Oil & Fuel Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs

   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs #1  

dynasim

Platinum Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
599
Location
Manhattan, Kansas
Tractor
NH TC45D
I recently pulled my tractor onto a concrete pad for the first time since I got it 3 months ago. I had seem some indications of oil under the front 4wd driveshaft housing. At first, I thought it was from excessive greasing of the stabilizer bar. On second look, though, it is coming from casing directly forward of the front u-joint.

Could the dealer that sold it to me have over-filled the case, or is there a seal in there that can go out. The tractor operates fine.

Also, the exact same seal in the back has the same problem(actually leaks a bit more).

The quantity of oil on the front is about 6 drops per week, and on the back, about 12.

Specifically, should I be worried, and tear it down, or should I just monitor the oil level rigourously?. The rear seal seems more difficult, but the amount of oil available is much larger(so it won't run out).

Chris
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs #2  
Look and see if there is a vent for the front end and see if its clear it should be a hose with a cap on it if the is one.Remove the filler plug and see if it has presure built up in the housing.Check for the old engine oil leak trick or the power steering resivoir.If its a hydro check the hyraulic oil cooler.Just a few thoughts since leak there would run down about where your talking.You might have already checked all these things if not there a good place to look.
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs #3  
Chris, you might get some strange responses from non-SS owners since only the SuperSteer front end has u-joints. In your case, it seems you have hydraulic oil seepage around both the rear transmission seal and the front differential seal. If your tractor sat for several months with low usage, you could easily see this leakage become a lot less or go away completely when you start using the tractor quite a bit. I sure would not worry about the quantity of leakage you mentioned. It would have to get much worse. My only problem would be not parking it where the leakage stained a concrete floor. I think I'd put a drip pan under it if it was doing that.

FULLPULL mentioned a vent. I don't think our front differentials have any type of vent. Many times I've checked the fluid and had air escape when I unscrewed the dipstick. I believe the front axle is sealed and it is normal to have some pressure build up in there. That's why you don't want to overfill the front differential. If you don't leave room for air to compress, then when the oil heats up, it will blow a seal.

I'd check all the sources FULLPULL mentioned and just monitor the levels and leakage as you use the tractor more. I would not worry about such a small leak from the transmission or differential seals.
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Thanks for the advice. I am not worried much.

Chris
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs #5  
I also just started losing a little oil up front (today maybe 10 or more drops) on my TC40D.

It drips down onto the axle housing and then the floor in front. I can see a little oil on the bottom front of the radiator (not the hydraulic radiator). I felt all around the hydraulic radiator thinking I blew another one, but it's dry. Could be a hose, but they seem dry as well. I'm planning on checking the fluid tomorrow, and taking a flashlight to get a better look around.

Could it be related to the temperature? It's been quite cold, and I used the tractor today for the first time in a while.
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs #6  
Well I took a good look around up front and nothing looks like it's leaking. My best guess is a pin hole leak in one of the hoses, if it was leaking at the connectors, I'd expect to see a little oil around the connector.

I checked the oil level in back and it's at the add line, so I'll be stopping to buy some NH 134 today.

I'll probably have it fixed some point in the spring, as I don't want it to get worse and put me in a position where I can't use the tractor. I'm sure it'll be a couple hundred dollars to get them to come out, diagnose, and fix...
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Someone mentrioned that the power steering pump has a habit of leaking.

Chris
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs #8  
Check the power steering resivoir mine had a slight leak under it. I think i had to replace the o-ring .
 
   / Oil drip on TC45D, 2001, 1200 hrs
  • Thread Starter
#9  
It turns out that the leak wasn't on the front differential, but on the disengaging gearbox(I think that is what it is). It was behind, not in front of the u-joint. It has stopped. It was an odd thing, and I think it might have been a little full.

Thanks for the comfort and advice. I would be worried sick if I didn't have someone to ask.

Thanks
Chris
 

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