3205 axle leaks

[Gene Purser]

My 3205 suddenly started leaking transmission fluid at the end of last summer. I have had the tractor about 10 years and it has always leaked a little from the left side. Last summer it started hemorrhaging from the right axle. I parked it and finished the summer with my 2165. I really need the power steering because of tendonitis that flares up in my hands occasionally.

Today I decided to tear into it and see what was going on. Thanks to an older thread by Oak, I was able to get it torn down this afternoon. I didn't find a torn or missing seal as I expected, but I did notice that all of the 3/8" bolts that hold the the ring gear section together were really loose. One had backed out so far the it was hitting the bevel gear that works with the pinion and had chewed about half of the head off. All the gears look good, though. I got those tightened back up and will order new seals for it. I'm just wondering if the loose bolts could have let the axles wallow around enough to beat out the seals? Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. I don't want to go through all this and it still leak. If it does, it will go down the road and I'll buy a ZTR.

[J-Mech]

Very common issue with that rear end. Hope you used locktite. Yes, those being loose could have caused the leak. Hope there isn't any damage you missed.

[dale c.]

look over the outer bearings good they go dry and will tear up the axles. clean the bearings up good and repack them with a good grease since they don't get oil from the trans.

[Gene Purser]

The differential is still out and can apply loctite. Do I use red?

The right side axle had a little looseness at the end so I will replace it.

[J-Mech]

I'd put red on it.

I'm not too sure about putting grease on that outer bearing. Pretty sure it gets oil. Grease won't hurt it... just not sure it's necessary. The oil will eventually thin it out.

Don't replace parts if it doesn't need them. Look the axle over for wear. Replace as necessary.

[Oak]

The outer roller bearing is dry in all the aluminum rears so it will need grease. If it needs replaced it is a HK3020. Check your axle good to where it rides.

[Gene Purser]

Oak, thanks for your write-up on replacing the seals. It helped a lot.

The axle has a slight circular mark around the surface on one side of the bearing, it looks like the housing for the roller bearings might have scratched it. The place the bearing rides is smooth, but is about .005" worn. The piece inside the bearing that separates the rollers has bright spots on it like the rollers weren't keeping it up off the axle. I'm going to dress it lightly with 600 grit paper and put a new bearing on it.

My mower has the locking differential in it, so I had to pull the shifter piece out a little to get the axle assembly out. I hope i don't run into a problem getting it back in place when putting it back together. The bearing and seals are supposed to be at the local Motion Industries store Monday morning.

[Oak]

Sounds good Gene. Make sure all the bolts are good and tight on the inside too. The 3205 is an awesome machine.

[Gene Purser]

Well, I got it back together a few days ago. I put a new Cub Cadet filter on it and used tractor transmission/hydraulic oil in it. It needed flushing anyway, so if this repair holds I'll change to the Cub oil. Then a storm came through with 2.4" rain. It dried up enough for me to get about an hour of driving/cutting time on the repair job. Transmission is quiet and no leaks so far. I was able to do the job without removing the fenders, tank, etc, so that helped. I I loosened the four bolts on the front and put a couple of wedges under the tank on the mounting flanges and was able to raise it about 1/2" and get to the upper bolts on the rear cover.

Thanks to all for the advice and comments. I really appreciate it.