Water temp gauge?

[Car Doc]

Yep it is expensive, but I'm real gun-shy at this point. I like the idea of seeing the real time temp in big red numbers, and if I'm not looking, having an audible alarm that actually works!!

On an unhappier note, one of the newly sealed knuckles is leaking!!!
The first night after I replaced the seals....nothing. I went into the garage today, only to find the left knuckle seal with a little puddle of gear oil beneath it. This is not good!!! I can't think of what could be wrong, and, the things that it could be aint gonna be cheap to fix..........

I can understand that better safe than sorry!

The leak may be from too much wobble in the joint is there any play in it?

 

[winston1]

Leak also might be from a grooved housing where old seal wore a groove after 30 years. Might have to smooth it up or possible speedy sleeve (lot's $$).

 

[stormpetrel]

Leak also might be from a grooved housing where old seal wore a groove after 30 years. Might have to smooth it up or possible speedy sleeve (lot's $$).

Speedy sleeve? Not familiar with that.....But I did worry that fixing it if it was more than just the seal would be expensive. I hate the idea of oil continuing to drip on the garage floor. It's almost enough to get me thinking about trading her in.......

 

[Car Doc]

Speedy sleeve? Not familiar with that.....But I did worry that fixing it if it was more than just the seal would be expensive. I hate the idea of oil continuing to drip on the garage floor. It's almost enough to get me thinking about trading her in.......

Nah dont do that machines leak thats just the nature of the beast a steady stream is no good but if the seal is just damaged from install or there is a groove in the seal surface its fixable.

A speedy sleeve is a precision made thin wall sleeve thats pressed CAREFULLY onto the seal surface and it gives the seal a nice even smooth surface to ride on. Now it wont fix it if there is too much wobble in the assembly so that would need to be addressed first. hth

 

[winston1]

I believe the speedi sleeve you would need is the 99452. Didn't do a whole lot of looking but here is the least expensive I looked at. 99452 [CR 99452] - KSCDirect: MRO SuperStore You can google that number and get all kinds of vendors. You can go to SKFs sight and get installation instructions. I have not personally used one of these on a knuckle seal but have use them on different equipment through my years. I would first look real close at the area the seal lip rides on and see if it could possible be polished out a little. Read where someone built the area up with JB weld and worked it back down. I've not tried that. I'm not making a recommendation, just putting things out there. Car Doc is for sure right if you have slack that could be a problem.

 

[stormpetrel]

Thanks folks, very helpful. I did clean upper and lower knuckle rims. I didn't think to inspect them minutely, or to take too much time. I thought just replacing 'em would do the trick!!

I guess the next step is to check for looseness.

BTW, it looks like I could gain a lot of width by switching the front wheels & tires. Is there any reason I shouldn't? By switching the treads'll be facing in the right direction. Interested to hear what people think.

 

[winston1]

Widening the front end is not recommended, especially with a loader. Puts to much stress on the front knuckles, axles, etc.

 

[stormpetrel]

Widening the front end is not recommended, especially with a loader. Puts to much stress on the front knuckles, axles, etc.

Good to know.....scratch that idea!!!

 

[California]

By switching the treads'll be facing in the right direction.

Swap them side to side.

 

[stormpetrel]

Swap them side to side.

Switch, swap.....that's what I meant!!! But what about possible damage to (already leaking) knuckles etc.?