Leaking At Front Wheel Bearing

[bwmarine]

Have a L3240, a couple years ago front left wheel bearing seal was leaking. After taking it apart to replace seal found bearing came apart causing the leak. About 100.00 in parts got it back together and topped off with fluid. Yesterday after snow removal I parked the tractor in shop and noticed a few hours later fluid leaking on right front axle side. I am going to have to assume bearing again, ordered parts... should be here Friday or Monday. Not even going to take it apart until parts are here lol.
Has anybody else ran across the front wheel bearings taking a crap?

 

[4570Man]

I had both side seals go out in my L3240. I didn’t change the bearings and it didn’t leak at least for a little while. I sold it not long after.

 

[Greenfield Dave]

I had a bearing fail on my L4400 front end. I blame it on too much heavy loader work. At least it's a pretty easy fix. I also changed the fluid to 80W-90. no leaks since.

 

[bwmarine]

front left from 2018

 

[RickB]

Seal failure is somewhat common for axles of this design no matter what color paint is on them. Bearing failure accounts for maybe 50% of the seal failures. Bearings are fairly cheap, if you want the best chance of having what you need before you tear it down get the outer bearing and seal.

 

[MHarryE]

My L6060 went like yours, first noticed one side leaking oil, disassembled and repaired. Ordered 2 sets because I knew the other side would go quickly, and it did. I was doing a lot of load and carry which is real tough on bearings. Bearing life calculation involves the cube of the load and number of revolutions. Heavy load with bucket filled with gravel and lots of revolutions carrying each bucket 100 yards. Fortunately easy to repair.

 

[grsthegreat]

i had a seal leak on the right front wheel last year. i didnt feel like messing with it so let dealer replace both side bearings and seals. tractor was 10 years old. be proactive is my motto. and it was not too spendy. im sure it was due to all the forklift work i was doing. i moved a heck of alot of pallets of concrete and heavy generators over the years.

 

[SouthernSky]

We’re any special tools required? My L2650 leaks on both wheels.

 

[4570Man]

We’re any special tools required? My L2650 leaks on both wheels.

Getting the seals out is difficult. I ended up welded a bar across them and driving them out but besides that no special tools.

 

[BeezFun]

I'm curious if people experiencing these failures are using 3pt ballast and if so, how much weight.