284 Front hub leak

Forum Forums Tractor Operation And Maintenance 284 Front hub leak

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    • #45978
      pedavies
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        left front hub was leaking quite bad around the felt washer. Got it apart and replaced the 2 seals and felt, back together and still leaking. OK, took it apart and saw the top seal had curled a bit on one side so obviously more care is required putting everything back together. Still leaking after the second reassemble. Third time I was extremely careful putting everything back together, didn’t let the hub hang free until completely reassembled. Still leaking. I guess something else in there is worn. Any suggestions?

        Paul

      • #45979
        pedavies
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          Might have to wait a bit longer before saying for sure if it is leaking, but I’m not very optimistic as the felt seal now has oil on it. Hopefully just from the past two leaks.

          Paul

        • #45980
          pedavies
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            Still leaks. At least the weather has been nice while working on it!

            Paul

          • #45981
            kenotractors
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              Did you be sure to put the seals in the right way?  Both with springs towards the top.  If they are in backwards it will cause them to leak.

              Also, was one of the seals thicker then the other?  This should be a simple fix.

               

              Tyler Nystrom
              Keno Tractors
              parts@kenotractors.com
              866-363-8193
              Phone hours: M-F 8am to 5:30pm PST Sat 9am to 1pm PST

            • #45982
              Piper184
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                On mine the seals had worn a significant groove in the metal. I fixed it with a speedi sleeve.

                Also a seal from a different manufacturer might have the sealing lip in a slightly different place which can be used to get away from a groove warn by the old seal.

              • #45984
                pedavies
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                  When I took it apart the bottom seal (thick one) had the spring on the bottom. The top seal was turned the other way with the spring on top. That is the way I have been putting it back together. If you are right and both spring should face the top I wonder how the tractor went 1200 hours without a leak.

                  Paul

                • #45985
                  kenotractors
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                    Yes they are defiantly both suppose to be facing with the spring up.

                    Tyler Nystrom
                    Keno Tractors
                    parts@kenotractors.com
                    866-363-8193
                    Phone hours: M-F 8am to 5:30pm PST Sat 9am to 1pm PST

                  • #45986
                    Piper184
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                      It has been a couple of years since I did mine and and I don’t specifically remember which way the seals went.

                      Looking at the parts diagram and thinking about the direction the oil is flowing it would seem to me that you would want the springs down. The spring side is usually considered to be the “inside” of the seal.

                      The lower seal (thick one) would be doing the work of holding the oil in the axle and the upper seal (thin one) is acting as a dust seal with the added protection of the felt washer.

                      In my case the felt washer got torn while I was doing a lot of dirt work and the grit got in and destroyed the top seal but that did not cause it to leak until it worked its way down to the bottom seal. by the time it started leaking the damage to the shaft housing (where the lips of the seal ride) had been done. I don’t think this surface has any kind of hardening done to it. I had to special order a speedi sleeve from a bearing house. Expensive but less than a new shaft housing. I also ordered seals from them to have extras on hand and to see if they had the lip in a slightly different location. They did but not far enough different to get far enough from the groove for my liking so I went with the speedi sleeve.

                      Also don’t forget that the “Gasket” (#7 in the diagram) under the steering arm  is used to set the backlash of the gears inside. So if you replace it, be sure to look closely at the old one to see how many were used originally.

                      The right side on my tractor is now starting to leak a little. Guess I am going to have to get back into this again.

                    • #45987
                      pedavies
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                        I was thinking like you Piper, but Keno has me wondering. Is supposed to be a simple fix as stated earlier. Will have to get more seals and try it again. Maybe I’ll do the right side first as it is still in original state, and have a good look to see which way the seals are in. Although I did that this time and could swear they were one down, one up. Been wrong before.

                        Paul

                      • #45988
                        Piper184
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                          Here is a picture from my Operation Manual. It definitely shows the lower seal with the spring down and the upper seal with the spring up. Note that they show the same arrangement for the double seal on the hub spindle.

                          I probably followed this setup when I put it back together, I simply don’t remember.

