John Deere 85G – 500 Hour Service Interval Tasks Part 6

Previously, we changed the cabin air filter.

In this post, you’ll learn how to replace the final drive oil on a John Deere 85G Excavator.

Do you prefer to see a video tutorial instead?

Need to save time? The following table shows every filter you need for the complete 500-hour service interval:

Start by parking your machine so the plugs of the final drive are in the following positions:

• Up plug – 12 o’clock.
• Level plug – 3 o’clock.
• Drain plug – 6 o’clock.

Get a plastic container to collect the used oil.

On this particular model — John Deere 85G — each final drive takes 1.2 liters of 85W-140 oil.

First, remove the top plug to release pressure within the final drive, allowing the old oil to flow smoothly and quickly out of the system. Use a ratchet with an Allen/Hex key (refer to the operator manual for the correct key size).

Remove the level plug. Oil should come out when removing the level plug. If not, there might be a problem with the housing or the seals.

Lastly, take out the drain plug. Old gear oil looks dark and has a particular smell — burnt or sulfurous.

We recommend sampling your gear oil at the time of service. Refer to the operator manual or the description in the YouTube link of this post for more information.

Once it stops draining, reinstall the drain plug.

Start filling from the top plug using 85W-140 oil until it drips out of the level plug. The oil level should stay just below the level plug.

Give the final drive a good clean to check for leaks.

In the final post of this series, we’ll flip over the cutting edge on the John Deere 85G Excavator.