445 Trans AxI Leak

narampa · Mar 23, 2015

My 445 John Deere lawn tractor developed a leak on the trans axle and I have to remove the block between the charge pump and the main case in order to repair the leak. The leak is between the case and the block.
My intention is to remove the axel completely from the tractor in order to get better access. There is no issue with tractor apart from the leak. My question is has anybody removed the block in question. If so what should I beware of. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. I am a mechanic and have the Tech Manual on the tractor. It is just that I will be doing this in remote area and services are not available.
I have looked on the John Deer website and I am unable to find a gasket kit for this. Any ideas?

beenthere · Mar 23, 2015

Doesn't show a gasket, so maybe there is none.
Is it possible a bolt/nut is loose? Or might it be a liquid/fluid gasket?

If there was a gasket, then jdparts would show one with a part #. I would think.

Hope the repair goes well. You being a mechanic will certainly help get it done.

narampa · Mar 23, 2015

beenthere said:
Doesn't show a gasket, so maybe there is none.
Is it possible a bolt/nut is loose? Or might it be a liquid/fluid gasket?

If there was a gasket, then jdparts would show one with a part #. I would think.

Hope the repair goes well. You being a mechanic will certainly help get it done.

Thanks for the reply. I have it all apart and there are gaskets for the pump and gaskets for the block. Found the problem the gasket appeared to be pinched when it was installed new.I'm going to call John Deere tomorrow and see what they say.

beenthere · Mar 23, 2015

Sure does have a gasket. Thanks for the pic.
Hope you find one to order.

narampa · Mar 23, 2015

Found the Gasket on another page in the parts book. It is with the main Case.

beenthere · Mar 23, 2015

:thumbsup:

narampa · Mar 28, 2015

I had the parts in two days everything seemed to go well. Than I discovered that on removal the differential drive pinion fell into the case. It seems that there was no snap ring to retain it. After about 5 hours of trying to locate it I was about to give up. I had magnets up the ying yang trying to retrieve it. So my next thought was to remove an axle housing and see if I could at least see it.
Than I thought I would turn the whole mess upside down to see if it would fall out to an area that I could at least see it.
First I would pick up one tire about a foot off the ground and let it go. Did this a half dozen times for both sides. And than plink I heard a sound and believe me it was music to my ears there it was finally where I could see it.
Put it all together and it is working just great. I would not recommend this to somebody without a manual.
Never realized I could swear so good or do I mean bad!