LS front axle seals leaking

TnAndy · Feb 9, 2021

LS parts manuals for the various models:

Blank

Page 120 on the S series......looks very similar to my Yanmar.

sw99 · Feb 12, 2021

Texasmark said:
Not an LS but I abused a tractor once and started the front seals leaking. I also noticed that the wheel hub assembly was moving out and away from the axle. What I had done with my abuse was to break the front wheel bearing balls and once the bearing was no longer maintaining the proper dimension, the wheel shifted and that started the leak. A $650 parts and several days of my time to fix. Since then I have had more respect for that tractor and when I am going so fast over rough terrain that i can't stay in the seat, I slow down! Haven't had any problems since.

Thanks I never thought of this actually. I really don't abuse it but I have got in a hurry on my yearly mowing duties. It is possible that mowing in H-2 on occasion but mostly H-1 could have contributed to the seals leaking. I have since started using M-4 to slow things down.

sw99 · Feb 12, 2021

TnAndy said:
LS parts manuals for the various models:

Blank

Page 120 on the S series......looks very similar to my Yanmar.

Great link for parts thanks! I just set this as a bookmark.

TnAndy · Feb 13, 2021

sw99 said:
Thanks I never thought of this actually. I really don't abuse it but I have got in a hurry on my yearly mowing duties. It is possible that mowing in H-2 on occasion but mostly H-1 could have contributed to the seals leaking. I have since started using M-4 to slow things down.

About a year after I replaced the side with the failed bearing, the other side began leaking.....not to the extent the bearing failure side was, but enough to notice it down the inside of the front tire. I assumed it was another bearing failure, so I ordered the same round of parts before I took it apart.

When I got into it, the bearings looked fine (I replaced them anyway while in there), but what I did find was pictured below....it's some plastic hay string off a round bale along with a little actual grass that had wound itself around the hub REAL tight and I suspect worked it's way into the outer seal, causing it to seep.....seal didn't look bad, but of course I replaced it as well....but my suspicion is that wad was the problem !

I laid it aside for this photo and to remind me to look for it again if I get another seal failure.

Another thing about fixing things yourself.....you'd be unlikely to get that kind of feed back from a dealer....they would just clean it out, replace the seals/etc and send it out the door.