Oil & Fuel DRAIN PLUGS for front Axle

[AI6MK]

Hi,
I'm changing the fluids in my 2638. The first challenge was trying to find the right fluids, but I think I'm there now.
So I thought I'd start with the FRONT AXLE...what could possibly go wrong ?

Consulting the legendary Mahindra documentation, I located the drain plug and emptied the front axle. Easy enough.
I put the drain plug back and started to fill the front axle. l got about 6 litres in there and it was overflowing...gear oil everywhere.

So, my guess is that there are really 3 drain plugs. Can somebody please confirm ?

Is there a 3rd party workshop manual which is fairly accurate ?

Regards,
Brian

 

[oosik]

Actually you should not need a work shop manual. Your tractor Op Manual should show the drain plugs. My front axle has more holes than Swiss cheese. Two drain plugs, one fill plug and one check plug. One drain plug, on each side, at the bottom of the outboard gear reduction case. A fill plug and check plug on the axle housing itself.

Welcome to the world of foreign language intrepretation.

 

[ptsg]

You need to drain both sides of the front axle at the lowest points near the hubs.

If you only drain one side, the oil on the other side can't really go up and over to the other side by its own.

 

[duffer]

I've got the 2538 which is the predecessor to your 2638. same drive trains though.

ptsg's post above is right. You need to drain both sides of the front axle, near the hub.

Be prepared to use every curse word you know, and make up a couple more if this is the first time you've done this. My drain plugs were installed at the factory with 1000 psi impact gun, and then just to make sure they would piss me off, they painted over everything to really seal it in. I couldn't even loosen the 2 side drain plugs with a breaker bar. I ended up having to take my propane torch and heat up the area, to break it loose. Hopefully yours will not be as involved.

Also, based on the location of the hub drain plugs, get a small funnel to catch the fluid and divert it into your drain pan, because you can't get a drain pan under the hub drain plugs without hitting your front tires. (at least I couldn't)

And while we're add it, when you get around to draining the rear housing, you're gonna get 5 gallons of fluid rushing out. So be prepared to catch that much fluid at once. Cause it's highly unlikely you'll be able to stop it mid stream without getting it all over you.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I found it easier to remove the final drive drain plugs on the front axle by taking the tire off, placing the pan under it and then remove the plug and top vent. When refilling the fluids to the front it helps flow to have those top vents out until fluid comes out of them then put them back in. I just used an end wrench and didn't get them as tight as Kong did when he built it.
On the trans I took a plastic barrel and cut it to be able to slide underneath, worked like a charm and no fluid spilled. The filters are on tight too, I use a channel lock type filter pliers that got them. The suction screen was the hardest part as a section of the loader frame had to be loosened and partially removed to be able for the screen to slide out.

As for the fluids you can use the same fluid in the front axle that you put in the rear, I use Schaeffer oils 315 Simplex Supreme.