                          My previous comment about the backlash was from memory and was in error (CRS strikes again). Actually it is a shim number 2 in this image. Now that the memory is jogged, I remember laughing at the gasket mentioned above as it does not seal anything. At least on my tractor the holes did not go all the way through into the housing, thus no exposure to oil. :unsure:

                          In any case, if the seals are running in a groove they won’t seal. Aftermarket seals of the same dimensions but of different design (double lip, thicker or thinner, etc.) may be helpful in finding a solution. If there is a groove and it can not be avoided speedi sleeve or new housing are about your only choices. 🙁

                           

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                        • #45990
                          kenotractors
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                            I talked to my mechanic he said for your situation try, thick one down, thin one up.
                            He said he has seen them put in all different ways from the factory.

                            Tyler Nystrom
                            Keno Tractors
                            parts@kenotractors.com
                            866-363-8193
                            Phone hours: M-F 8am to 5:30pm PST Sat 9am to 1pm PST

                          • #45992
                            pedavies
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                              ordered another set of seals so will have to wait for them to arrive to have a go at things again. Thanks

                              Paul

                            • #45993
                              kenotractors
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                                If you order them from me I will give you free shipping.

                                Tyler Nystrom
                                Keno Tractors
                                parts@kenotractors.com
                                866-363-8193
                                Phone hours: M-F 8am to 5:30pm PST Sat 9am to 1pm PST

                              • #45999
                                pedavies
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                                  Stops leaking when oil level hits the bottom mark on the dipstick. Fill it to the top mark and leaking starts again. Thanks for the free shipping offer, have a parts source in Canada that avoids all the border surprises that sometimes surprise you.

                                  Paul

                                • #46000
                                  DavidPrivett
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                                    I was just thinking why would a front axle have two oil marks? If you can get a flashlight and see in there all that would be required would there to be oil on the axle half way . I believe that you would not want to cover the axle, lets see what other opinions come in. Overfilling may make even good seals leak depending on design.

                                  • #46001
                                    DavidPrivett
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                                      as I clicked off on that I do not  know if I have ever seen a low oil mark on a axle, but that does not mean that is not exactly what you have. That is one thing about weep holes no confusion in translation.

                                    • #46002
                                      Tinbender
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                                        as I clicked off on that I do not know if I have ever seen a low oil mark on a axle, but that does not mean that is not exactly what you have. That is one thing about weep holes no confusion in translation.

                                           I agree. What the heck is that doing there? :wacko:

                                      • #46022
                                        pedavies
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                                          Definitely two marks on the dipstick. The lower one would seem to be at mid axle if checked without screwing it in. Doesn’t seem to leak when oil is at the lower level. I topped it up this morning so will be interested to see if it leaks again or if a few days of operation have settled the seals in.

                                          Paul

                                        • #46023
                                          DavidPrivett
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                                            I think that the Chinese tractors dipsticks are designed to be read with the stick not being screwed in and if it reads on the bottom mark mid axle I would go with that.

                                          • #46450
                                            Bob
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                                              I had a leak on the front axle on my 284 shortly after I bought it.  In chasing the cause, I found that the vent plug wasn’t open-wiped the oil off of the little curved pipe, and blew debris out right into my left eye.  seemed to stop leaking after that (2005)  until recently-now I’m sure that the seals are bad.  Might check on the vent.  I can’t see how pressure can build up inside the axle housings, but the vent must be there for a reason.

                                            • #46463
                                              pedavies
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                                                Pulled my vent and had a hard time trying to blow through it. Cleaned it out and we will see what difference it might make. Although have not really been leaking if I keep the oil level low. Might get energetic some day soon and change the seals and felt washer with the cleaned out vent. You never know, sometimes it is the simple things.

                                                Paul

                                              • #46464
                                                DavidPrivett
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                                                  may be if possible some fuel line attached to the vent tube and carried to a higher placed around the radiator upper tank and some type of valve on the hose like what is used on vechicle differentials  so it can breath. I have had trouble with some type of dirt dobber  plug the vents on mine.

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