4wd yanmars

[Anonymous Poster]

are there any consant problems with the fwd on yanmars. are they reliable or will I always need to repair front unit.. when buying is there any thing I should check out on them first

 

[Plapper2000]

The front oil seals will leak. It's practically a given. I park mine on two towels in the garage. I'll probably speedi-sleeve mine, when time allows. Still, I wouldn't give up my fwd. 1500D owner. I have heard of other failures but they are few and far between.

 

[pennwalk]

I am not sure how long the seals last but under normal circumstances it is a very long time. Some of the grays have been used in Japan for rice farming. All that sitting around in the mud can be hard on the front end. Sometine water and mug get in and it is just a mater of time before it fails. You have to accept a level of risk when you buy a gray. There is a reason why they are so cheap.

Chris

 

[jmf7112001]

Yes they are right the front seals will leak. But I just replace the ones on my tractor. They cost lest than $10 each and its about a hours job to put them in, if your a mechnical inclinded. So I think the fourwheel drive is well worth the money

 

[roger_scotty]

Ket, the leaks we are talking about are at the end of front drive axles just inboard of each front wheel. I have one that has leaked for years. It makes a mess on the tire. But being 90wt, a little is very messy. In 3 years the level in the front axle hasn't dropped enough to add any.
The other one that I have hasn't leaked a drop in 22 years.
Repair work on the front drive mechanism is very rare. The tower gear system (which was exclusively Yanmar's for many years) just doesn't wear like the constant velocity type found in cars or other older compact tractors. If the front axle has oil in it - and hasn't been sitting underwater for too many years - then you will most probably never have to touch it.

 

[lens12]

Fwds can be expensive to repair, so my comment is to make sure it is in good shape when you get it. If oil runs out faster than you can fill it, there may be other damage than just seals.

 

[tejuban]

Ditto to the expensive to repair. My 155D FWD did not work when I bought it so I knew I was in for a reduction in my check book. Had to replace gears, bearings and seals on one side. Almost $500.00 for the parts. Did the work myself. A year later my son was moving a pile of dirt and snapped a front axel. So got to tear it down again. Was able to find a used part.

Ted.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

At the risk of providing a low-tech answer, when my front seals started seeping two years ago I got a bottle of crankcase seal expander from the auto parts place, poured 1/2 of it in, and mowed the field. That was two years ago and it has not seeped since and I still have the other 1/2 can.

Tom

 

[pennwalk]

What a cool answer. Just the kind of solution we all crave but which we suspect deep down is snake oil. If only it was an aerosol you sprayed on the outside it would be perfect.

Chris

 

[roger_scotty]

I put some of that same seal expander in my bushhog mower when it started leaking past the blade shaft seal. It fixed it right up. Hasn't leaked a drop in two seasons now. But the other thing I did at the same time was to vent the gearbox. The manufacturer forgot to do that. Not sure which one was responsible for the fix.

HEY!!...I wonder if that could be the answer to the Yanmar leak? Naw...that would be way to simple....or is it? Could it be that improving the venting of the front axle housing is all that is required? Where is the front axle vent anyway? Everyone knows that it is important to vent gearboxes of any kind because they heat up in use, expand the air, and force fluid any low seals. That is standard practice. Also, axle housings on 4wd vehicles are traditionally vented high up because sudden immersion in cold water can suck water past the seals on unvented axles....Could it be that the rice paddy Yanmars get water in the front axle for the same reason? Are we onto something here or am I all wet?? I don't recall ever inspecting my front axle vents...I don't even remember if it has any.
Just as soon as the snow melts I'm going to have a look.