I was able to pump 1 quart from my x300 using an electric suction pump after removing the breather and magnetic cap. Measure the oil level before starting as a back up by creating a “dip stick” as suggested. supposedly there are 2 quarts of oil in the trans axel case. Mine looked well used after 375 hours, and was running fine. As a bearing Engineer and a lot of gray hair in the industrial power transmission industry With gears, bearing and everything related,, adding Some fresh oil is a wise move to help lengthen service life. Next week I will repeat this procedure and get more of the oil up to a better freshness. Sad they “ seal this for life” and do not let the customer have an option. I would gladly take on John Deere engineers over this one. Thanks for the video, was very helpful. I also realized the front to help derail more oil.

Wow! Robert, you saved my bacon! This is probably best KZfaq video I ever ran across! I have a 5 yr old X300 with 230 hours. Transmission had started slipping on hills and growling like crazy under the load. I’ve had 2 spinal surgeries and wasn’t looking forward to going the remove the transaxle route. As you say, that’s the deluxe way with changing all the fluid and cleaning the magnet. This method allowed me to pull of just over a quart of the original fluid which was very dark. I put a quart of 5W50 synthetic in to replace the fluid. It drove like new! After driving it around and climbing some hills I pulled off another quart. Much lighter as you would expect. I added another quart of the 5W50 today. Runs like new now! It doesn’t even know it’s on a hill! No growling, straining or anything. You saved me a bundle of cash and my back! Hope I can repay the favor some day!

Awesome idea! Hey, you’ve extended the life of your transmission in an easy way.

Thanks Robert, nice how to video. I have never changed mine.

I used a hand pump from a Shout pre wash for laundry. The hand pump has a long tube that's just the right size to get inside the case. I used Quart Mason jars to measure how much I took out. I was able to remove about 1.75 quarts out of it. I then refilled with the exact amount of 20w50 full synthetic motor oil but I added .8oz of Lucas oil stabilizer. I've got over 300 hours on a X300 and over 200 hours on a X350 and the both run as good as new.

I have used a pump off a standard spray bottle. Slide 1/4 " hose om the pump handle straw , this works great when fluid is warm, and great for over filled transmissions.

For all you naysayers, everytime you get your tranny fluid changed in your vehicle they never get anywhere near all of the fluid. A little here, a little there on a regular basis is perfect just like on your car. Awesome video

great video very helpful keep up the good work

Nice video Robert on the X320. I noticed that you have installed a seat cover on yours to no doubt cover up and continue to protect the cracked bottom that is notorious with the John Deere seats. Would you be able to supply me with a possible manufacture name and actual part number for it as I have been trying to locate one for my x320 and have had no luck. Thank You in advance for any help you may be able to provide

How easy is it to remove and replace the rubber burp valve? I'm afraid to take it off and not be able to put it back. I've never messed with one of these it just seems pretty tight so I wanted to check before I try. My 320 is basically stopping up hills now once it warms up.

I have the exact same mower including the year. It’s starting to have trouble climbing a hill after the transmission is warmed up, in other words when I’m almost finished mowing is when I mow that hill. Would you mind telling me if those were the problems you were having? And did it fix it? Thanks very much

Thank you my x300 is getting really whiny. Drain, measure, refill it's the same way I do a poor man's job on my Volkswagen DSG, you don't have to use vcds you could just drain measure and refill through the filter in modern vw dsg's

Hey Robert great short cut to save time from doing complete drop of transaxle....do you refill using the same breather hole I would guess YES thanks

wish I had done this.Mine locked up at 950 hours.

Robert: Where is Part 2? I am interested in the performance improvement. What height should tranny fluid be? My X320 is slipping badly, running hot and is 1-3/4" down from top of Vent casting.

Help request: It would be helpful to see exactly how you filled the oil back up and purged the air. Can you or someone provide help there? Thank you.

Robert, with regard to removing the vent plug - how is this done? Use a screwdriver from underneath and pry it up and off? Folks say be careful not to damage or break the plug, so how do you remove it please?

Put the tube in the hose of your shop vac, tape it up so that the hose is completely taped to the tube with no leakage. Stick the tube in the hole, turn the shop vac on and watch the magic.

The fluid on my x340 leaking grey on the side... how bad is it

Is it necessary to get the remaining fluid out with a pump? Seeing a lot of feedback from saying they never even change out the fluid for years and seen no issue

Do you have to drain in order to add new only put 3 hours on it last years

The fluid in my 2011 X320 looks like new. It measures down 1-3/4" from top of vent tube. Does anyone know how high it should be? Unit moans and squeals, runs slow and will barely climb hills.

One con to this method is you don't get to clean the cruddy magnet underneath the actual fill hole.

Probably holds 2 quarts, so you got half of it. Not terrible for a halfway job.

This isn't a "poor mans" fluid change, you aren't saving any money over pulling the trans and changing the right way. It's so easy to pull this trans, I've done it twice. You can have it off and back on in 2 hours. Your trans on this mower will take about 2.2 qts. You can do it, you look capable.

That's not a bad idea. but I'm gonna be taking off the old gas tank from my L110 once it's off out of my way I'm gonna have plenty of hand room Im gonna use a shopvac to suck mine out and rotate the gears a little to make sure i get it all out

The stew pid mans way of partially changing some of the oil without clean the most important parts like the filter and the magnets. You wasted your time. If you can't do it right, then don't do it at all. duh. 🙄