Note that this procedure was done on a 2000 4300 Compact Utility Tractor, but should be generalizable to many other contemporary John Deere models.
Tools needed: Hydraulic press; 10 mm socket for hub bolts, seal installer, depth gauge, brass brush to remove old sealing material from mating surfaces, Allen wrench/socket for axle drain plug, flat-faced chisel, hammer; razor knife, large external snap ring pliers, torque wrench.
Parts needed: Seals, John Deere Sealant (TY6304; this is Permatex 515), axle fluid, solvent, wheel bearing grease.
Instructions:
1. Pressure wash wheels and hubs thoroughly.
2. Lift tractor wheels off ground, place jack stands under axle.
3. Remove wheels.
4. Run razor knife along groove where flanges meet to break paint/sealer bond.
5. Remove 10 mm hub bolts.
6. Carefully break loose hub assembly by alternately tapping recesses at 3 & 9 o'clock positions.
7. When the assembly has protruded approximately 1/4", you should be able to wiggle by hand and remove -- careful -- it is heavy, probably 30 pounds?
8. Put hub assembly gear-side-up in hydraulic press, with hub free to be expelled.
9. Remove snap ring.
10. Carefully press hub shaft, first through inner bearing, then gear. When gear is free, everything should drop out at that point.
11. Remove inner bearing, gear, and large spacer. Pick up hub assembly and place on workbench, flange side down. Set hub/shaft assembly aside.
12. Carefully tap out outer bearing from assembly (note that it will probably drop out after initial movement).
13. Remove old seal.
14. With brass wire brush, remove old sealer/rust/etc. from both mating flanges (on hub assembly and on axle assembly on tractor).
15. Separate new two-piece seal and set aside inner part.
16. With solvent, prepare outer edge of outer seal and receiving surface on hub assembly for sealer.
17. wipe a thin coat of sealer on outer hub seal outer surface.
18. Using JD seal installer, install outer seal to a depth of 0.060" (see picture on "Installation Instructions" that come with seal.
19. (Optional; I did this) Using wheel bearing grease, form a 1/4" of grease around outer seal at inner edge. Also, coat inner surface of seal with grease.
20. Clean hub/shaft and lay on workbench, shaft side up.
21. Carefully lay hub housing on top of hub, with shaft coming through opening. Center housing on top of hub.
22. (Optional: I did this) Using wheel bearing grease, liberally coat "inside" of outer seal from inside of housing. [In other words, housing is laying on hub, and the shaft is protruding through the housing.] Also, coat "mating surface of "inner seal" with wheel bearing grease.
23. Press inner seal on to shaft mating surface until "seated" with outer seal.
24. Lubricate both mating surfaces (shaft and bearing) and then install outer bearing.
25. Center and place spacer on top of outer bearing. Lubricate mating surface of spacer.
26. Lubricate mating surface of gear. Carefully place gear on shaft, ensuring that its outer bearing surface mates with spacer. Press just enough to start gear's descent onto shaft, but enough that a portion of shaft is protruding for inner bearing.
27. Lubricate mating surface of inner bearing. Carefully press on inner bearing until just enough clearance is provided for snap ring to seat. [Note that this will be an iterative process -- you should press and check several times to make certain that you don't "overshoot" the snap ring clearance.]
28. Install snap ring.
29. Form bead of sealer at the inner part of the "L" on the flange. Let sit for 1-2 minutes.
30. Install hub assembly on axle assembly. [ The assembly may simply slide on automatically, but more likely, you will have to push, or lightly tap, around its circumference until it begins to seat. When it is seated enough for the bolts to be started, "draw it in" until it meets the other mating surface.
31. Torque these bolts to 22 - 27 foot pounds, beginning at bottom-most bolt and then alternating around that bolt until you end at the top.
32. Install wheel.
33. Refill axle with oil (4.1 quarts capacity). I intentionally under-fill, then drive to get it "settled," then re-check and top off.
