Hydro Flatulation
 

The hydro on my 129 releases "gas" when I remove the fill plug. I have learned to do this since the first time I changed fluid.It seems to take awhile to build up,7or 8 mowings,it's part of my servicing when I grease,check oil,and fill up with gas. There is no breather on the hyro,so is there a way to install one?

There should be a breather on the top of the casting right above the rear end cover...its a round porous area a little smaller diameter than a dime(not sure what the material is exactly, but looks like stone)....pretty sure all the hydros have this, my 127, and 682 do. Its possible its been painted over, or just full of crap and clogged...

Someone correct me if all the earlier hydros weren't vented...

Jeff (teet)

Thanks Teet, I'll check that out. I remember looking at that at one time, but thought it was a pipe plug.If it's a porous membrane the it is definately blocked.

Any more info on the breather? If that thing you're referring to is a breather, I just clogged mine with paint.:bash2:

Hydro Flatulation
 

I tried cleaning the breather, but it seems to be a rubber compound of some kind. Scraped, and drowned it with solvent to no avail. I didn't take the fender pan off, so I was reaching in from the back with the hitch Knuckle causing some interference.Don't know wether to try and pry it out or what. Any suggestions?

It's a porous bronze thing that's pressed into the case. Take a Q-tip and some paint thinner and clean it off. If you don't the rear will eventually start breathing through all of the seals on the trans instead.

jo1429-

You won't be able to pry it out, as I believe it's rather thick. If you were to remove the rearend cover you could probably push it out from the inside and then try to clean it that way. Not sure what 'solvent' you're using, but brake cleaner might be something to try...it'll clean just about anything.

Usually they get pluged because someone paints over them. I've had good luck using a wire brush and some paint thinner on the outside, and then using compressed air from inside the rear cover.

Hydro Flatulation
 

I've used the Brakleen, a whole can, and scraped and picked at it. I'll try the wire brush, Thanks

I think the only good way you are going to be able to get it cleaned is to pull the rear cover. Blow air up from inside while you use a light brush to dislodge the stuff in the "stone". Not only will this keep you from contaminating you Hy-Trans, but the crap in the stone now will not settle back in while you dislodge it... Sucks with having to dump the fluid, but it might be wise any how after using a whole can of Brakleen already..

You're going to want to keep an eye on it from now on also. If you remove a bit of the material, you will create a spot for dirt ect. to settle into from here on also..

Radical move would be to pull the fender pan and drill out the top 8th or 16th of an inch too, but I'd give the scrubbing a very good try first..

That's likely to just smear the top surface of it around and ensure that it is no longer porous.