hydro leak, brake job too?

[diggerdave]

I found the source of the hydraulic fluid leak on my b1550 today. It's drippring off the brake shaft right where the arm
attaches. Or it could be the gasket behind the cover. This is on the left side. It has wet brakes. I'm wondering if there is anyway to fix this without having to drain the entire system? From the parts book I have it looks like there might be two o-rings on the shaft where it goes through the cover but they are referred to simply as "rings".

The tractor has 650 hours on it. about 150 by me. I have this really bad habit of forgetting to release the brakes and have found the brake on after driving 1/2 mile down the road to the other property, or out in the field and realizing the brake has been on since who knows when. How much abuse can these breaks take? Should I just assume I'm going to do a brake job and fix the leak in the process or just try to fix the leak? And should I do both sides or just one?

It makes a difference as to how many parts I buy and when.
Thanks in advance...
oh and how much of hassle is it to drain and refill and bleed(?)
the hyd sys??

dave

 

[gone]

Wet brakes can take quite a beeting IF! it was MY! tractor and the brakes still work fine and never adjusted much id just do the o rings,and change oil in prosses. when you drain oil just look for excessive fiber i doubt youll see much wet brakes are cooled verey well by the oil