burntmacncheese wrote:thanks for your replies.
As far as the ND30 oil - What I have been often been told is that if take this tractor that has always had ND30 oil and just switch it to modern 10w-30 or something that it would clean the engine and release stuck on sludge into the engine and clog the screens and filter and wreck the engine. The only way I was told that a modern oil would be possible is if I did a rebuild and opened it up and cleaned everything. I have even seen this information on this site, so I would not like to take that risk.
As far as stores - Yes I have been into the Tractor Supply in Leesburg the only ND30 oil I could find is the Traveller brand and it says "non-detergent multi-purpose lubricant" and it seems to be marketed for air compressors. My questions is this the same as ND30 motor oil? I am hesitant because I don't want to accidently put air compressor oil in my tractor.
Also, here is a picture of #5281 in my neighborhood. I live in Purcellville, VA, so maybe you don't think its a suburb of DC, opinions vary. The tractor needs cleaning and a tune up, I am still working out how best to do those things.
As said that's the same stuff. It's an antiquated oil and oil spec. Pretty much no one uses it in an engine anymore so instead of making different oils the same spec works on compressors. They market it for that. You have to remember that TSC oil is fine I use their house brand for oils and fluids and that oil is better than what was available 80 years ago when designing this engine. If your worried , drop the oil pan. It will take 10 minutes (since you don't have cultivators mounted), then 15 more to clean it up and put a new gasket or just use RTV and put it back on. You will see if there is sludge in the pan or on the rotating assembly.
But back to the oil quality anything is way better that what they had 70 years ago. You could probably fill it with 3 qts of kerosene and for the kind of use you put on it, it would run fine forever. Haha. I'm not recommending to use kerosene in place of oil it's just my point is that for your use it would work. Transmission fluid would work for that light duty...but it for sure would knock any crud loose if any.
I would just say think about your decision, consider what many of these guys, many may be close to double my age (I'm 40) are saying. They have decades of real world experience with this, not just reading on the internet. But in the end make the decision your comfortable with. ND30 will work and that tractor will last your life. I'd feel confident that modern oils also would be fine as well and give far superior cold start protection, which is where all your wear will come from anyway for your use. And a start at 80-90°f ambient temperature is still a cold start as far as an engine is concerned...it's just not as bad as a 20°f start is.
