Does Everyone Have a Front Axle Leak?

[arrabil]

At the risk of appearing thick headed, I have to ask, is this the 'fix' to the leaking axle seal problem?

Yes and no.

It possible that the axle seals need to be pressurized to prevent muck from getting into the axle. In which case this "fix" will ruin that. On the other hand with the large number of seal failures on the 42/3/400 with an axle under pressure, this "fix" aims to put less strain on the weak seals.

All automotive axles are vented so this is an attempt to do things the "normal" way.

 

[arrabil]

The wife inspired an addition to the vented plug....

 

[arrabil]

Installed...

 

[RoyJackson]

No vents in the 42/3/400 tech manual...

EDIT: Roy, what kind of vent is that? I hope its a pressure release valve seeing as how it better not be vented to atmosphere that low to the ground!

No vents on my buddy's old 4300 either. I got down there Saturday. Reckon my memory isn't what it used to be!

The vent on the 790 is capped. You remove it prior to servicing the front axle lubricant. There is no a permanent venting to the atmosphere (which probably contradicts one of my earlier posts, but I'm not going to search for that). Probably not need for permanent venting as there appears to be adequate volume (in the axle) to accomodate the gear oil expansion.

That's a nice job you did on venting your 4200's axle, Arribil!

 

[defed]

i would think the seals can handle the pressure that builds....IF they are in good shape. when i took mine apart, the lip area was pretty beat up, so my guess is that when the air expanded, it was able to push it past a bad spot, which was still 'good enough' to hold under normal conditions.

 

[arrabil]

i would think the seals can handle the pressure that builds....IF they are in good shape

defed, problem with the seals is that they start going bad the minute you take them out of the box. Comparing the number of axle leaks in the 42/3/400 vs other JDs of the same size tells me something ain't quite right on our axle.

That's a nice job you did on venting your 4200's axle

Thanks Roy!

 

[defed]

defed, problem with the seals is that they start going bad the minute you take them out of the box.

it was in a bag, not a box :laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

defed, problem with the seals is that they start going bad the minute you take them out of the box. Comparing the number of axle leaks in the 42/3/400 vs other JDs of the same size tells me something ain't quite right on our axle.

Mil-Spec requires many seals and O-rings to be in a sealed container (normally a waxed type paper, vacumm sealed) and they have a shelf life.

You know, I've been on TBN since 2001. I don't recall a high number of threads discussing axle leakages. There was one or two now and then, but nothing particularly frequent.

Arribil, I think that first quote in your post dealt with another thread (990 ring a bell?).

 

[arrabil]

Its too bad Mil Spec or something similar necessarily adds cost to the part. It'd be better if more parts had a shelf life. Anything rubber or pre-lubed should not be produced on multi-year cycles.

I don't know about lots of axle leakages but I've heard about enough of them from the 42/3/400 crowd to be convinced it can be called a model specific trouble spot.

I think that first quote in your post dealt with another thread

Foiled by cut-copy-paste.

 

[Sam Marsh]

Be careful my axle on my 4520 leaked twice on the second time it shelled the front axle all the way. now they want me to spend $1400.00 on a extended warranty. front axle is $4800.00! what happed to the old days when tractors went forever? Oh yea Im the third person at my dealership with broke axles on 4x20 series.Ive had axle leaks on almost all my john deere tractors, but no axle breaks.