure. if you use them as designed they are going to last. i recommend heavier duty machines for folks who have the potential to do more than JUST cut grass, but i do this from personal experience.
BTW, the K46 in my L130 has outlasted 2 cast iron front axles in the machine. ain't that odd for such a puny tranny?
I totally agree with you all. Rich, I don't get it either. I think the X360 works a few hydraulics but is that really enough to tax the transaxle to warrant a drain plug and filter? I did call my dealer and he didn't recommend changing it until the warranty is up. By then I will have about 200 hours on it and that should be a good time to do it. It may not need it, it may never need it, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could order just the bottom plate of the K58 that is used on the X360? Then you would have your drain plug. If it is on the bottom that is. Don't know how the reservoir comes into play though. Oh well, there is another poster here who just bought an nearly 400 hour X320 who may be changing his fluid. Be interesting to see how he does it and how much he gets out of it.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could order just the bottom plate of the K58 that is used on the X360? Then you would have your drain plug. If it is on the bottom that is. Don't know how the reservoir comes into play though. Oh well, there is another poster here who just bought an nearly 400 hour X320 who may be changing his fluid. Be interesting to see how he does it and how much he gets out of it.
Grasshopper - Did you ever change that Transmission Fluid in the x320??? Did the mechanic do it for you or did you do it yourself??
rich
rich
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