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WD Transmission Lube
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Les Kerf View Drop Down
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Joined: 08 May 2020
Location: Idaho
Points: 1891 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Les Kerf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: WD Transmission Lube
    Posted: 17 Jul 2026 at 11:12pm
Grandson is doing a full service on his 'new' WD Leroi tractor, I told him to use Universal Tractor Fluid (UTF) in the transmission and differential, also the hydraulic pump.

Grandson actually RTM (Read The Manual, now there's a concept!) Tongue  Seems the Operating Instructions manual we have (actually for the WD45) states to "Use SAE80EP all year."

Google tells him to use 75W-140, now he wants to drain the fresh UTF Confused

Did I give him bad advice?

P.S. I tried searching this forum but the search engine stinks, it says I'm not authorized to do such heinous acts Angry


Edited by Les Kerf - 17 Jul 2026 at 11:14pm
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wjohn View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 Jan 2010
Location: KS
Points: 2599 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jul 2026 at 11:44pm
I am personally hesitant to use UTF or trans/hydraulic fluid or whatever to take the place of gear oil in applications that called for gear oil. Gear oil just flows/clings differently without even diving into the specs. The gear oil will also leak much less, if seals and whatnot haven't been replaced in recent history.

Take my working CA for example: I bought it with gear oil in the trans (bad for the hydraulic pump since they share oil on a CA, unlike the WD... I'm sure you know this, but for anyone else's benefit if they are new to these tractors). It wasn't leaking but just a teeny tiny amount out of the PTO shaft seal. In this case, since a CA absolutely should not be using gear oil in the trans/hyd compartment, I replaced it with trans/hyd fluid because that is a better fluid for the application than the SAE 20W that was originally called for, and what needed to happen for my CA. No argument since the CA shouldn't have gear oil. I replaced the PTO shaft seal. Flushed everything out and put fresh trans/hyd fluid in it.

Now the tractor leaks from basically everywhere but the PTO seal, ha... Both axle shaft seals and the input shaft seal. Both lift cylinder seals. The gear oil wasn't leaking out of any of these previously.

I know many folks on here have had good luck with a trans/hyd fluid in place of gear oil. I think a lot of tractors don't really get worked and you're not going to know if the bearings in a trans with gear oil makes it to 10K hours but the trans with trans/hyd only survives 2K. But, honestly, it probably does not matter for a tractor that goes to a couple of shows a year and putts around the yard. Even then I wouldn't want to deal with the leaks unless I had replaced all of the seals recently!

I like your grandson. Manuals and reading are good things.
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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AaronSEIA View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Mt Pleasant, IA
Points: 2595 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AaronSEIA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2026 at 5:51am
I'd run the UHF.  Dad has it in both of his.  No leaks, shifts smoother, and doesn't creep with the hand clutch.
AaronSEIA
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DrAllis View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Points: 23484 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DrAllis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2026 at 5:57am
No manufacturer mails out "updates" to a 70 year old owners manual !!!     YOU have to keep up with technology and decide what modern product will over-ride the 70 yr old book.
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WF owner View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Bombay NY
Points: 5303 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WF owner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2026 at 6:05am
The good Doctor says 821 Power Fluid (or the equivalent) has superior lubricating properties and can be used everywhere except the engine in every AC tractor.  It's true that it is lighter than gear oil and may leak in some tractors that have dried up seals. 

The reason I use it is that I can stock one fluid, instead of several different ones that were originally recommended. (821 wasn't around until long after a lot of these tractors were discontinued.) I have it in my WD's, WD45's and CA's and every tractor I own. When I buy a tractor, everything gets changed to 821.

As I said, Doc recommends it. That's good enough for me!


Edited by WF owner - 18 Jul 2026 at 6:09am
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8070nc View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 Mar 2019
Location: North Carolina
Points: 898 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8070nc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2026 at 7:48am
If it was mine id leave the utf. It holds up in late model tractors with huge horse power
1984 80780
1957 D14
DES 300 with 25000 engine
616 tractor
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SteveM C/IL View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Shelbyville IL
Points: 9196 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveM C/IL Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2026 at 9:38am
trans and hyd  has utf in my 45 over 20 yrs
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Les Kerf View Drop Down
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Joined: 08 May 2020
Location: Idaho
Points: 1891 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Les Kerf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2026 at 9:38am
Originally posted by wjohn wjohn wrote:

...
I like your grandson. Manuals and reading are good things.

Indeed!
Grandson is 15 years old, all of his life he has heard me rant about folks who won't buy a manual for vehicles, etc. Now I give him advice based on what I have read on this forum, which contradicts what he actually read in the manual! Embarrassed

I do agree with DrAllis that lubricants have improved dramatically, and I am comfortable with using UTF in this application, which is unlikely to ever see thousands of hours of heavy usage, but I wouldn't place any large bets on that either, knowing my Grandson LOL He just finished up a month of haying for a neighbor and was putting in 12-14 hour days.
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