TC 33D Hyd leak from weep hole

[scalesusa]

My TC33d has hydraulic leaks at weep hole, it loses a lot of fluid. I saw a post where someone thought that o rings might be bad on tubes in the area, but no resolution. I wonder what could cause this. It does seem to be worse when using the loader.

Has anyone fixed this?

 

[nyone]

Looks like you will need to split the tractor to find out. If not doing it your self..yes its expensive.

 

[JC-jetro]

Need to identify if it is engine oil or transmission oil. if engine oil , then it would be from rear main seal on the block. If that is the case then it might get on clutch and flywheel if you have manual transmission. This can cause slippage of clutch. If it is transmission oil, then transmission front case seal is leaking.

At any rate, this is not a good occurrence as repair needs to be done starting with a tractor split unfortunately.

 

[newkiotiguy]

Need to identify if it is engine oil or transmission oil. if engine oil , then it would be from rear main seal on the block. If that is the case then it might get on clutch and flywheel if you have manual transmission. This can cause slippage of clutch. If it is transmission oil, then transmission front case seal is leaking.

At any rate, this is not a good occurrence as repair needs to be done starting with a tractor split unfortunately.

Unless he just changed his engine oil it wouldn't look like that. Even if he did it would most likely be darker than that already.

 

[JC-jetro]

Unless he just changed his engine oil it wouldn't look like that. Even if he did it would most likely be darker than that already.

I was making a general statement on the methodology to diagnosis. Can take the dipstick out to get a whiff of the oil on it. Doing the same with transmission oil to compare and contrast.

 

[5030]

Either scenario entails a split. Split it and discover.

 

[toot77]

Could be a tube o-ring, but when my 1520 had this leak, it was a shaft seal on the hydrostat unit. I split the tractor myself and took the hydrostat unit to a hydraulic shop to be repaired.

 

[Tc33DPhil]

My TC33d has hydraulic leaks at weep hole, it loses a lot of fluid. I saw a post where someone thought that o rings might be bad on tubes in the area, but no resolution. I wonder what could cause this. It does seem to be worse when using the loader.

Has anyone fixed this?

I seem to have the same problem. But recently it morphed a bit. Instead of leaking from the weep hole, it started leaking higher up on the side of the casting where the tube from the oil cooler goes in. This tube is held in by a bracket that doubles as the mount for the springs for the clutch lever as well. Stupid design if you ask me. The other tube from the cooler goes in higher up on the casting and is attached with a proper banjo bolt and 2 o-rings. So when I removed this lower tube (it wasn't easy) i discovered that it goes through a cavity in the casting through to where it actually goes into the main casting inside. This cavity was filled with grit dirt oil and all kinds of goop and i'm sure that this is what is blocking the draining of fluid of this down to the weep hole. I've attached two pictures of the tube fitting and bracket that holds it in. It could very well be that this seal (o-ring) is compromised, or the bracket isn't holding it far enough in. Unfortunately, it looks like I will have to put everything back together and fill it all up with fluid (7 gallons) to find out. The o-ring is 4 bucks, I can shim the bracket if necessary... Guess i have to try. If the leak is coming from somewhere else in this cavity, it will then be apparent as it was really leaking fast at any decent rpms.

 

[Tc33DPhil]

Just adding some more notes here. As I was trying to clean out this cavity trying to prepare for the re assembly and test to see if it was the o-ring seal on the tube, I found in addition to the grime and built up oil, actual pieces of nuts (tree nuts) and evidence that there was probably mouse activity or some such in this cavity. I mean good size pieces of nuts (like 1/2 to 3/4 inch kinda chewed up) What??? How and where is there a hole big enough in this cavity for rodents to get stuff in/out? Is there a cover missing somewhere? Where would that be. I have not yet taken off the entire assembly below the seat (the big body piece) as it would entail taking off the controls etc to lift it all off. I"m also concerned that I can't really get to the very bottom of the cavity where the weep hole is to thoroughly clean it out through my access point (which is where the cooler tube goes in. Yeah, yeah I know, split the tractor get to the bottom of it. But if it is only the o-ring seal on the tube, then theoretically everything else is un necessary

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I seem to have the same problem. But recently it morphed a bit. Instead of leaking from the weep hole, it started leaking higher up on the side of the casting where the tube from the oil cooler goes in. This tube is held in by a bracket that doubles as the mount for the springs for the clutch lever as well. Stupid design if you ask me. The other tube from the cooler goes in higher up on the casting and is attached with a proper banjo bolt and 2 o-rings. So when I removed this lower tube (it wasn't easy) i discovered that it goes through a cavity in the casting through to where it actually goes into the main casting inside. This cavity was filled with grit dirt oil and all kinds of goop and i'm sure that this is what is blocking the draining of fluid of this down to the weep hole. I've attached two pictures of the tube fitting and bracket that holds it in. It could very well be that this seal (o-ring) is compromised, or the bracket isn't holding it far enough in. Unfortunately, it looks like I will have to put everything back together and fill it all up with fluid (7 gallons) to find out. The o-ring is 4 bucks, I can shim the bracket if necessary... Guess i have to try. If the leak is coming from somewhere else in this cavity, it will then be apparent as it was really leaking fast at any decent rpms.

On my tc29d, it was exactly the same as yours. I replaced orings because thats the area it was leaking. I cleaned out the weep home, tons of grass and sludge. Still leaks to this day. Leaks more at high rpm when using belly mower. Unable to split the tractor myself, no one else wants to touch it. Even dealer said leave it, will get to it when we can, at least 6 months...
Between that, needing 4 tires, and other items, I bought a new tractor. hydro oil is cheap enough for me to use as is, so I can use belly mower. 5 gallons in over 400 hours.
Good luck with yours.