Hydraulic drive motor leak. Old JD 90 skid steer.

Brian Ski · May 13, 2023

I have an old JD90 skid steer and one of the hydraulic drive motors is dripping from the case. Constant drip in use and almost no drip while parked, but over the winter it will lose several gallons. It is a little skid steer but has done me well over the years. (I am not a big farm guy) Question is... Is it worth my time to take it apart and replace the couple O rings? Or is it some kind of pump case wear and a waste of time. (I learned that on a leaking valve body) I have not found a replacement. They only used one was $1300. Way over my limit. For the rookie, any idea on where the motors leak?

BTW it drives fine, just have to deal with the leak.

Brian Ski · May 13, 2023

Seems to be leaking off of the #12 O rings.

ptsg · May 13, 2023

There are a couple o-rings and a shaft seal you can replace on those. The O-rings you can source them very cheaply on an hydraulic store or some similar store.

The shaft seals is an high pressure seal and can be source either by buying the entire seal kit for the motor or if you have a good hydraulic shop, they can help you out.

Make sure it's not one of the fittings leaking and making you believe it's coming from the case.

Brian Ski · Jun 5, 2023

PTSG, You called it. It was going to be very rough taking the motor out from underneath. Then I thought maybe from above. After removing the seat and the flooring the motor was right there. After looking it over there was a mount for the motor that was broken and it loosened a lock nut on one of the hoses. The leak ran right down the motor where the seal was. Rewelded the mount, and tightened the lock nut. No more leak!! Nice to have an easy fix for a change.

ptsg · Jun 6, 2023

Brian Ski said:
PTSG, You called it. It was going to be very rough taking the motor out from underneath. Then I thought maybe from above. After removing the seat and the flooring the motor was right there. After looking it over there was a mount for the motor that was broken and it loosened a lock nut on one of the hoses. The leak ran right down the motor where the seal was. Rewelded the mount, and tightened the lock nut. No more leak!! Nice to have an easy fix for a change.

Thanks for the update. Turns out it was an easy fix other than the accessibility of it.