JD 4300 MFWD final drive seals.

paulcapasso · Feb 5, 2015

Hello all!
Well my situation is this..... Up here in CT, we have had a moderate amount of snowfall in a short amount of time. Using my 4300 To push some piles back in the street I noticed my right front hub seal leaking a massive amount of fluid. it also looks like Chocolate milk. Do you think the snow and dirt from the street are getting into this through the seals? Took it apart tonight and didn't find that the seal was in bad shape. Anyone else experience this???

TCJatko · Feb 5, 2015

I have a 2000 JD 4300 (about 500 hrs) with no symptoms like this. We are in similar climates. The "chocolate milk" appearance is water incursion. Is the tractor stored outside? You should start by changing the fluid.

stingray1 · Feb 5, 2015

I agree with TCJatko,plus I would replace that seal.

paulcapasso · Feb 6, 2015

The seal it was...... Compared the old with the new, the old looks decent but...... there is a flange that rubs against the hub that is soft and pulled in. I can see how water got in. Drained the whole system and 4 new quarts of JD GL5 and good as new. I'll do the other when it leaks.. This is a 2002 currently with 834 hrs on it... It sits in a climate controlled garage, I try to keep it clean and on top of everything on it.

beenthere · Feb 6, 2015

When you say "try to keep it clean", does that mean pressure washing? That may be where water comes from if it is. Otherwise, a mystery where water would come from to contaminate the hub seal. No creeks to drive through, I imagine.

paulcapasso · Feb 7, 2015

beenthere said:
When you say "try to keep it clean", does that mean pressure washing? That may be where water comes from if it is. Otherwise, a mystery where water would come from to contaminate the hub seal. No creeks to drive through, I imagine.

I don't pressure wash it. I know the issues with injecting water into seals and other places. I'll lightly rinse it off once a week and dry it on a sunny day. I know this sounds crazy but there is a nice coat of wax on it too!

beenthere · Feb 7, 2015

:thumbsup: I wax my 4300 too. No rinsing but wash a couple times a year. Then wax.

So no good idea where water is coming from that gets into the front hub ??

paulcapasso · Feb 7, 2015

beenthere said:
:thumbsup: I wax my 4300 too. No rinsing but wash a couple times a year. Then wax.

So no good idea where water is coming from that gets into the front hub ??

No idea. It's gotta be leaking in through the knuckle seal maybe. Those need replacing.