Axle vents to prevent seal leakage?

[Wacky]

Why not have the front axles vented on these 4 wheel drive tractors? There must be a reason that I am not aware of. I've done a search and came up with no definitive answer. I was wanting to vent my GC through the fill cap, but it looks like I need a vent on both sides of the axle, or one in the center. I am not willing to drill a new hole, so any ideas, or just replace the seals once they start leaking.

 

[ray66v]

Why not have the front axles vented on these 4 wheel drive tractors? There must be a reason that I am not aware of. I've done a search and came up with no definitive answer. I was wanting to vent my GC through the fill cap, but it looks like I need a vent on both sides of the axle, or one in the center. I am not willing to drill a new hole, so any ideas, or just replace the seals once they start leaking.

Not sure that is a problem, mine are not vented, and they don't leak.

 

[madhatter]

Not sure that is a problem, mine are not vented, and they don't leak.

Agreed..... Why would you want to ??? It is not like the pressure up ?

 

[Reg]

Agreed..... Why would you want to ??? It is not like the pressure up ?

It depends how warm/hot it gets, pressure being some function of temperature.
After several hours the excess air pressure would probably leak out and everything would stabilize, though warm.

Then the "what if ?" as in "What if you then plunge into a cold puddle ?"
Would cold water get sucked in at the seals ? or would cold air get sucked in if there was a vent ?

I don't know about these particular tractors - - but generally I prefer to have vented axles.

 

[Wacky]

I just changed the oil in the front end. Much to my surprise, after sitting for 4 days I cracked open the fill cap and heard pressure releasing. Now, I am no expert but, I would tend to think that after a while pressure against seals would tend to leak. I would think that after reading all the posts that have a leaking front axle this is a common problem, but why has no engineer been able to fix? When the air and oil warm they have to expand right? Where can it go besides past the seals?

 

[Wacky]

Agreed..... Why would you want to ??? It is not like the pressure up ?

Mine builds pressure.

 

[Wacky]

It depends how warm/hot it gets, pressure being some function of temperature.
After several hours the excess air pressure would probably leak out and everything would stabilize, though warm.

Then the "what if ?" as in "What if you then plunge into a cold puddle ?"
Would cold water get sucked in at the seals ? or would cold air get sucked in if there was a vent ?

I don't know about these particular tractors - - but generally I prefer to have vented axles.

Yes, but where is it leaking past, or is it just expanding the seals just enough to compensate? I noticed in the winter that just after about a half hour the axle was warm enough to melt snow and was warm to the touch. How much warmer does it get on a hot summer day? I would think a vent ran up under the hood in the center of the axle would probably eliminate much of the pressure.

 

[mikeinwi]

If pressure releases when you open the filler then it seems to me that it is venting the whole axle. Could you drill and tap the filler plug and install a barb fitting for some flexible fuel line or vacuum line? Run the line to a higher spot that wouldn't get submerged in deep water or mud. If you want to protect from dust you could put an inline fuel filter like used on a lawnmower or motorcycle to keep the particles out.

 

[MFRED]

Check your filler plug, the cap is the same as the rear end and should vent if not screwed in too tigh.

 

[madhatter]

Mine builds pressure.

Ok, I stand corrected.

Mine has never had pressure in it when I checked the level.