3320 Oil Leak

[foggy1111]

This is a pic of oil leak from the front of my 3320 tractor. I assume it's a wheel seal??.or, have I got more problems?

Just went to my tractor shed today after not being there for a few weeks. The last time I used the tractor, I plowed a little snow in 4WD with my loader mounted plow. Not sure why that would cause a seal to fail?

 

[RG1]

My 4115 just started doing that a couple days ago, though nowhere near as bad as yours. Mine is on the same wheel too. On mine it is coming from the seal in the joint at the top of the spindle that drops down from the axle to the final drive next to the wheel. Going in for service this week sometime. That sucks because we are supposed to have a bunch more snow.

 

[cartod]

My dealer has a crew that will do small fixes on site, maybe you could ask them about that.

 

[foggy1111]

My dealer has a crew that will do small fixes on site, maybe you could ask them about that.

Yep….gonna ask the service dept. Not sure if this is something that I should tackle myself?? Anyone able to comment on the difficulty of front seal replacement?

 

[RG1]

Yep….gonna ask the service dept. Not sure if this is something that I should tackle myself?? Anyone able to comment on the difficulty of front seal replacement?

I spent quite a bit of time reading about it here and on other tractor forums a couple nights ago. It sounds like you need a heavy duty hydraulic press and maybe a couple other specialized tools to do the job, depending on which exact seal it is.

 

[tomd999]

Hiya,

From what I can see in the service manual and verified on my 3320, the front axle is unvented. In the winter months temps fluctuate a lot, the warm to very cold and back again cycles can cause pressure to build up in the housing, forcing fluid past the seals. Pop the fill plug and if you hear escaping pressure as it unscrews, you may have found your issue.

Here's hoping its this simple.

Tom

 

[jd110]

Make sure the oil isn't dripping down from the loader cylinder or a hydraulic hose on the loader.

 

[foggy1111]

Hiya,

From what I can see in the service manual and verified on my 3320, the front axle is unvented. In the winter months temps fluctuate a lot, the warm to very cold and back again cycles can cause pressure to build up in the housing, forcing fluid past the seals. Pop the fill plug and if you hear escaping pressure as it unscrews, you may have found your issue.

Here's hoping its this simple.

Tom

Wow. Never considered this. Could be I had warmed it up really well while plowing…..and it's been very cold ambient temps. I suppose it's possible. Maybe I will just fill it a time or two and watch what happens. Will definitely check for venting issues before I load it up for a trip to the dealer. Thanks.

 

[RG1]

Wow. Never considered this. Could be I had warmed it up really well while plowing…..and it's been very cold ambient temps. I suppose it's possible. Maybe I will just fill it a time or two and watch what happens. Will definitely check for venting issues before I load it up for a trip to the dealer. Thanks.

Since reading tomd999's post to you above, I have been removing my axle fill cap after every use and I do get the pressure relief sound. I am not having near the amount of fluid that does seep out either now. Maybe one or two drops compared to about an ounce before doing the relief thing.

I have never had this happen on any of my JD CUT's before now, including never once in the past several years with this one. However, we are having some seriously cold temps here this winter compared to all past years, and I'm thinking that maybe the seals shrink up more when they cool down after use and the temps fall to zero and below at night, which allows the oil to seep out past the seal. I wish it'd warm up some to see if that is all it is.

 

[foggy1111]

Since reading tomd999's post to you above, I have been removing my axle fill cap after every use and I do get the pressure relief sound. I am not having near the amount of fluid that does seep out either now. Maybe one or two drops compared to about an ounce before doing the relief thing.

I have never had this happen on any of my JD CUT's before now, including never once in the past several years with this one. However, we are having some seriously cold temps here this winter compared to all past years, and I'm thinking that maybe the seals shrink up more when they cool down after use and the temps fall to zero and below at night, which allows the oil to seep out past the seal. I wish it'd warm up some to see if that is all it is.

I thought that perhaps I had some condensation or ice in the front axel…..and that may have torn the seal? Been one of the sustained coldest on record here. Still…..I got allot of oil on the floor.

 

[RG1]

I thought that perhaps I had some condensation or ice in the front axel…..and that may have torn the seal? Been one of the sustained coldest on record here. Still…..I got allot of oil on the floor.

I thought the same thing since I have been blowing and plowing some pretty deep snow this winter. After reading his comments though, it struck a chord with me since I had heard that hiss as the pressure escaped one time earlier when I first checked the fluid level before reading his comments, so I started paying more attention to it. Now, I crack it open every time and there's almost nothing seeping out the next day. I hope that's all there is to it, but I seldom get that lucky.

 

[Woodtick02]

Foggy,
Any update on your oil leak? Had a similar thing happen on my front axle this morning. Cold & plowing snow, leaked while plowing. It stopped after the first few minutes and is not leaking now (yes it is still full). I vented the fill plug and a notable amount of air pressure was relieved. My first thought was the same as yours ice tore the seal, but it is not leaking now. Maybe ice worked between the axle and seal then melted? It's just strange and never that simple.

