Oil & Fuel front axle oil gauge

[MoKioti]

I have a "97" LK3054 and the sight glass for the front axle popped out. There are no threads just a smooth round hole where the glass was. I don't see how I will ever keep it from leaking when I install the new one. My dealer told me to fill to the bottom of the sight glass and go with it. What good is a sight glass if you don't use it? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[ToadHill]

I'd just clean both pieces and epoxy the sight glass back into place.

 

[intel]

the epoxy should work just be sure and clean both pieces real good maybe with carb cleaner paint thinner watch with cleaning the plastic it might haze it (make it cloudy) just clean the edges.

 

[Sandlot]

The sightglass on my tractor is built into a plug with threads. You would just replace the whole thing, not just the glass. Here is a link with different styles. McMaster-Carr is a great supplier with next day delivery on most stuff.

Liquid-Level Sights

 

[MoKioti]

Thanks for the responses. It looks as though I should have tried to unscrew the piece that goes into the axle housing. It was getting dark when I saw the thing was missing so I just stuck my finger in the hole and it was smooth and I thought the glass just popped in. The tractor is down in the country so I can't walk out and check it out. It's funny my dealer didn't explain all that to me after I asked for installation directions but I guess he thought I knew what I was doing which I don't. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[MoKioti]

Update. Received the sight glass yesterday and installed it today. No problems just popped it in with a little muscle and no leaks. It's a piece of clear plastic surrounded by rubber and it's a pretty tight fit. I guess because the oil is 90 wt. helps prevent it from leaking. I would have never thunk it!!

 

[Sandlot]

Glad you got'er fixed. Now ask yourself; why did it pop out? Not installed correctly at the factory? Or do you have a vent line probelm? I would take a close look at your vent line and make sure some little critter hasn't made a home out of it.

 

[woodyacres]

I am just finishing up my 50 hour on my DK35SE HST and noticed I don't have a sight glass or anything for my front axle. It look like it was never cut into the axle. Any ideas on how to determine if I am at the proper level? Any other owners out there experiencing this (or dealers)?

 

[MichiganIron]

There is an overflow plug on the opposite end of the axle. Fill until oil drips from the overflow plug.

The plug is on the opposite end to assure the fluid runs through the differential before reading full.

It's the bolt on the side of the axle housing with the orange head.

 

[IslandTractor]

There is an overflow plug on the opposite end of the axle. Fill until oil drips from the overflow plug.

The plug is on the opposite end to assure the fluid runs through the differential before reading full.

It's the bolt on the side of the axle housing with the orange head.

And, if you are changing the oil in the axle, don't forget that you need to double check the level after operating for a short while as the front axle oil level can be misleading until you've allowed it to redistribute through operation.