John Deere dif/trans noise

I recently picked up a John Deere 165 Hydro for $45, it has a Kawasaki FB480v 12.5 single cyl., an Eaton(?) hydrostatic trans and a hacked up wiring harness.. A little tinkering with the carb and I got it running. Problem is, it has what sounds like a loud differential whine, sounds just like my pickup did when the pinion bearings took a dump.
I'll try changing out the fluids first, but it really sounds like some bearings are about to bite the dust.
Is anybody familiar with these trans-axles? I'm wondering about interchanging parts with another trans, or just swapping in a different one altogether.
It's such a nice old tractor (late 80s) I hate to Off Road it (off lawn?) maybe keep the mower deck on it and swap in an L-head twin and some good ATV tires... and a push bumper... and maybe weld the dif...
Anyway, any help and/or ideas would be appreciated!

I think for a hydro trans like that, the whine might just be the nature of the beast.

Changing the fluid isn't a bad idea, maybe also check make sure the level is up where is should be.

The John Deere, I checked the fluid level, it's full but looks milky... might not even be the correct oil.

Another free-bee to haul off, again, some carb work and it runs great, just needs a deck belt. (maybe a seat)

Another free-bee, dumped off at my house.
Question: What the hell is it??

Looks like a late 70's Murray 11hp tractor. Should have the good ol' Peerless 600 transaxle in it!

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Looks like a late 70's Murray 11hp tractor. Should have the good ol' Peerless 600 transaxle in it!

Make a good rat-rod project!

I would definitely have to agree!

it looks like that one i had....

Ah I knew it looked familiar. Yours looks a little smaller than than the green one mrshaft. They made 2 versions of my stamped frame, an LT and a GT. You could tell be the body. The LT is made of stamped steel (like that red one), whereas the GT looks beefier with more squared floorboards (like the green one, or AK's build-off entry). Mine's just newer. Wonder what type engine the green one has or had...

I'd fix that hood on the MTD and maybe paint the deck. Could get a fair amount more out of it that way!

None of these are GT frames though, they're all LT frames including mine.. mrshaft's is just newer, that's all.

GT versions of these frames have a tunnel between the dash and fenders like Mighty's Kal El. They also don't have vertical shaft transaxles, haha.

Oh I know, haha. I'm just sayin' they use similar floorboards.

In faded paint you can see "LT???" on the hood, it has a B&S 12hp under the hood, and a 3 speed/R trans.
The more I think about it, yea, it's my future Rat Rod. A friend at work says he know where I can get a good L head twin cheap for my JD165 and I might just stick the Kaw engine on the old Murry.. White walls, oversized engine pulley, custom front suspension..