JD4500 transmission leak?

[critternut]

Hi all. I have a JD4500 with power reverse, about 20 years old. It had a major failure in the rear left piece attaching tire to transmisson. Huge bill later where the dealer replaced most of the inner workings. Also new suction screen, transmission oil filter and said they put in 2 jugs of the transmission fluid. Today I was bush hogging and after about 3 hours I noticed loss of power going uphill and coming down it was like not even in gear. Hills here are steep and I was bobsledding down. Scary as ****. After an hour or so I checked the transmission fluid and it was empty. I had noticed some spots under the right front tire but not 9 gallons worth! Is it typical to leak while in use? Where should I look? Wondering if it is even trustworthy on these hills now....

 

[Zebrafive]

I would check all the oil lines, you might have snagged one and broke it to have the machine lose/pump out all the oil. Check for loose oil filter, or of it was somehow damaged.
If nothing obvious, refill (takes less than 9 gallons) and look for leak(s), first not running, if none, then running.


GOOD LUCK! That bad of leak should not be hard to find

 

[critternut]

I would check all the oil lines, you might have snagged one and broke it to have the machine lose/pump out all the oil. Check for loose oil filter, or of it was somehow damaged.
If nothing obvious, refill (takes less than 9 gallons) and look for leak(s), first not running, if none, then running.


GOOD LUCK! That bad of leak should not be hard to find

Thanks for the response. Forgive my ignorance (I am not much of a mechanic), but I assuming the loss of oil is what led the tractor to not properly go into gear, leading me to a carnival ride down that hill. Does that sound correct to you as well? I would think low oil would cause a seize before causing a "hey, look - no gears!". Still can't believe I am alive after that adventure....

 

[Zebrafive]

With no oil, wet clutch would not hold. So first it would slip, I am not sure if it would just continue to slip or seize?

I have a completely different tractor, JD 2030, with a Hi-Lo, that has a wet clutch for the Hi-Lo. . If my transmission gets low on oil, it will slip, it becomes noticeable first on hills. It has to get several gallons low. A fill to full has fixed it for me. But I stop as soon as detect it slipping and add oil. It's usually a rear SCV line that gets snagged and uncoupled that causes my leak. Or lower draft link bushings that leak a little over a long period of time.

 

[critternut]

With no oil, wet clutch would not hold. So first it would slip, I am not sure if it would just continue to slip or seize?

I have a completely different tractor, JD 2030, with a Hi-Lo, that has a wet clutch for the Hi-Lo. . If my transmission gets low on oil, it will slip, it becomes noticeable first on hills. It has to get several gallons low. A fill to full has fixed it for me. But I stop as soon as detect it slipping and add oil. It's usually a rear SCV line that gets snagged and uncoupled that causes my leak. Or lower draft link bushings that leak a little over a long period of time.

That was incredibly helpful. Thank you.