B7610 Front Axle Leaking yesterday

[RUF]

B7610 LB
300 hrs

Here in the PNW, we have had a spell of cold temps. Yesterday I had about 140 yds of fill delivered and wanted to spread it around. The temp was 23 F when I started.

Ground was frozen but the fill was not. I had the block heater on for an hour or so before I started. Started right up. I let it run for maybe a minute or two before I backed out of the shed and made the 100' distance to the fill. I had the front end engaged most of the time yesterday. I usually run at about 1800 rpm.

About 2 hours in, I notice oil drips on the inside of the left front tire. The spindle is leaking on the vertical pivot. Both sides, but the right side is not enough to drip on the tire.

Have not seen this before and the only thing different yesterday was the cold temp. Usually "winter" here is 40 F and raining.


I found this thread:
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26693&highlight=front+axle+leaking

and in post #4 it is suggested to vent the front axle while in post #6 it is advised NOT to vent the front axle.


Has anyone else experienced the front end leaking in cold weather? This was not a lot of oil. Maybe a 1/2 ounce on each side which did not affect oil level.

I have searched "front axle leaking in cold weather" and "front spindle leaking in cold weather"


edit: I did hear the pressure release when I removed the dipstick to check fluid level.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Don't sweat it and check it again when it warms up.

I would do a full drain and fluid replacement in the middle of summer on a nice hot day after running the tractor around for a bit in 4wd just to stir up all the fluid, and just to make sure there is no water hanging around in the oil.

 

[luketratts]

Hey RUF I had the same issue on mine after using for a few hours, got increasingly worse after a few solid uses to the point my rim was black with oil. Ended up dropping the oil out and replacing the axle seal, replaced the bearings at the same time while I had it open. I had a lot of metal fillings around the area, turns out the bevel gear on the bottom had chunks out of the teeth everywhere, I took a few photos below of when I was doing it, I reckon the filings wrecked the seals cause the other one is starting to go as well. The bearings where about $25 each and the seal was about the same I think. I ordered a new bevel gear, in the mean time while waiting for bevel gear to come in I put it back together, strained the oil cause it was pretty new still, and put it back in. I have got new oil and the bevel gear read to put in, just got to find time. Bearings and seals only took an hour or two to do...if I were you I would replace seal before replacing oil.

You need a medium size gear puller to get one of the gears off. They are cheap if you don't have one.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[RUF]

Thanks guys. It is not leaking enough to worry about yet. I will monitor the situation and take course of action if problem persists.

Hopefully the seals are not bad with 300 hours.

It is ironic this happened on the coldest day I have run it. Last year I had no dirt to spread when it was cold.

Thanks again
RUF