Front axle fluid change questions

[fruitcakesa]

I spent this sunny, snowless November afternoon changing out all the fluids on my newly acquired L4630 And I am glad I did.
Engine oil and filter, fuel filter and trans service went mostly as expected except for an overflowing 5 gallon bucket exchange craziness.
When I opened up the front axle plugs a very slow, dark, cloudy brew oozed out and it must have taken an hour to ultimately get all the old fluid and new flush fluid drained.
I replaced the drain plugs and soon discovered that I could only add about a quart before the overflow hole would start to run and I would replace that plug.
After a while I had added about 6 quarts and gently idled the tractor forward and back in 4wd to try and move the fluid.
I then let it sit a while and then opened the overflow plug to find it still was apparently full.
The manual says 9.4 qts. I am way south of that.
Any advice?
I am going to check again in the AM.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I did a better search and found this: http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=567&highlight=front+axle+fluid+change
I will warm it up and check again.

 

[Bulldog]

I have change my M 9000 and my L 3000 2 time now and both time they took the amount it said in the book. I'm not sure about your L but mine has a breather plug on the top of each hub. With these out the fluid goes in without any problem.

Again, I have not worked on the model you have so I'm shooting in the dark here. The front housing on my 9000 doesn't hold but 6.5 qts. The hubs are drained seperately and they each hold almost 1 gal each. If I remember correctly my 3000 only hold about 6.5 qts or so. Do you have to drain your hubs seperate from the main housing or is it all in one unit?

 

[fruitcakesa]

They have separate drains.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I did a better search and found this: http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=567&highlight=front+axle+fluid+change
I will warm it up and check again.

It sat overnight so I warmed it up and drove about 15 minutes then let it settle and rechecked the overflow and it still was full with only 6 qts added...hmmm
Anybody with a bigger L series have any thoughts?

 

[Sam427]

I have a L3410 and it takes about what the manual says. Did you take all the drain plugs out? They are down low on pinion cases on each wheel, in fact so low that you have to stick something under there to divert it to a drain pan, or the oil will run out on the rims.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Plugs on both pinions, overflow and fill plugs opened and drained