Axle leak?

[smit360]

hey guys, hope everyone had a good holiday. Been running the heck outta my JD 3120. Have 111 hours it now. Last week I noticed a puddle around the left front time. It seemed to be hydralic fluid. The axle fluid level was still good. Kept and eye on it. No leaks at all the rest of the week. Then I saw a very small amount the other day. Fluid was still good. No leak since then. What is up? Is it a leak or not? It is winter here in MI and we are in a thaw now so very heavy mud. I thought some got in the wheel seals and messed one up but it is not leaking consistantly. Also one other question I had. I have the 300x loader on my machine and when I am dumping the bucket sometimes it hesitates dumping, like a pause in the cycle when it is about half way dumed. Hydralic fluid is full and no leaks. What coudl this be from? You guys experencing this? Is it the cold? Thanks

Jay

 

[browns40]

Hi smit360,

Have you checked the hydraulic hose fitting where it goes into your steering piston? I had a "leak" from brush bending & loosening the fitting... tightened it up & no loss since...

If thats okay... have you replaced the hydraulic fluid in your front axle yet? there are Allen screws on the low point on each side... I suppose it's possible fluid is getting by one of these d/t poor tap or screw (?) once hot/thin...

Seems to me those are the only ways you can be losing any on that side...

I have the 300CX and don't notice any pauses there...

 

[Woody_NH]

I have a 3320 with 49 hours. Back at about 35 hours I noticed a small puddle of hydraulic fluid under the left front end of the steering cylinder and the bottom of the ball joint was wet with fluid. Fluid level was OK and there has not been a repeat.
Kind of a mystery. I looked to see if the leak might have been in a line above on the left side of the engine but saw no evidence of a leak.

 

[Jomo45]

My 3320 developed a leak at the pivot point around 35 hours. (Left part of front axle) The dealer replaced the seal, no problems since. I never saw fluid on the floor, just around the joint.

Good Luck!

 

[keeney]

My 4100 had a leaky seal at the steering pivot point on the front axle. I think it is susceptable to collecting dirt and/or water in there and causing pitting on the sealing surface. When I replaced the seal, I cleaned up the metal surface, and now I keep the machine parked inside.

When it leaked, it dripped on the inside of the wheel, not directly onto the floor.

While I had it apart, I put new seals at the wheel and the upper pivot point.

- Rick