Oil & Fuel TC30 Hydro leak at front drive shaft

Evercamper · Aug 18, 2010

While turning over my windrows the other day I got hay wrapped around the front drive shaft and subsequently have developed a leak from the seal where the front drive shaft exits the transmission. It looks like I need to split the tractor to change an $8.00 seal. Can this be true?

forteatwo · Aug 20, 2010

Evercamper:

I currently have the exact same problem with my TC-29D. I was in some tall grass and a few of the stems somehow got under the seal going to the front wheels, now there is a slow leak. I pulled out all the grass but it continues to leak. I assume the seal is distorted and will have to be replaced. It is not clear to me how to proceed with replacing the seal. If anyone has had to replace this particular seal any help would be much appreciated. I have the factory service manual but it is not clear how the seal is removed.

dynasim · Aug 23, 2010

Other small NH CUT's have had issues with the seals and drive shaft, and they were able to remove the drive shaft through some sort of sliding mechanism.

Chris

emorris · Sep 8, 2010

I had same problem with my 2002 tc30. took it to dealer for warranty work and they replaced it at no charge.

tb525 · Sep 9, 2010

There's no need to split the tractor, that seal is external. Drain the hydraulic fluid into a couple of clean 5 gal buckets. (there will be grass behind the seal that needs to be cleaned out and it takes time, otherwise you could change the seal without draining all the fluid and only have minimal fluid loss)

Loosen the clamps on the rubber boot and slide it to the center of the driveshaft..

Remove the bolt that goes through the side of each yoke and into the driveshaft.

Slide the yoke/universal joint off the transmission output shaft. (It will take a little prying with a screwdriver)

Slide a 90 degree o-ring seal pick in between the seal and output shaft. Twist it to hook the back of the seal and pull out.. (pull a little on one side, then the other) (Harbor Freight, Auto Parts stores, etc sell o-ring seal picks)

Clean out any debris that's inside.. Slide the new seal over the shaft and tap into place..

Refill the hydraulic fluid..

Reconnect the driveshaft, rubber boot etc.. If you have problems aligning the holes in the yokes with the holes in the shaft, use your bucket to lift the front tires off the ground and you can spin the shaft..

While you're under there, give the grease fitting that's in the sleeve over the driveshaft about a dozen pumps of grease..

barbqranch · Sep 9, 2010

And if you use the bucket to raise the front wheels off the ground, block the wheels up with wood or something else that won't fail. If the tractor comes down on you, it could mess up your whole day.