 

[RG1]

Mine doesn't seem to be leaking now that the temps ate above about 10 degrees. I used it a couple days ago, and no leak now. I agree, it is never that simple (at least for me anyway), so we'll see.

 

[Woodtick02]

If it is that simple, I need to figure out a way to vent it.

 

[RG1]

In all the years I've owned this tractor, I've never had this happen before, and we've had some darn cold weather in the past. maybe the fact that this year it has been so cold for so long is the reason. I have been thinking of ways to vent the cap, but noting comes to mind that doesn't allow dirt or water to get in. I am not sure if a vented cap is available from Deere, but I doubt it if your machine doesn't have one either.

 

[sunnyside360]

If it is that simple, I need to figure out a way to vent it.

Venting the front axle to reduce internal pressure has been topic of past discussions. Here is one of the those discussions http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ting/179270-venting-front-axle-cuts-pics.html
I have not implemented any solutions as I haven't had any leaking axle seals but I may if issues arise.

 

[foggy1111]

Sorry, didn't see this tread again till now. I have not used my tractor since discovering the oil on the floor. I'ts finally warming up enough that I am going to fire up the tractor and clean up the area around my pole shed. I have a snow plow on the loader of my tractor?.so after checking the fluid in the Front Axel?I'm going to plow some snow and then again check the fluid and try venting the axel to see what happens.

I had planned to clean the snow off my trailer and after the bed thawed off from the warming weather?firgued I'd haul it in to the JD Dealer. I'm still thinking this is the situation?.but going to investigate more in the next few days. I still think I have a bad seal?.but, I'll report back when i learn more.

EDIT: What is the proper fluid for the front axel?? (I cannot remember and my books are packed away. 80 w gear grease?)

 

[RG1]

My JD CUT's have called for 80W-90 in the front axle.

 

[Woodtick02]

Sorry, didn't see this tread again till now. I have not used my tractor since discovering the oil on the floor. I'ts finally warming up enough that I am going to fire up the tractor and clean up the area around my pole shed. I have a snow plow on the loader of my tractor?.so after checking the fluid in the Front Axel?I'm going to plow some snow and then again check the fluid and try venting the axel to see what happens.

I had planned to clean the snow off my trailer and after the bed thawed off from the warming weather?firgued I'd haul it in to the JD Dealer. I'm still thinking this is the situation?.but going to investigate more in the next few days. I still think I have a bad seal?.but, I'll report back when i learn more.

EDIT: What is the proper fluid for the front axel?? (I cannot remember and my books are packed away. 80 w gear grease?)

Transmission and Hydraulic Oil
IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Use recommended oil only. Do not use engine oil or Type F automatic transmission fluid.

Choose oil viscosity based on the expected air temperature range during the period between oil changes.
John Deere Low Viscosity HY-GARD transmission/hydraulic fluid is recommended.
John Deere HY-GARD transmission/hydraulic fluid may also be used for temperatures above -18? C (0? F).
Other oils may be used if they meet John Deere standard JDM J20C or J20D.

Checking Front Axle Oil Level

IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Allow oil one hour to settle before checking level to ensure accurate dipstick reading. Repeat oil level check after several hours of operation.

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.) Allow machine to cool down for at least one hour.

IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Dirt and debris in oil may cause damage to the transaxle. Clean area around opening before removing dipstick.

2. Loosen and remove dipstick (A) located on right side of front axle.
3. Wipe dipstick clean with a rag. Install and tighten dipstick.
4. Remove dipstick again. Oil level should be indicated on the dipstick, but not above the full line (B). If oil level is low:
a. Add recommended oil through dipstick fill opening until oil level is correct.
b. Install and tighten dipstick.

5. Check front axle oil level again after the first several hours of operation.

Changing Front Axle Oil

1. Operate machine to warm front axle oil.
2. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)
3. Position drain pan under differential drain plug (A).
NOTE: The front axle contains approximately 5.0 L (1.3 gal) of oil.

4. Remove differential drain plug and allow oil to drain.
5. Position drain pan under axle drain plug (B) on both sides of front axle.
6. Remove axle drain plugs and allow oil to drain.
7. Install and tighten all three drain plugs after all oil has drained.
8. Remove dipstick (C) located on right side of front axle.
9. Add approximately 5.0 L (1.3 gal) of recommended oil into dipstick filler opening.
10. Install and tighten dipstick.

IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Allow oil one hour to settle before checking level to ensure accurate dipstick reading. Repeat oil level check after several hours of operation.

11. Check front axle oil level.

 

[Woodtick02]

Venting the front axle to reduce internal pressure has been topic of past discussions. Here is one of the those discussions http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ting/179270-venting-front-axle-cuts-pics.html
I have not implemented any solutions as I haven't had any leaking axle seals but I may if issues arise.

Thanks, some good information. I was thinking about drilling and tapping the fill plug also. Seems to be the easy efficient solution.