Front Axles

[Alexander]

Need advice. My Yanmar 1500D was leaking gear oil out both ends front axles. I replaced both front knuckle seals. The right front sealed up fine but the left front probably leaks worse than it did before I changed it! Any suggestions?

 

[Soundguy]

How did the area where the seal rode look? if the shaft was pitted or grooved, you should have sleaved it.... or filled in in some other way.. i.e. brave and turn down.. etc.. or repalce.

Soundguy

 

[Alexander]

Thanks for the reply. The area on the knuckle where the seal rode looked just fine - no noticable wear, etc. I was wondering about something... I noticed that the housing has a little upward and downward play in it because where the pitman arm off the steering attaches to the axle housing it doesn't draw down tight to the shaft between the arm and axle housing. Could this be an issue?

 

[Soundguy]

If there is any up/down play.. the seal wont seal. That's how you can tell a bearing is going.. then the bearing startes to get play.. the wobble takes the seal out..

Soundguy

 

[mark777]

I had a similar problem and it was the key and keyway were slightly misaligned. It did not allow the nut and shim washers to fully seat and it leaked as bad as the worn seal.

I filed the key burrs and removed one of the three shims upon reassembly and it fit better and sealed completely. It also stiffened the steering, but not too much.

 

[kenmac]

I replaced mine on my 3110D & didn't put any silicone around the seal & mine still leaked. I took it back off & put silicone around the seal & where the seal meets the housing & it stopped leaking.It appeared that mine was leaking between the seal & the shaft but , it wasn't.

 

[Alexander]

It sounds like I need to take this side back apart, check for wear/voids/debree/etc., and put back together taking up any play or slack. I'll getter done! Thanks all for the replies.

 

[Alexander]

Kenmac, are you saying I need to put silicone on the outer of my seal - that yours was leaking on the back side? And what kind of silicone... one that will harden or just a grease-like substance?

 

[kenmac]

Where you tap the seal down into the housing & the seal bottoms out on the housing .That's where I had to apply the silicone . It's the kind you buy at the auto parts that you can put engines together with. just make sure all is clean & dry.

 

[Alexander]

I think I gotcha /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I'll try that.