1961 Cockshutt 540

Keith R

Keith R

Tractorologist
Member
I have recently come into possession of a 1961 Cockshutt 540. I have the original parts list manual for the tractor; on line I found a service repair manual but no operating manual. The repair manual stated that the hydraulic system reservoir was filled with 10W 30 motor oil, does this sound correct? New to the farm tractors, never been around them so my knowledge is basic.
 
Lance Skene said:
Yep that was normal back then with alot of manufacturers because it was cheap at the time.... but with all the detergents/additives in modern oils its not so cheap anymore.
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Thanks for the reply, I was replacing the hydraulic cylinder on the loader bucket and the oil that came out was defiantly not hydraulic oil, it looked like motor oil that had got water in it at sometime. I didn't know what the previous owner was using ,so it may have been motor oil. Is there any harm in draining the system and putting in hydraulic oil, or just top up with motor oil?
 
I would drain it and replace with a basic ISO-46 hydraulic fluid or similar, that would have the same viscosity as a 10-30w... hydraulic systems in general are not very fussy about the oil used in them.... but back in the day engine oil did not contain alot of additives or detergents like they do today and now non-detergents oils are getting harder to find.

Im a big Cockshutt fan, especially the canadian built models.... my pop ran a service center when I was a kid in the 70s
 
Lance Skene said:
I would drain it and replace with a basic ISO-46 hydraulic fluid or similar, that would have the same viscosity as a 10-30w... hydraulic systems in general are not very fussy about the oil used in them.... but back in the day engine oil did not contain alot of additives or detergents like they do today and now non-detergents oils are getting harder to find.

Im a big Cockshutt fan, especially the canadian built models.... my pop ran a service center when I was a kid in the 70s
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That is most likely what I will do, drain and replace. This was built in Ontario, we have the hood off now, replaced water pump and had the radiator repaired. 4 Cylinder Continental engine, starts almost on first click of the switch.
 

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Thx, that was a Cockshutt 40 and an Oliver built mower... all the older round nose models were built in the same plant as your 540... Ive been looking for a 20 but they always seem overpriced... I dont have much need to a bigger tractor but I would like to restore one just because Pop had the service center... I still have one of the door signs off his old service truck.
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My MTD looks similar to the 990 but it is a 960 with a 4 spd and 12" rear wheels... all the canadian built models had flat rear fender similar to the 990 and they also have a differant grill... it doesnt ride as nice as the 990 but it does pull better ;)
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I have a 960 with 4 speed, rebuilding the motor now, 16 HP single cylinder B&S cat iron. The 960 is the tractor I haul my wood out with. Yard them out full length then buck them up. Nice old sign, love the early advertising tin signs.
 
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