600w
 

Is 600w gear box oil any different then modern 80-90 w?

Re: 600w
 

My simple answer is “no”.

True 600w oil is designed to be used on steam cylinders and is very thick.

90w oil is designed to be used in modern motorcycle transmissions and rear ends.

If you can’t find 600w oil, some Model A owners use STP in their transmissions and rear ends.

Lighter oil will cause leaking and shifting problems. Enjoy.

Re: 600w
 

Thanks, how about in the steering box?

Re: 600w
 

Seems like the stuff sold today all claims to be thicker than 80w-90. Brattons says SAE 140, Macs says SAE 250.

I got some from Macs a while ago and it is thicker than regular gear lube although it smells and looks exactly the same.

I also have an old bottle that is even thicker, very dark and without the typical gear lube smell. Not sure where it came from but it looks like the picture on Brattons website.

Re: 600w
 

I use a 50/50 blend 90w and STP..
Glen

Re: 600w
 

I use John Deere Cornhead grease in steering box and u-joint. Works very well.

Re: 600w
 

600W is different than 80-90.

600W is about 180-240 weight. 140 or 250 work just fine. 90 is a bit light.

Re: 600w
 

Thanks everybody.

Re: 600w
 

Go here to learn about 600 viscosity oil. https://www.mobil.com/English-EG/Ind...r-Cylinder-Oil.

Re: 600w
 

A lot of tractor collectors use this in gear boxes because when not in motion it becomes more or less solid and doesn't seep out. Available at any Deere ag dealer and probably others too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zNhli-J0Gk

Re: 600w
 

I use the most thick weight gear oil I can find and add 25% STP...

Re: 600w
 

Is there more than one STP. I bought a bottle and when I got home it was rather thin. The old stuff was like Honey, some even called it Honey. Jack

Re: 600w
 

Which one did you buy ? There are different types. I think the fellas here use the old original additive which is like honey.

Re: 600w
 

Blue bottle and red bottle.

Use the Blue Bottle.

Re: 600w
 

I haven't seen any red bottles for several years now. Do you know where you can find them?

Re: 600w
 

Last time I saw it was in Walmart. It is thinner than the STP in the blue bottle.

I don’t know how widely distributed it is.

Re: 600w
 

Tractor Supply

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...rease-00?rfk=1

Re: 600w
 

YES, there is.

Just a little education,

600W is not a designation of a weight of oil. It is the name of an oil sold by Mobil Oil and has it's roots back to the beginning of industrial revolution.

"Mobil Cylinder oils are high performance high viscosity oils designed for use in enclosed worm gears operating at moderate to high speeds and temperatures, and where heavy loads, slow speeds or high temperatures demand high viscosity oils. They are also intended for use in steam engine cylinder applications. They are formulated from high quality base stocks that are resistant to oxidation and thermal degradation, and the build-up of harmful deposits caused by the high operating temperatures of steam cylinders. They protect against rust and corrosion and provide good film strength and excellent lubricity and they are resistant to water washout."

Now, is there a difference between the generic "600W" sold by the vendors and gear oil, NO.

There are a bunch of "formulas" used by owners and all have been successful.

Re: 600w
 

This graphic may also help you decide what to do, what to use. The viscosities quoted in the Product Data Sheet above are on the left, SAE Gear Oil numbers on the right.

.

Re: 600w
 

Do a forum search on "600w" and you'll probably get more info than you want.

It should be noted that in the transmission the oils viscosity along with technique are what synchronize the gears for grind free shifting. As the viscosity of the oil goes down the technique must go up and at some point no amount of technique will prevent gear grinding during shifts.

Here's what I use.

http://asm-mexico.com.mx/sitio/admin...0912104421.pdf

It's extremely viscous and unlike STP it's not just an additive but actual gear oil.

Re: 600w
 

Malak, That be the stuff Essentially steam cylinder oil.

Re: 600w
 

I used Cornhead grease in my universal joint but only because it , the universal joint, has no "Yellow metal". I don't know where the cornhead sits on the GL scale. GL (Gear lube) To the best of my knowledge, is a scale from 1 to 5 that gear lubes are rated on. GL1 is the earliest (and most primitive) forms of grease. GL1 also has no sulphur content. The sulphur content will wipe out bronze bushings (Yellow metals) So where is the cornhead grease on this scale? Unless you've replaced the sector shaft bushings with needle bearings, I'd be very nervous about using cornhead grease in the steering box. For more info, check "Yesterday's Tractors" sub section Ford 8N.
Terry

Re: 600w
 

The NLGI rating for John Deere Cornhead grease is “0”, or soft grease. Regular grease is rated “2”, or normal grease.

Because it is soft grease it is well suited to be used in places with moving parts because it settles back down after movement stops. Also it is thicker than 600w oil which helps it from leaking or dripping out. Cornhead grease will not effect bronze bushings.

My experience has been that this product works very well in Model A steering boxes and u-joints. No leaks, no problems after many years.

I would be very interested in anyone’s confirmed comments on steering box failures caused by Cornhead grease.

Re: 600w
 

Great ! Wonderful! Glad to hear it! I like cornhead grease but was holding off using it in steering boxes because of this "Yellow Metals" question.
Terry

Re: 600w
 

Just my opinion, but seals of the day were just not what they are today! Also with the trans not being synchromesh, high viscosity lube helped slow the gears between shifts. Henry knew this and selected the thickest liquid lube available to kind of slow leaking. 90 wt hypoid or any modern oil has the right lube qualities, the trick is and was, "to slow the leakage!" With that in mind I use a high viscosity lube as I can purchase on my 1930!

Re: 600w
 

STP red bottle removed from shelves due to higher levels of zinc in the formula. Purported adverse effects on catalytic convertors, etc.

Re: 600w
 

Has lithium thickener. May want to check compatibility if mixed with other products.

Re: 600w
 

John Deere Cornhead Grease comes in 2 varieties; one for slow speed gearboxes, and one for high speed gearboxes. So I assume we need one of each.

Re: 600w
 

I do not think anyone is suggesting to use it for transmissions, only the steering box. So then that would be slow speed.

Correct me if I am wrong...

.

Re: 600w
 

I would say you are correct. Not the right thing for your transmission. Enjoy.

Re: 600w
 

I have used Chevron or Mobil 680 for the last 16 years. You will need to go to a commercial petroleum supplier to find it. I am on my second 5 gallon pail. It works very well in the transmission, rear end, and the steering box.

Re: 600w
 

Jim,

Anything in a Model A is "slow speed"!

David Serrano

Re: 600w
 

I'm not sure what JD considers a high or low speed gearbox, but I'm sure any gearbox on a combine runs at well under 1,000 RPM, and a Model A u-joint runs at 2,000 RPM or more.

Re: 600w
 

Older cars with open drive shafts had grease fittings on there u-joints. The only way our u-joints get lubricated is from oil or light grease being splashed around inside the housing. Cornhead grease will settle back into the bottom of the housing after the movement stops. Heavier grease will not do that.

I would think that a corn picker would use oil in its drive transmission. The units (gears) or (gearboxes) running the cutters I believe is where the Cornhead grease is used. As in you lawn tractor.

Just my view, I’m not a tractor expert.