Front Axle Pressure L3130

Boyde · Jul 17, 2013

I have a 2003 L3130 TLB with 1950 hours. Both front axle seals started leaking oil. I removed the oil check plug and air rushed out, it was under pressure. I followed the rubber vent hose from the axle and the other end was mounted to the engine coolant reservoir. This sounds crazy, so I double checked. There is a solid plug (no hole) at the bottom of the cooland reservoir. The axle cound not vent, so I removed the hose from the reservoir and left it open to air. I purchased the tractor used about 5 years age, could someone have mis-installed the vent hose?
Any input may help.
Mike

repete · Jul 18, 2013

Weird.

crazyal · Jul 18, 2013

My guess is someone saw the hose not connected and panic set in. They searched until the found a place to plug the hose into. Just make sure that water can run down the hose into the axle.

kuboman · Jul 18, 2013

The vent hose from the axle goes up into the engine compartment but should NOT be connected to the coolant tank.

RaydaKub · Jul 18, 2013

kuboman said:
The vent hose from the axle goes up into the engine compartment but should NOT be connected to the coolant tank.

And maybe more importantly, the coolant tank should not be allowed to drain down into the axle vent!

Gary Fowler · Jul 18, 2013

I would think that the hose would go up into the engine compartment so no danger of getting high water into it then turn 180 degrees so the bottom of the tube is then facing down to prevent water ingress. I think you are right in that someone saw a loose hose and thought it belonged on the cooling tank, weird that they wouldn't have traced the hose back to the origin though. That likely means that the coolant overflow hose is either missing or laying inside the engine compartment and not hooked to anything.

Bluegill2 · Jul 18, 2013

RaydaKub said:
And maybe more importantly, the coolant tank should not be allowed to drain down into the axle vent!

That would be something to check, just sayin...

kuboman · Jul 18, 2013

On some coolant tanks there are blank hose nipples so maybe it was hooked to that. Anyway that is not where it belongs.

Boyde · Jul 19, 2013

kuboman said:
On some coolant tanks there are blank hose nipples so maybe it was hooked to that. Anyway that is not where it belongs.

The coolant tank vent hose is still connected and stops/vents a few inches above the front axle. You are correct, there is a blank hose nipple (no hole) at the bottom of the tank, this is where the vent hose was connected. When I traced the axle vent hose the hose and opened the clamps, dark gray paint flaked off the clamps and the hose, so it looked like it came from the factory this way. I totally agree that it makes no sence. I will make sure that the top of the axle vent hose is positioned down. Thanks for all the input.
Mike

crazyal · Jul 20, 2013

I wonder if it comes this way from the factory to the dealer to prevent moisture from getting into the axle during storage and shipping and it's the dealers job to remove it while doing the initial service.