Lower oil seal on bush hog

[icb]

I have a bush hog (6') that has a leaking oil seal. I know a lot of guys just pack the gearcase with grease but I want to replace the seal. Do these oil seals pry out from the outside, without removing the shaft, or do you have to take the gears, bearings, and shafts out and drive the seal out from the inside?

[skipmarcy]

Normally they pry out from the outside. This would be a good time to clean the whole gearbox out too with a good solvent. I did mine 14 years ago and it hasn't leaked a drop of 90w since. I replaced both input and output seals and rinsed it out good in our parts washer at the shop. Be sure to put a good film of axle/wheel bearing grease on the seal lip before installing. Good luck !!!

[tcreeley]

My bush hog upper seal for the PTO shaft is similar to a rubber coated round spring that slips into a channel. It had slid off when I put too much oil in and the pressure was too great. I'd replace all of the seals- don't reuse a seal. I used a piece of muffle pipe up against the and tapped it lightly in- 2x4 against the pipe lets you tap it in squarely with a hammer.
Good luck.

[dirt ditch]

You can download Bush Hog Parts and Operating Manuals for there new or old equipment on there website. The parts manuals have an exploded view of the gear box. Hope this helps.

Bush Hog Manuals

[icb]

Thanks for all the great advice (and the link to the bushhog site), everyone. I appreciate the quick replies!
I got the old seal out and discovered a bunch of grit and metal particles under the bearing where stuff would normally sift down to the bottom of the unit, so I'm really glad I didn't just pack it with grease and go out cutting. I'll completely disassemble and clean it all up, and then replace the seals. I discovered that it won't be at all difficult to disassemble the gear case, I just need a bigger set of snap ring pliers to get the snap ring off the input gear.