PHD is leaking oil!

[MFL]

Hey Guys,

I've been putting the little beast through it's paces with the PHD lately and tonight I noticed that a thin line of oil was running all the way down the outside edge of the auger. I bought the PHD from TSC new about three weeks ago. While it's true that I've been a hole diggen mo fo, I don't think two weeks of work should cause the drive gear to start leaking. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Has anyone else had experience with this brand of PHD? It's not a King Kutter like so many other attachments from TSC (only branding is the TSC logo itself), but still...shouldn't it keep the oil on the inside!! Coudl it be dry or blown seals? Should I be taking this back to TSC, or is this "normal" for PHD's

When I bought it, I added 90w gear oil to the overflow hole, made sure it wasn't over-filled and followed the break-in reccomendations in the owners manual. As with everything, I checked here and read about a dozen threads on PHD's to try and aviod any obvious screw-ups. I'm a veteren of the clamshell PHD, but a newbie to the 3pt. All comments and gentle smacks on the back of the head will be greatly appreciated!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Given what you said.. with correct oil level.. etc.. I don't think it should leak at 3 weeks.. not even 3 weeks of continous use.

Call them and see what they say. At very least maybee they have a seal they can give you or order you on their dime. Never know.. they might warranty the PHD?

Give them the chance to make it right.. then go from there. If they turn a blind eye.. contact the manufacturer if you can find out who it is. Sometimes the manufacturer will send you stuff. I know KK has sent me out snaprings and other small hardware that I found missin on mowers and pto shafts.. etc.. no questions asked.

Soundguy

Soundguy

 

[L3710GV]

Unless that seal was hit by something or just plain bad, I would bet the output shaft has play in it which will cause seal to go bad, it probably runs on taper bearings that have to be shimed to take out all play. Bearings could be cheap chinese ones and wore in, causeing the play.

 

[rambler]

I'd think someone going up the chain should get it fixed right for you for free.

For an old worn out 2nd hand phd, I'd say fill it with grease & let'er rip, hard to make good seals on old equipment.

In your case, something might not be tight or lined up right, & I'd want to persue getting it fixed/ replaced.

--->Paul

 

[jmc]

I bought mine used and I think the guy said it was from TSC. It leaks oil out of the fill plug hole. (pretty bad if you can't make a tapered thread seal). I just store it with the plug side up.

 

[Soundguy]

Some of those fill plugs have a metal cap crimped on that is vented.

Soundguy

 

[F350Lawman]

Yes it could be the little vent cap that is built into the fill plug. My JD 261 finish mower has a Curtis gear box dated 1984. It is filled properly runs cool even after several hours, but still weeps a little from the vent hole. Could this be what you're seeing???

On my fill plug if you grab the little nipple on top it rises about 1/8" to allow the gear oil to escape if overfilled or overheated. It is spring loaded and snaps back down, but I think as the machine runs some (very little) splashes and escapes normally.

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto. The gearbox on my KK rotary cutter has an oil level and fill plug. Oil level pug is about halfway up the casting, while fill plug is nearly at the top. The plug is vented and has a small cap on it than freewheels and jiggles a bit. Even with only half that gearspace filled with oil.. at the end of 4-5 hours of mowing.. slung oil has found its way out the breather hole on mine.

Soundguy

 

[MFL]

Soundguy,

Thanks for the help!! Sorry I haven't responded earlier, but my grown-up job has been getting in the way of the fun lately. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The resolution has been pretty satisfactory, so far. The folks at TSC called SPEECO (the manufacturer), and got them to send a new gear box to swap out with mine. Doing the switch this Fri.

In response to some of the suggestions to my original question (thanks to everybody that commented), I checked the oil level, tightened the filler cap, and kept and eye on it after I cleaned the gear box and let it sit. With the correct oil level and without using it, I still had leaking, and it seemed to be coming from the auger attachment shaft. I thought maybe it was just a little leakage around the seal, but the amount of oil bothered me. the entire plane of the screw on the auger was covered in oil! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Turns out the TSC guy said that he had seen the seals on other gear boxes fail and develop the same type of leak. I guess the guys at SPEECO had also seen similar failures because they didn't argue the point.

All in all, I'm satisfied. Nothing is a hundred percent perfect. All I ask is that if a product isn't working correctly that the manufacturer will at least work with me to make it right. TSC and SPEECO seem to have the same philosophy! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

I had to email speeco a few days ago about a question on an ORC.. and unlike many companies that jerk you around with half answers.. they actually cooked up a decent answer and emailed back fairly timely.

Soundguy