4110 Final Drive Cap Leak - info needed

[Keith_B]

I've got an oil leak that is coming from the cap at the bottom of my final drive on my 4110 Serial #4110 y03010xx

This is the newer model, I bought it in '05. It is part #23 in the attached image. The cap sits lower on the side that leaks than on the other side, and I can push the cap back up in the housing, but it slides back down. I'm not sure how much pressure I can put on the cap, obviously it appears as if it is intended to drop out of the bottom, so is it a simple case of needing to drive it up far enough to reseat it, or do I need to replace a seal assembly to stop the leak from this point?

[Keith_B]

One more thing, the leak is hy-trans fluid and not #80 or #90 gear oil. This is what has been in the tractor's front axle since I purchased it. Should I drain and fill with the #80 or #90 weight as called for by the manual, or go ahead and run the hy-trans fluid?

[wallace]

It is a drive in cap and you should have changed the fluid out to gear oil at the first 50 hours.
I would drain out the oil clean up everything around the seal and lay a thin bead of silicone on the cap and drive it back in.

[Keith_B]

Originally Posted by wallace

It is a drive in cap and you should have changed the fluid out to gear oil at the first 50 hours.
I would drain out the oil clean up everything around the seal and lay a thin bead of silicone on the cap and drive it back in.

Thanks, sounds like an easy fix. I tried driving it up in there just the way it is, and it pops back free. I'll get some #80 or #90 weight and silicone and get on it.

Is there an easy way to get the cap all the way out?

[mlitt12345]

My 4110 is doing the same thing, Keith_B can you please update how you fixed your leak? How did you get the cap out? Thanks Mike

[skipmarcy]

Originally Posted by mlitt12345

My 4110 is doing the same thing, Keith_B can you please update how you fixed your leak? How did you get the cap out? Thanks Mike

I've had to change mine a couple of times when I've had the unit apart to replace broken countershafts and I don't think sealing it with silicone while attached to the tractor is going to work very well. You'll never get it or keep it oil-free enough for silicone to stick - especially since the cap's sealing surface is a heavy rubber and the oil will constantly drain down to it while it's drying. The cap is just like a large freeze plug coated in a heavy rubber. If it's leaking/falling out it's either because the metal has lost it's tension or the rubber has gone bad. Can't remember how much but it wasn't much for a new one, maybe $8 or$10. I've got one out in my shed now - I keep a new one with a new countershaft and a new axle handy at all times. The part number for the cap is - 14254330180. One of the dealers on here should be able to get you one easily. If you try the silicone just get it as dry as you can with Brakleen or similar and hope for the best. Good luck!!

[Keith_B]

Originally Posted by mlitt12345

My 4110 is doing the same thing, Keith_B can you please update how you fixed your leak? How did you get the cap out? Thanks Mike

I popped the cap out with a screwdriver, drained the final drive, then cleaned it really good after letting it drain overnight with a bit of alcohol. Alcohol breaks down the oil, while also having the benefit of providing a dry surface in a short amount of time. I ran a bead of silicone around the cap and drove it back up into place and it has held fine since the repair.

I imagine the reason it came loose the first time was that I've run over something that put pressure on one side of the cap and caused it to push upward at that point, and downward 180 degrees away from that point.

The key to the repair is getting the final drive oil drained, then cleaning the area inside the final drive where the plug will go.

[Keith_B]

Originally Posted by skipmarcy

I've had to change mine a couple of times when I've had the unit apart to replace broken countershafts and I don't think sealing it with silicone while attached to the tractor is going to work very well. You'll never get it or keep it oil-free enough for silicone to stick - especially since the cap's sealing surface is a heavy rubber and the oil will constantly drain down to it while it's drying. The cap is just like a large freeze plug coated in a heavy rubber. If it's leaking/falling out it's either because the metal has lost it's tension or the rubber has gone bad. Can't remember how much but it wasn't much for a new one, maybe $8 or$10. I've got one out in my shed now - I keep a new one with a new countershaft and a new axle handy at all times. The part number for the cap is - 14254330180. One of the dealers on here should be able to get you one easily. If you try the silicone just get it as dry as you can with Brakleen or similar and hope for the best. Good luck!!

Works like a champ to clean it and use the silicone. Nearly six months after the repair and no problems.

[skipmarcy]

Glad it worked for you. Your tractor must be different than mine - mine has a metal plate over the bottom of the final drive covering the plug, held on with 3 bolts. Nothing can get to my plug to damage it or anything. I guess since you put the silicone on soon after degreasing it, it dried quick enough before the oil got back down to it.