Richard Easley
Waco, Texas
Tools needed: Hydraulic press; 10 mm socket for hub bolts, seal installer, depth gauge, brass brush to remove old sealing material from mating surfaces, Allen wrench/socket for axle drain plug, flat-faced chisel, hammer; razor knife, large external snap ring pliers, torque wrench.
Parts needed: Seals, John Deere Sealant (TY6304; this is Permatex 515), axle fluid, solvent, wheel bearing grease.
Instructions:
1. Pressure wash wheels and hubs thoroughly.
2. Lift tractor wheels off ground, place jack stands under axle.
3. Remove wheels.
4. Run razor knife along groove where flanges meet to break paint/sealer bond.
5. Remove 10 mm hub bolts.
6. Carefully break loose hub assembly by alternately tapping recesses at 3 & 9 o'clock positions.
7. When the assembly has protruded approximately 1/4", you should be able to wiggle by hand and remove -- careful -- it is heavy, probably 30 pounds?
8. Put hub assembly gear-side-up in hydraulic press, with hub free to be expelled.
9. Remove snap ring.
10. Carefully press hub shaft, first through inner bearing, then gear. When gear is free, everything should drop out at that point.
11. Remove inner bearing, gear, and large spacer. Pick up hub assembly and place on workbench, flange side down. Set hub/shaft assembly aside.
12. Carefully tap out outer bearing from assembly (note that it will probably drop out after initial movement).
13. Remove old seal.
14. With brass wire brush, remove old sealer/rust/etc. from both mating flanges (on hub assembly and on axle assembly on tractor).
15. Separate new two-piece seal and set aside inner part.
16. With solvent, prepare outer edge of outer seal and receiving surface on hub assembly for sealer.
17. wipe a thin coat of sealer on outer hub seal outer surface.
18. Using JD seal installer, install outer seal to a depth of 0.060" (see picture on "Installation Instructions" that come with seal.
19. (Optional; I did this) Using wheel bearing grease, form a 1/4" of grease around outer seal at inner edge. Also, coat inner surface of seal with grease.
20. Clean hub/shaft and lay on workbench, shaft side up.
21. Carefully lay hub housing on top of hub, with shaft coming through opening. Center housing on top of hub.
22. (Optional: I did this) Using wheel bearing grease, liberally coat "inside" of outer seal from inside of housing. [In other words, housing is laying on hub, and the shaft is protruding through the housing.] Also, coat "mating surface of "inner seal" with wheel bearing grease.
23. Press inner seal on to shaft mating surface until "seated" with outer seal.
24. Lubricate both mating surfaces (shaft and bearing) and then install outer bearing.
25. Center and place spacer on top of outer bearing. Lubricate mating surface of spacer.
26. Lubricate mating surface of gear. Carefully place gear on shaft, ensuring that its outer bearing surface mates with spacer. Press just enough to start gear's descent onto shaft, but enough that a portion of shaft is protruding for inner bearing.
27. Lubricate mating surface of inner bearing. Carefully press on inner bearing until just enough clearance is provided for snap ring to seat. [Note that this will be an iterative process -- you should press and check several times to make certain that you don't "overshoot" the snap ring clearance.]
28. Install snap ring.
29. Form bead of sealer at the inner part of the "L" on the flange. Let sit for 1-2 minutes.
30. Install hub assembly on axle assembly. [ The assembly may simply slide on automatically, but more likely, you will have to push, or lightly tap, around its circumference until it begins to seat. When it is seated enough for the bolts to be started, "draw it in" until it meets the other mating surface.
31. Torque these bolts to 22 - 27 foot pounds, beginning at bottom-most bolt and then alternating around that bolt until you end at the top.
32. Install wheel.
33. Refill axle with oil (4.1 quarts capacity). I intentionally under-fill, then drive to get it "settled," then re-check and top off.
Richard Easley
Waco, Texas
