Hydraulic Leak back end

rljohnson1 · Nov 26, 2011

I have a JD 4210 (2003) with 420 hrs., with FEL and box blade. I noticed hydraulic oil staining on the inside rim of the back tires. I got stuck up to the back axels a month ago digging out my mostly dried up stock tank, and had to be pulled out.

I've cleaned up the area around the back axel and tire as best I can but can't locate the leak. I plan on taking it in to the local car wash and try to clean it up then hopefully I can locate the leak.

Haven't taken the rear tire off yet, but that's the next step.

Anyone seen anything similrar? Thoughts?

Thanks.

beenthere · Nov 27, 2011

May be a seal in the axle housing.?

rljohnson1 · Dec 1, 2011

Thanks Beenthere;

I'm hoping that's not it, but afraid it may be. Taking the wheel off this weekend and power washing the area to try to isolate the leak.

Have you (or anyone else??) replaced such an axle seal? Is it difficult?

Thanks for the respons.

beenthere · Dec 1, 2011

I haven't but there are members here that have, I'm sure.

I believe member dfkrug has a thread on his rebuild on the 4300.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/146974-john-deere-4300-complete-rebuild.html

Also, search for 4200 axle seal to get some good hits.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...g/214916-4200-rear-axle-seal.html#post2462922

and

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ating/216604-rear-axle-removel-jd-4300-a.html

rljohnson1 · Dec 1, 2011

Thanks again Beenthere;

I'll check out the threads. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and sounds like something I can handle.

HOWEVER, anyone have any idea what the dealer would charge to do the work?

What a great site and community!

beenthere · Dec 1, 2011

Dealer would charge about $90/hr removing the wheel, and the bolts, and other parts to get at the $20 seal, then keep adding up their time until it was put back together and running.
But then, it is good to keep the dealer around for the tougher jobs.

Verticaltrx · Dec 1, 2011

I changed the rear axle seal and bearing on a 4400 we used to have. Same tractor, just more hp and a little older.

It wasn't a small job, but took me only a few hours. I'm going from memory here so bear with me, but basically the whole axle housing has to come off to get the axle out. There are numerous little things that have to be taken off to get the housing off, IIRC the fender, ROPS, various linkages, etc. Once the housing is off you have to take a big snap ring off of a gear which will allow the axle to slide out. Seal replacement itself is pretty straightforward.

If you are mechanically inclined it is pretty easy to figure out, just dive in and do it. I would bet the dealer would charge 4-6hrs labor plus parts, fluids, shop supplies etc. Probably be looking at $500-700 to have the dealer do it, but that is just a guess.

rljohnson1 · Dec 4, 2011

Thanks for the response. I didn't get to the car wash to clean up the area to try to find the leak - but it's still on the agenda.

I've tried to find a manual, or instructions to replace the seal, on the internet, but havn't found anything. Looks like this site is probably my best bet.

Anyone know where I can find instructions without having to buy the JD $200 repair manual?

Thanks again for sharing your insights.

Bob

beenthere · Dec 4, 2011

$200 ?? Really that much now?
Or is there a repair manual that is more in depth than the tech manual? Mine was around $75 from Deere and includes several models.

dfkrug · Dec 4, 2011

beenthere said:
$200 ?? Really that much now?
Or is there a repair manual that is more in depth than the tech manual? Mine was around $75 from Deere and includes several models.

The tech manual is IT, and it would not surprise me if JD wants $200
for the paper version, BUT the PDF is a lot less. I bought my last
TM for $75 (PDF), if I recall. I have since acquired a used paper TM
for the 4200/4300/4400, and that thing is almost 2" thick.

BTW, I just ordered a bunch more parts from JD last week and it seems
a lot of them have gone up 10% or more in the past 1-2 years.

When I took my "trumpet" housings off, the brake levers were very hard
to remove, requiring drilling for gear-pullers. If they are not stuck, the
job is not too bad.