Front Drive Axle and Split Pin Leaking

[Crestwater]

Hi All!

I just saw a big puddle of oil on the ground under my L45. I saw oil dripping from the front drive shaft (4wd I assume) and where the drive shaft cover is screwed together. Following that down the split pin was also leaking oil. Any thoughts on what it could be and what it could cost? I suspect it won’t be cheap

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Most likely could be the seal in the rear for the Propeller shaft or could be the front seal.
You'll need to find out which direction it's coming from.
Check the fluid levels in the tractor and the fluid levels in the front axle and monitor which one is going down.

 

[lugbolt]

Liklihood of a propeller shaft leak is high. But it could be either that or the front axle seal leaking. Most of the time if you check the hst fluid level, and a little is seeping from the propeller shaft, you'll never see it "down" on the dipstick or sight glass, until it just starts dumping the fluid out. Front axle? It doesn't hold nearly as much fluid so if there's a leak from the axle seal, your fluid level will drop off pretty quickly.

 

[GeoHorn]

I’m coming up on my front axle lube-change and this underlines one reason to use 80W90 gear oil up front in lieu of UDT/SUDT, etc. If it smells like “garlic”... it’d be an easy detect.

 

[Crestwater]

I checked the hydraulic dip stick today and it was low. Looks like it’s the propeller shaft seal

320 hours seems too short for that to fail!

 

[GeoHorn]

Disappointing as it is.... New things sometimes fail... It’s why New things have warranties... and why it’s called “break-in”.