JD 4300 4wd front axle seal leak...need spanner wrench size

[yama]

You are talking about the steel seal backer that you can see in my photo in post #8, correct?

A PVC pipe may not be stiff enough. You may need to heat the seal backer first, then use a 4" steel
or aluminum pipe. Steel is better. Oil up the inner surface first.

The seal I received is 2 piece. One piece goes in the opening of the first picture in your post # 8. The 2nd piece of the seal which I'm having trouble with presses onto the shaft in photo # 2. How would you heat the seal backer? Torch,oven? Is the "seal backer" the rubber like material that contacts the shaft its pressed onto? Are you saying to oil the rubber like material once it is heated?

 

[dfkrug]

The seal I received is 2 piece. One piece goes in the opening of the first picture in your post # 8. The 2nd piece of the seal which I'm having trouble with presses onto the shaft in photo # 2. How would you heat the seal backer? Torch,oven? Is the "seal backer" the rubber like material that contacts the shaft its pressed onto? Are you saying to oil the rubber like material once it is heated?

Only heat parts that are all-metal. Pls post a photo of your 2-piece seal. I am going by memory, and
it has been a while since I did mine.

 

[yama]

Only heat parts that are all-metal. Pls post a photo of your 2-piece seal. I am going by memory, and
it has been a while since I did mine.

This is the piece that I'm having trouble pressing on. Does it look familiar? I read on another post about prepping seal with solvent.

 

[dfkrug]

This is the piece that I'm having trouble pressing on. Does it look familiar? I read on
another post about prepping seal with solvent.

That sure does not look to be all steel. Certainly lube it up well with oil first. Can you put the housing
in the freezer for a few hours first? I would not heat a seal with rubber in it over 200F, but every bit
helps.

I did not remember my seals having this problem. I may be confusing that part of the JD seal with the
similar 2-piece seal for Kubotas.

 

[yama]

That sure does not look to be all steel. Certainly lube it up well with oil first. Can you put the housing
in the freezer for a few hours first? I would not heat a seal with rubber in it over 200F, but every bit
helps.

I did not remember my seals having this problem. I may be confusing that part of the JD seal with the
similar 2-piece seal for Kubotas.

Its steel with rubber coating in the area that mates with the housing. The rubber is likely to form an oil tight seal to keep fluid from leaking. That's what I was thinking housing in the freezer and baking the seal to 150F-200F. Will try heating the seal I ruined first to see the effect.

 

[jd110]

By your picture, it appears that the old part is still on the casting. Can you get a photo of the casting without the new seal on there?

 

[yama]

By your picture, it appears that the old part is still on the casting. Can you get a photo of the casting without the new seal on there?

I put the new seal on the housing to demonstrate. My housing looks the same as post #8 picture #2 in dfkrug's post.

 

[Alabama Brownneck]

Don't know if you solved this yet, but dry ice and alcohol (isopropyl) combined to shrink the steel part and the rubber should slide right on there

 

[yama]

Don't know if you solved this yet, but dry ice and alcohol (isopropyl) combined to shrink the steel part and the rubber should slide right on there

I finally solved the problem and its a little embarrassing. Part of the old seal was still on the spindle. Once I removed it the new seal went on with not to much trouble. Thanks for all the responses. Only did the side that was leaking so most likely will be doing the other side in the not to distant future. Strongly considering adding axle ventilation. Had to change the pinion seal last year likely do to excessive axle pressure.

 

[beenthere]

yama
Good to hear that.
As for venting, I leave the dip stick plug a bit loose and seems to do fine.. both staying there and venting any pressure from heat expansion. A bit oily around the plug, but not major problem.