Just to add more data to this problem. A seal leak by itself is no big deal and happens frequently. Hydraulic pressure, type of fluid, type of seal, bearings all these items can fail, or cause other parts to fail, Side loads, vertical loads, all have to be taken into account when they design something like a wheel motor. If you can look at the specs for the motor, it will tell you the max force that the unit can operate with life expectancy of so many hours. That motor could fail with in one hour, or used three times as originally designed.
If one puts additional forces loads on the motor, you will probably decrease the useful life of that motor. Additional stress could be, hitting pot holes, running over ruts fast, and the big one. adding a super big load on those front wheel motors, with half a ton to a ton of weight on the front end. Common sense will tell it will try and bend the motor and frame and make the unit squat. If the frame and motor body is strong enough, the shaft will take that extra force on the bearings and seal. I would bet that if the manufacture knew that you exceeded their limit, they would void your warranty. Does anyone know if most of the wheel motor failures are on the front. The rear wheel motors have the same stress all the time, or even less. Why, because if you are lifting 1200 lbs, that rear end has to be lighter than before the load was lifted. If you exceed the load, you know what will happen. Those front wheel motors take most of the abuse, or stress.
