A small leak

IndianaPaul · Oct 15, 2001

Need the sage advice of others out there. Yesterday morning I noticed a very, very small leak under my TC45D. Just 3 or 4 drops of light green fluid located under the engine. Slid underneath to take a look....no idea where fluid came from. Wiped up drops and left it overnight (had not run it for last 5 days) again ....a couple of drops. Slipped a large square of cardboard underneath tonight to see if I can get a better handle on where its coming from.

Looks/smells like antifreeze mix from radiator...seemed way too thin & watery for of the oil based fluids. Just can't seem to find where the drip is coming from. Any thoughts?

Have though about up taking it out tomorrow evening & running under a load for a while to see if warming fluids up changes the character of the leak, but want to make sure it is antifreeze before doing so. Plenty of fluid still in radiator.

Thanks.

Indiana Paul

djradz · Oct 15, 2001

OK, sound like another one of those problems NH (and Ford before them) have yet to fix. My 40D leaks as well and so did my 1720 before it. Check the fitting on the side of the block right near where the oil filter attaches. This fitting screws into the block and the rubber coolant drain hose attaches to it. I haven't gone in yet for my 50 hr so it still drips, but I'm sure they'll take care of it. You'd of thought, after having the same problem, and a simple on to fix, they'd have taken care of this years ago.

alan40 · Oct 15, 2001

My 1720 is the same way. Haven't fixed it yet but I do keep an eye on the antifreeze level. Have to get to that fix before next winter. Besides that my 1720 has been a great tractor. Of course I only have 135 hours on it./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Have a great day!
Al

Anonymous Poster · Dec 6, 2001

Did you ever get your leak fixed? My TC45 started leaking in the same place as yours after I installed the shut off valve for the "Too Cool Fix".

Anonymous Poster · Dec 6, 2001

Did you ever get your leak fixed? My TC45 started leaking in the same place as yours after I installed the shut off valve for the "Too Cool Fix".

IndianaPaul · Dec 6, 2001

No, have to have the leak fixed. Am going to wait for the next dealer service to do so/ Did call the dealer and he indicated that as long as I kept radiator topped off, there would be no problem. Weird thing is that this a 'cold' leak. As long as engine is running, or fluid is hot, no leak. Let it sit a couple of days and I'll get afew drops of antifreeze. Dealer said that he has had the same complaint/problem with a few others.

Paul

djradz · Dec 10, 2001

Yep, Paul, I like how you describe it as a "cold leak". Mine is exactly the same and my old 1720 was before that. There's probably some mechanical-type out there who could technically describe why a plugged hole would leak more when cold then warm, but I can only guess, especially when we heat thing up that are stuck in order to get them loose more easily.

bgott · Dec 10, 2001

What is the fitting made of? I think I read that it's aluminum. You just can't tighten a fitting that has to face a certain direction tight enough without stripping it if it's aluminum. See if you can find a replacement that is brass, that way you can get that extra turn that you need to stop the leak. Aluminum and cast iron have different rates of expansion and contraction. When the engine cools down the aluminum fitting is contracting quicker and smaller than the casting so it opens up a void. When it heats up the aluminum expands quicker and larger than the hole in the casting so it seals. Look at the bright side! Some bean counter got a fat bonus for saving New Holland and Ford ten cents a tractor!

paccorti · Dec 10, 2001

Strange, I was just in my garage and "presto" I have a leak in the exact same place! I tried tightening the fitting myself (of course it is real easy to get at /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif). I wonder if an o ring could be fitted or perhaps some thread lock.

Peter

djradz · Dec 11, 2001

An O-ring won't work as there is no place for it to fit or seat against, but some high quality thread sealant might. I've tried teflon tape and that didn't last.