M95s DT front axle oil level?

[Fedup]

Newbie to this site, so please bear with me. This involves some problems with an oil leak from a front axle seal. First question involves oil level(s). I see a fill port and (assuming) a level plug just below that on the center housing. Drain plugs on each bevel gear housing and (assuming) a fill/level port near the top of each. I believe fluid flows back and forth between all three housings, but the parts book shows a seal on each differential shaft just inboard of the outer support bearing for each shaft. This makes no sense to me.
I'm hoping to communicate with someone familiar with these tractors and any front axle problems. There's more to this story, but I will refrain from making this an excessively long post until I get some response from an interested party.

 

[Fedup]

No takers yet. Certainly someone out there knows more about these tractors than I do.

 

[Tobyhd1]

My manual covers up to m9000. 95? Differential and axle gear cases are 2 separate entities. Both use 80/90 or UDT. Diff. Filler hole is left of center with the fill too hole just below and to the right under egg shape cover. Capacity for a 9000 is 6.3 qts. Axles hold 3.7 qts. This info may not be applicable if the set up is different on the 95, just trying to help.

 

[Fedup]

It may well be applicable. This is what I'm trying to figure out. Local dealer tech couldn't tell me that there are multiple compartments. ?? I realize this is a small town dealership, but they certainly should be up to speed on THAT!
I stated that there's more to the story. After pulling it apart for the axle seal replacement, we found the outboard axle bearing was in pieces. New bearing, new seal, and it all went back together. That side was on a jack stand at this point, slightly above dead level. I filled the axle housing through what I believed to be a fill port, and continued to do so until fluid began to exit the smaller level plug on the center housing. This seemed correct at the time, since my assumption was that all this is one common reservoir. That was before I realized the parts book shows the seals on the differential shafts.
This all started with what I thought was a rather strange symptom. The axle seal would only leak when the tractor was operated in 4WD for an hour or so. In 2WD, no problem. This didn't make much sense, but the seal still had to be suspect, so we brought in a seal and went in after it. With the new seal and bearing, the leak when in 4WD is back. Now I'm really confused, so it's back to the parts book and I discovered the upper seals. If that seal is in place and effective, then the oil should never have traveled from the outer housing to the center when I refilled it. Now I'm thinking there's a problem in that area, the axle housing is actually over full, and when operated under load it may be under more pressure then the axle seal can effectively withstand.
Anyone have any thoughts on that theory?

 

[Tobyhd1]

Where exactly is the oil/lube leaking at? If you had housings apart,did you put liquid gasket material on matching surfaces? You need to get your hands on a work shop manual to see how it's all laid out and to get proper torque specs on everything you disassembled.Maybe one of the mechanical gurus here will jump in for you.If it's leaking between any of the housings,maybe your gasket sealer gave up or someone never put any on.if you want to send me a pm I have a WSM and may be able to help you.

 

[Fedup]

No, that's not an issue. The oil is leaking out the axle seal, not at any housing joints.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The front differential case oil is separate from the bevel gear case and the axle case oil, so yes it has multiple oil compartments.

If you fill the differential case and it flows through to the axle case you have an internal seal, sleeve, case or bearing issue.
If you fill the bevel and axle case and it leaks you have a seal sleeve or bearing issue in there.
If the bearing failed it could have caused a case failure, either with a crack or distortion, might need the case replaced.

Post a picture of the leaking location and I might be able to give a good place or part to look for a failure at.