Need Help w/ Kubota L3710 Front Axle Bevel Gear Housing Lesak

[N80]

For me, the parts ran $188.04 (plus fluid).

Kubota 31353-44130 O'RING
Quantity: 2 @ $5.66 $11.32

Kubota 34070-13100 PLUG
Quantity: 2 @ $8.75 $17.50

Kubota 34070-13370 SEAL
Quantity: 2 @ $24.12 $48.24

Kubota TC230-13040 OIL SEAL
Quantity: 2 @ $55.49 $110.98

Thanks for that. It's not too bad. That's with both sides and I'll only be doing one side so even if I do all the seals/plugs I'd be in it for around $95.

Mine is leaking at the top of the assembly at the pivot point so it is almost certainly the large oil seal in the "bevel gear case" (as the shop manual calls it.) We've been referring to that seal as "A" in this thread.

I drained the hydraulic fluid that was in there and there was no metal or water in it. There is also no play in the wheel assembly so I think the bearings are probably fine. This means I'll probably only need the large o-ring and the large oil seal and that I should not need to pull any bearing out.

I refilled it with 85w-140 which is the thickest stuff I've ever seen. It was almost sticky. Now it does not leak when sitting still, which it was with the hydro fluid. After use it is a little wet around the pivot point of the bevel gear case.

My intention is to remove the whole assembly (bevel gear case and front gear case) as a unit and take it home to my shop to do the work. If I do this I will also need the o-ring that goes between the bevel gear case and front axle housing.

However, if it just the oil seal "A" I might try to do this outside (on the property where my tractor lives) which would save me from having to remove the bevel gear case from the tractor at all.

We'll see. And thanks to everyone for this informative (and old) thread.

 

[bjmsam]

My intention is to remove the whole assembly (bevel gear case and front gear case) as a unit and take it home to my shop to do the work. If I do this I will also need the o-ring that goes between the bevel gear case and front axle housing.

However, if it just the oil seal "A" I might try to do this outside (on the property where my tractor lives) which would save me from having to remove the bevel gear case from the tractor at all.

For me, the trickiest part of this repair was reinstalling the front gear case such that external cir clip 100 was secure. Jacking up the gear case against the bevel gear case using the weight of the tractor was key. That might be more difficult to do in a shop with the assembly off of the tractor. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

 

[N80]

I wondered about that. Is the c-clip you're talking about accessed through the little "window" in the front gear case or is it at the bottom where the plastic 'cap' seal is? I wonder if I could get the whole thing in a large press to do this?

 

[bjmsam]

Remove plug 110, internal cir clip 150 and shim 140. If ball bearing 130, bevel gear 120 and bevel gear shaft 010 do not drop out, then use the front axle "window" to gently pry down on bevel gear 120 until they do. External cir clip 100 then will be accessible from the bottom (I was unable to get at it through the window); that clip is all that holds the front axle case 020 (and therefore the wheel and tire!) to the bevel gear case (i.e.- to the tractor), so reinstalling it improperly will result in Badness:

Last month, I replaced leaking oil seals on the front axle cases of my 2006 L4400DT 4x4. This past weekend, as I was using the tractor out on my hunting lease, the left front axle case slipped off when I raised the front wheels off the ground with the loader. (I was 1 1/2 miles out in the woods) Without getting into the gory details, I damaged the bevel gear case, oil seal, and possibly a couple bearings walking it backwards out of a trail and backwards up a trailer to get it home.

If you don't seat that [external] c clip 100% into its groove, it will snap out and then nothing is holding your front [axle] case on.

 

[N80]

What do you use as a jack point if you have to have access to the bottom of the front gear case?

 

[bjmsam]

I positioned my jack on the inner edge of the case such that access was not blocked.

 

[N80]

Thanks. It seems like working with that bottom c-clip while the assembly is on the tractor would be difficult. I'm assuming you'd have to be on the ground and on your back. I'm thinking that if I have access to a large enough press I could do this in a shop. My B-I-L is about a mile down the road from my cabin and he has a pretty full tractor shop (for his farm) and he has a good sized press. So, I might try to get it done on the tractor and if too fiddly will just pull it all off and take it to his shop.

I don't like using other people's shops/tools and have only used his once in the 30+ years I've known him and that was just to do the initial scheduled 50 hour service. I just used the indoor space and not his tools. If I need to do this in his shop I'll get him to help and he usually doesn't mind. (I've helped him do a lot of work on his stuff in this shop.)

 

[bjmsam]

It seems like working with that bottom c-clip while the assembly is on the tractor would be difficult. I'm assuming you'd have to be on the ground and on your back. I'm thinking that if I have access to a large enough press I could do this in a shop.

Indeed, I was on my back (in my barn, so not too uncomfortable), but it wasn't difficult once I figured it out. It's a good thing I rechecked the first side because the clip was not seated, but removing the wheel, pulling the axle cover, removing the cap and bevel shaft assembly, employing the jack, seating the clip with confidence, and reassembling everything took less than an hour. On the other hand, I had a good five hours invested at that point... experience is valuable! Next time, removing seal 060 from the case will remain the only significant challenge, but the case is already off the tractor and portable if I need help. Let us know what you end up doing and how it works out!

 

[Oldoak]

You guys are a jinx!

I read this topic just incase....because I noticed a drip ever so often after parking my L4200 Kubota. Just recently I noticed the front axil leaking severe enough to require a seal change. (left front axil, seal A). At least now I know what to look for and how to go about it. :thumbsup:

I can't complain though. Up till now the only think I replaced on my L4200, which I purchased new in June of 1998 was a glow plug relay. I only have 494 hours on the tractor and I guess it's my fault for not using a counter weight more often then not when working the front end loader hard. Oh well, live and learn. :confused3:

 

[N80]

Update: With the 85w-140 gear oil there is now no leakage at all. Even dry around the seal. This is even after a week of daily use filling in a friend's swimming pool. So for now I'm just going to leave it alone and try to avoid getting it underwater.