1996 John Deere 425 transaxle leak

[weeder]

Hello everyone, I have noticed that most of my oil in my transaxle has leaked out. I looked on both sides and it seems to be pretty dry. It looks like it is mostly wet underneath? Wonder where this is coming from. Any ideas????

Thks weeder

 

[oldnslo]

I fixed on a couple of years ago where a seal on the left side of the transaxle had worked out. I do not remember exactly what the shaft was for. I only had to lower the transaxle to gain access to this seal. I found it by carefully cleaning all the grass and accumulated crud from the linkage and brackets using air hose gently picking stuff out with small screw driver.

I would suggest cleaning everything off, topping off the fluid and then look for leaks with tires removed sitting on Jack stands so you can see the transaxle housing easier

 

[weeder]

Thanks oldnslo , I have cleaned it off as much as I can and yes it does look like it is coming out of the left side someplace. I will probably take the transaxle out and clean it better and re \look the situation over better! Yes an air hose or power washer will do the trick!!!

Thks weeder

 

[weeder]

Well took your advice and blew all the crap out of there that I could reach with air. Lo and behold I looked down on the shaft for the parking brake and there was a seal that had popped out of the case. I took a very long and skinny pry bar and did my best to push it back in. I will rig up my gas tank tomorrow and run the tractor and see if it pops out again or leaks. I hope this fixes it? Thanks for your help I will let you know tomorrow how things go.

Thanks weeder

 

[oldnslo]

On the one I fixed the old seal wouldn’t stay in the bore so installed new seal with a film of permatex on the OD. To best of my knowledge still going strong.

may want to double check to make sure the transaxle vent is clean. I wish could remember where it was located darn senioritis

 

[beenthere]

Glad you found the loose seal.

Can you post up a pic or two of that seal?

Schematic from the service tech manual.. brake linkage

 

[weeder]

I would love to take a pic but I can't get my ph camera down in that position to do so, sorry. I'm going to run the tractor for a bit and see if it stays in place. If it doesn't I will have to pull the transaxle completely out to correctly replace the seal.

 

[oldnslo]

Glad you found the loose seal.

Can you post up a pic or two of that seal?

Schematic from the service tech manual.. brake linkage

Beenthere
I think it was diff lock shaft seal going into side of transaxle case but could not find anything on Deere parts breakdown. Recall had same problem when fixing the unit. It is buried behind linkage between frame rail transaxle

 

[beenthere]

That diff lock shaft seal is what I was thinking too.
part # M806040

 

[weeder]

Yes that is the seal and the part number if I have to replace it in the future.

Thanks beenthere

 

[weeder]

Ok I have ran the tractor with the tires off and jacked up. My question is I didn't want to go buy that expensive John deere oil for my transaxle so I put 5w-30 synthetic in it for my test. Do yoy think that will hurt it??

 

[beenthere]

It's your dime...
but I wouldn't do that. I'd spend the $23 per gallon and get the Hy Gard low vis.

 

[BravoXray]

Well took your advice and blew all the crap out of there that I could reach with air. Lo and behold I looked down on the shaft for the parking brake and there was a seal that had popped out of the case. I took a very long and skinny pry bar and did my best to push it back in. I will rig up my gas tank tomorrow and run the tractor and see if it pops out again or leaks. I hope this fixes it? Thanks for your help I will let you know tomorrow how things go.

Thanks weeder

You could have cleaned out the area with some brake cleaner and blew it dry, then put a few drops of Loc-Tite on it to help keep it in place.

 

[weeder]

Well, no leaks so far, I will drain out the fluid and change out the filter and replace it with the Hy Gard oil. If the seal comes out again, I will replace it.

 

[Amvcane]

Have you checked that the vent is not blocked as suggested. You do not want pressure to build in there, it could pop out a seal.

 

[weeder]

Yes, I have, I cleaned all around it took the rubber vent top off and checked it out all's well there.