Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Meteor 68 snow blower gear box leaked oil after turned off

[boltz]

Left my blower in unheated garage for 3 or 4 days since last use. When I moved it out today was about a large coffee cup of hypoid on cement floor. Both pto shaft seal and side shaft looked like they had leaked. So pulled fill plug on side of gear box and it was over filled, and liquid was milky, and more white than normal EP. I have never added fluid, since I purchased blower new a few years ago. If it was a car would definitely say water got into box. No indication of leaks out in parking lot and driveway. I always check seals that are visible before using blower, and paint is like brand new on blower, so any leaks should have been obvious. To me there is no way that I could have run it over the past few years if it had been leaking like it just did. So, can it suck water back in past seals when unit it cooling down after use. Have had coldest wx here this winter that we have had for the last 10 or so years. Inside garage is usually about 10-15 degrees warmer than ambient but not this winter, so ice around gear box has not melted as has happened in the past. Sucked all the EP out and replaced with fresh, but only had outboard EP 90 so used it. ( May get a blast for that) Ran blower for about 20 minutes outside and no leaks, and have left it inside tonight, and will check again in morn. Phoned dealer, but tech had left for day. He said bigger model than mine had a vent on top just like a car diff, but mine has none, so how is gear box supposed to vent when it heats up? Level now is to the bottom of fill hole. Owners manual that came with it does not show any vent on box, but is not most detailed. Says to use EP90, which I did. Any one run into this before. Thx

 

[doxford jim]

If oil has leaked out then water has leaked in.
I have a similar problem with my blower gearbox. When I bought it I found the gearbox was dry, so I opened it up , cleaned and refilled with oil (85w90 I think). anyway, it does leak a small amount but I don't wppry as I deliberately overfilled filled it in case it leaked (which it has). I just check on the oil level periodically and so far have not had to top it off yet. The leaks probably look worse than they actually are. When the shaft seals go you will know all about it - there will be lots of oil laying around.
I would just check the oil level regularly and top up as needed.

 

[Looking4new]

My Meteor is working on its' second year and so far no leaks.
I would keep an eye on the oil level and maybe in summertime run a bit of grease around the outside of the seals. It might help, then again it might be a waste of grease.

 

[Buckgnarly]

My two Meteors I have owned had the weird milky gear lube. I talked to MK Martin, and they said it's normal to look that way, it's what the factory uses. I replaced it with "normal" gear oil, but that stuff does look exactly like water contaminated lube!

 

[boltz]

Well , just called MK Martin, and they said that the ep that they are using now looks like normal coloured automotive stuff, so will keep an eye on seals . Looks ok up until today, no leaks. He also said no breathers on their units. Learn something new every day. Also he did not have an answer as to why gear box was so full. Snowing now, so will probably be using it this week again and will post back whatever happens. Thanks for your replies.

 

[mjym]

hi i got a 51 inch meteor since 2005 and broke a flange bearing on the chain side it broke at the bolt hole and change the chain she was to long the sprocket where still good and i have 440hr on the tractor but dont know how many hour on the blower but still in good shape paint it every spring so the rust dont eat it

 

[boltz]

Well, have had a chance to try the blower now, at least 3 times since I changed the oil, has not not leaked out of any of the seals so far. Did not not change them, just drained and refilled. Temperature has been as low as -25 and up to at least 0. So assume that it will be all right. Still don`t know how so much fluid got in there, in the first place, and not cause any leaks until this year, as I have had the blower since 2006-7. Not going to complain, though if it stays working ok. Seals are cheap if I need them, and will really watch floor in garage where I park tractor. Thanks again for your input. :thumbsup: