Does Everyone Have a Front Axle Leak?

[foggy1111]

My 790 doesn't leak any oil.....but it has been known to drip some mud from time to time. :thumbsup:

 

[JimmyDee]

I feel a little better hearing that there are some JD owners that do not have front axle leaks.
I bought new and still have a 1989 253 Massey that has not put a drop of oil on the ground yet. Hope I can say the same thing about the 5420 Deere in 21 years.

 

[JimmyDee]

I feel a little better hearing that there are some JD owners that do not have front axle leaks.
I bought new and still have a 1989 253 Massey that has not put a drop of oil on the ground yet. Hope I can say the same thing about the 5420 Deere in 21 years.

That is 4520 - Sorry:confused2:

 

[arrabil]

suggests that some leaks are related to the spring warmup in temperatures the and related expansion of oil & air in unvented axles.

I'll third this opinion and add that the extra snow/cold this winter may have caused extra havoc on the rubber seals.

Roy, are you sure you're thinking of a 4300? All the axle variations are the same 42/3/400 and mine is also unvented.

My 4200 @ 1000 hours has evidence of a seal leak being repaired prior to me owning it (oil leak marks on the wheel).

Sounds like a common problem on the 42/3/400 models more than anything. Makes me think I should convert to vented. In fact, I'm going to True Value right now with the plug to see if they have something that screws into there I can drill and weld a nipple to.

 

[sunnyside360]

If you read TBN regularly, you will note that if someone posts about a problem, others soon follow. Saw the same thing a few years back when a 790 owner broke the gears in his front axle...had two or three others posting the same thing shortly after.
Maybe that first post motivates others to share their incident reports...

Yes, and there are many who don't have problems so don't post. I've owned four JD cut's and none have leaked -- maybe just lucky.

 

[jeffster]

Bought my 07 3520 new and have 138 hours on it and other than being low on fluid for the front from the factory, I haven't had any problems or leaks.

 

[RoyJackson]

These axle leaking threads caught my eye.

I know you (Roy) had an 870 in the past and always spoke well of it.

My 1996 870 has never, ever dripped a drop of anything from any orifice even after 14 years of some pretty severe flogging.

After reading some of these posts, I took my owners manual out to the old girl and looked under her skirt.

What's bizarre is, the manual has a pretty good description of how to change out the MFWD oil. However, it specifically calls out (and has pictures of) the "vents" on the 870's axle.

Guess what? They aren't there! No vents. Nada. Zippo. The pictures don't match the reality.

Don't know what to make of this but I'm glad I bought this tractor when I did.

Actually, I had a 670 and it did have vents. They were outboard, near the ends of the axle. They had a plastic plug in them, IIRC.

Boy, I wish I had an 870 (better a 970)!!!! I'd still have it!

 

[beenthere]

800 hours and no leaks on front axles of the Deere 4300.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'll third this opinion and add that the extra snow/cold this winter may have caused extra havoc on the rubber seals.

Roy, are you sure you're thinking of a 4300? All the axle variations are the same 42/3/400 and mine is also unvented.

Yep...early model (98 or 99). I talked him into buying it (replacing an ancient 855).
Just to make sure we're all discussing the same thing, see the attached picture.
A indicates the vent location, B is the drain.
Picture comes from the current 3005 (790) manual

BTW, the 3320 manual does NOT show a vent. Can't find the 4300 manual, so maybe somebody can help with that (Brother Arrabil)

 

[defed]

only thing i see in my 4300 manual is the 3 drain plugs.