Does Everyone Have a Front Axle Leak?

[ddivinia]

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.

Where did it leak?

I lost a seal on my 4720 from hay baler net getting wrapped up into the seal.

D.

 

[Rob-D]

From my experience I've found that seals, as a general rule, go bad because bearings go bad. They can go bad from external damage but this is another story.
If you are leaking small amounts of oil seasonally this could well be from normal case expansion and contraction in unvented cases but this shouldn't cause any great problems.
Over heating a box is another story too. Have any of you ever felt your front ends after hard use? This might be a clue if they are overly hot. Another thing you might check is front wheel wobble. Raise your front end and rock the wheels back and forth to see if you're gettting play which of course means your bearings are going and your seals will soon follow.
Small weeping of the front axels is likely normal if you are not experiencing bearing failures, just make sure to check your oil levels from time to time.

Rob

 

[Sam Marsh]

right at the knuckel the part that turns when you trun

 

[RalphVa]

No leaks on my 6 year old 4010 CUT.

I'd change the fluid and see if it seals up or reduces the leak. Had a leak on my Gravely. Changed the fluid, and the leakage reduced.

Also have had transmission or differential or power steering pump seals slinging fluid in vehicles. Change the fluid, and the slinging stopped in all cases.

Ralph

 

[AKfish]

Not a drip from my 1994 JD 970 until I sold it in 2008. No leaks or weeps or drips from my 110, either - knock on forehead..

AKfish

 

[Rob-D]

No leaks on my 6 year old 4010 CUT.

I'd change the fluid and see if it seals up or reduces the leak. Had a leak on my Gravely. Changed the fluid, and the leakage reduced.

Also have had transmission or differential or power steering pump seals slinging fluid in vehicles. Change the fluid, and the slinging stopped in all cases.

Ralph

Ralph,
I don't doubt you but I'm trying to figure out how new fluids stop a leak. A multigrade oil will migrate to the lowest viscosity as it breaks down. So in effect 10-30 oil becomes 10 weight. But oil, regardless of viscosity, still has to get through seals. The molecules in synthetic are smaller than standard oil, Mobil 1 had problems years ago because of this, there oil did leak more than it should have but they modded it so it no longer does that.
A little 'weaping' is normal, is that what you guys are talking about? Watch your levels, over filling is just as bad as under filling, especially in a sealed case without vents that can build pressure and blow a seal.

Rob

 

[om21braz]

Judging by the flow when draining - with vs. without dipstick tight - I'd say there is no or little vent. I'll not say for certain though. After a pretty good workout moving 2 tandem loads of dirt last week, mine appears to have leaky seals on both sides. The inside of both front wheels pretty dirt/oil covered. The amount was enough to cover the inside of both wheels, although not enough to show being low on the dipstick. I'll definately have to keep an eye on it - cleaned up inside of wheels. Maybe take a wheel off over the weekend and see what's going on. From the Deere parts breakdown it seems part # LVA14181 would be the likely replacement item.

 

[AKfish]

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.

Whoa... serious business! Your's is the first post I've read on an axle problem with the 4x20 tractors.

Curious as to where/how the leak developed? Especially one large enough that the axle failed during the 2nd "leaking seal" episode!

How many hours on your 4520? Guessing that if the dealer is requesting that you extend your warranty that the current axle repair is covered under the existing warranty - yes?

Thanks.

AKfish

 

[Rob-D]

I'm not hearing about axel leaks on the 2x20 and 3x20 series.

Anyone got leaks on them?

Rob

 

[RalphVa]

Almost all oils have seal swell additive. Apparently, this additive gets used up or changed in service such that the lip seals shrink a bit. New oil has new seal swell additive that "livens" up the seal again.

Ralph