TC33D Leaky Front Axle-can't find source

[Dirtball]

Somehow fluid is vanishing from my front axle. Went to service the axle with fresh fluid and it was dry. Filled it up and started monitoring dipstik. I loose half in just <50 hours. Thought I originally had dementia and forgot to refill after the last service. But it continues to gobble fluid. No leaks on ground or down the outside of the axle itself. 930 hrs on the machine since new( all by me). has Super Steer. Must be flying out to the ground during use? I am using NH 134 as per the manual. The final drives are fine. Do the final drives fluid communicate with the axle??.......thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Soundguy]

Wipe don with mineral spirits wher ethe final drives couple to the front axle.. wipe down any drail/level plugs, an dthe fill area.. let it stand.. The oil is not evaporating.. it must be going out ont he ground somewhere.. either thru a shaft seal wher ethe front axle is driven, or at the final drive coupling area... or a plug.. etc.

After setting.. run a white cloth over it to look for oil..

soundguy

 

[agford4x4]

Let me know what you find. I have a case DX55, and this weekend i noticed mine was dry as well. I have 300 hours on it, i have never serviced it, so i guess its possible mine has always been empty. I park mine on concrete, so if it was leaking 1.5 qts out, it would DEFINITELY show up. Let me know what you find.

 

[jinman]

Do the final drives fluid communicate with the axle??.......thanks for any suggestions.

Yes they do. On some models of class II tractors, there are no filler plugs on the final drives. They get their fluid from the main axle/differential.

Don't take this the wrong way, but your handle "Dirtball" is exactly what you should look for. If you had a leaking axle, you'd have a dust beard all over it.

 

[Dirtball]

, thanks guys...I park on clean concrete , same spot ,same barn since new. No dirtballs anywhere on the axle or greasy slime drips... it seems bizarre it can disappear with no trace - I assumed it's flinging it out somewhere with use only...it's easier to check the front axle level with the yellow plastic dipstick vs. pulling the front tires to check the final drives , but once again I'll top off and follow the consumption -The good news is I probably didnt forget to refill after draining- so no dementia yet- though I feel it comin.....Note to all the other Boomers out there - check your frt axle fluid level now....I'll keep you posted...

 

[agford4x4]

Yes they do. On some models of class II tractors, there are no filler plugs on the final drives.

that doesnt make any sense. If he has a fill plug for the axle and a fill plug for the final reductions, as well as a drain plug for each, then they cannot be in communication.

the way my DX55 is set up, if they were in communication, then when my AXLE is full, then my final reduction should be WAY over full. Thats not the case, the final reduction is full when fluid comes to the bottom of the filler plug. The axle is ABOVE that point, so if it was 'full' then fluid would come out of the final reduction filler hole.

 

[jinman]

that doesnt make any sense. If he has a fill plug for the axle and a fill plug for the final reductions, as well as a drain plug for each, then they cannot be in communication.

the way my DX55 is set up, if they were in communication, then when my AXLE is full, then my final reduction should be WAY over full. Thats not the case, the final reduction is full when fluid comes to the bottom of the filler plug. The axle is ABOVE that point, so if it was 'full' then fluid would come out of the final reduction filler hole.

I did not say two "fill" plugs. The final drive has a drain plug and the axle has the only fill plug. When the axle is full to the mark on the dipstick, the final drive is completely full. Well, actually you have to wait for the final drive to slowly fill by the drainage from the axle above it. It takes awhile for the fluid to seep down.

This was a change on some later model class II tractors. It is not like your DX55 and also not like my TC45D which both seem to have both fillers and drains on the final drives.

I know this sounds crazy, but not as crazy as the poster who looked for days and could not find the fill cap shown in his operator's manual. His was one of the first ones with the change. There have been other threads posted about this and the lack of a final drive filler on later tractors as confirmed by RickB who has intimate knowledge of many models of Boomers since he works on them.

 

[RickB]

that doesnt make any sense. If he has a fill plug for the axle and a fill plug for the final reductions, as well as a drain plug for each, then they cannot be in communication.

the way my DX55 is set up, if they were in communication, then when my AXLE is full, then my final reduction should be WAY over full. Thats not the case, the final reduction is full when fluid comes to the bottom of the filler plug. The axle is ABOVE that point, so if it was 'full' then fluid would come out of the final reduction filler hole.

You could not be more incorrect. Fluid has always flowed freely between the front axle center section and final drive housings on Shibaura-built front axles using bevel gear final drives. Recently, the final drive fill plugs have been eliminated on some axles, which makes no sense to me, as the oil has to drain slowly through bearings to make its way from the center section to the finals. Previously, we could check and fill the finals independently.

 

[Eagleview]

If that is the case , maybe when the pre deliveries are done the mechanics simply fill the axle and put the plug back in . After a while the oil gets through the outer bearings and leaves the axle oil level low and it is not re checked . Always the first thing to check when axle seals are in "fact" leaking is to check the breather is not blocked . This will force oil out the seals when the air and oil expands when the axle heats up . It's not always a bad seal , this does not explain this instance as there are no signs of leaking .

 

[agford4x4]

Well, so are you guys saying on a DX55 they are not in communication?

I actually have three fill holes and three drain plugs.

It doesnt really matter, im just curious. Im curious because i can fill my axle WAY over full, and never have the final reduction filler plug overflow. Plus, i would like to know since i may be putting non caseIH fluid in my axle temporarily.

I thought my axle was dry, since nothing showed up on the dipstick. the manual says its holds ~1.5 qts. So, i was going to put some JD fluid in it to get me by. I drained the axle....what comes out? 2 qts of fluid. It had PLENTY of fluid, yet it did not show up on the dipstick. Very strange.