tiller leaking gear oil

[big e]

I've used this tiller lightly in the past and it has not leaked till this year when I put in a food plot. The leak you see took about 10 days to seep that much gear oil out.
I attempted the quick fix of trying to tighten some bolts. None were loose. The leak is coming from the spot that you see the screwdriver marking.

Is this a common problem? My buddy says tillers leak all the time. So, do I live with this?
or
What is the fix for this? Is this a big job?

[leonz]

I've used this tiller lightly in the past and it
has not leaked till this year when I put in a food plot.

The leak you see took about 10 days to seep that much gear oil out.

I attempted the quick fix of trying to tighten some bolts, none were loose.

The leak is coming from the spot that you see the screwdriver marking.

Is this a common problem? My buddy says tillers leak all the time.

*So, do I live with this? Or what is the fix for this? Is this a big job?

About your tiller and its leak:


What it is a wear problem and with debris being stuck near and on the
tiller cross shaft which wears on the shaft and the seal lips wears on the
seal and as result you have leaks eventually.

A lot of it also comes from three things, one being a plugged vent in the gear box,
lower quality seals without spring tension behind the seal lips, and overfilling
the reservoir with gear oil.

In order to replace the seal you have break the chain, remove the lock set screws on the shaft
inside the gear box/chaincase or the castle lock nut and locking tabs if so equiped
and release the set screws holding the bearings to the ends of the tiller shafts.
If it is gear driven it takes a bit more work to disassemble as the gears must be
reinstalled properly otherwise the gears willhave uneven wear and may suffer
from a premature failure.


The other thing is a gearbox or chain drive like this is splash lubricated and it
does not take a lot of oil to seap out if it is overfilled.

SO its a winter project if you have room and a heated shop to do it or simply draining
the gearbox every time you finish using it and tagging the rototiller to remind you to
put oil back into it before you use it.

[big e]

Thanks Leonz!
Are you in North East USA?
Or Nebraska USA?

[Artisan]

Mine leaks too, I am considering putting a very heavy
oil in it and see what happens.

[leonz]

Ah, so your familiar with the sugar beet country in Michigan and Nebraska?

I am in the northeastern US.

[big e]

No. If you were from Nebraska I was going to wish you luck this weekend in Columbus.

[leonz]

AH, thanks anyway I am a Cornell University hockey fan and I am
hoping that we get to the frozen four this year.

About your Avatar; Is she getting used to driving your mule or are you
giving her preliminary driving lessons ?

[leonz]

If you use a heavier oil than a ninety weight with
it you will be wasting your money as STP would
be a better buy as it is almost the same consistancy
as Gulf Mining Lube and it would be better for the tiller.

[big e]

No driving yet but she sure does like to sit up there.

Go Big Red! And go actual scholar athletes!

[Artisan]

If you use a heavier oil than a ninety weight with
it you will be wasting your money as STP would
be a better buy as it is almost the same consistancy
as Gulf Mining Lube and it would be better for the tiller.

Nice! I do not think you need a whole lot
of anything in there, I would think that so long
as the lower gear and chain gets a dip that it
will carry easily to the top...