Odd leak on my 1811....

Danger · #1 06-20-2010, 09:19 PM

I have an odd leak on my 1811 somewhere. It's dripping(very slowly) off the transmission, but it's not transmission fluid. I have no idea what it is. It's a clear to light yellowish color. The trans fluid has a redish tint to it.

It takes about 2 days after I mow for the first drips to show up. Then over the next 2-3 days it drips pretty consistent, but still slowly. Then seems to stop after that.

Could it possibly be that that the trans is getting too hot and it's grease from a bearing breaking down? I haven't had all the housing off yet to see if I can find out exactly where it's leaking. I'm not sure I'll be able to easily track it down due to the slowness of the leak.

Any thoughts of what it could be and where it's coming from?

Thanks in advance.

Danger · #2 06-20-2010, 10:01 PM

That's the thing. I DO know what's in there. That's why I know it's not trans fluid. Changed it all out over a month ago, and new(CC) filter.

This leak just popped up a little over 2 week ago. If it was the same color as what I put in I wouldn't be asking questions. And I realize it's not from the axle, since as I said, it's dripping off the front of the transmission, not from an axle.

I think I'm going to have to take the rear sheet metal off and see if I can track down where it's coming from.

Are there no bearing in the front of the transmission area?

EDIT: And it only leaks when the rear has cooled down completely. It doesn't drip/leak at all while running or sitting after just running.

TEET · #3 06-20-2010, 10:03 PM

Sounds like a typical hytran leak. Could be the cork gasket between the trans and pump, or one of the seals on the pump itself. The color isn't always relevant, as when its in greater volume, it may have a reddish hue to it, but might look amber when its only a few drops. I would wipe it all down the best you can, and try to pinpoint it a little better. You'd be surprised how these leaks can appear to travel...like the front seal where the drive shaft is can run down and drip under the axle tube...makes tracking down leaks tough.

Jeff (teet)

Danger · #4 06-20-2010, 10:11 PM

Thanks for non condescending response Jeff. Scott can't seem to keep the snide remarks out of just about every response to a thread he does.

Tomorrow I'll get to taking the fenders off.

But the color still concerns me because when I check the fluid level the small amount of fluid on the rag shows up as a pinkish color. The leaking fluid is very clearly yellow. It's almost like the color a white rag gets if you get some gasoline on it, but its thicker than gas and I wouldn't think a leak from the front could travel that far back.

Amigatec · #5 06-20-2010, 10:28 PM

I think the reason why is leaks as it sits, is because the hytrans will settle back in the RE and the level will go up. Once you start it the pump will draw the oil level down some.

Danger · #6 06-20-2010, 10:56 PM

As I've been sitting here thinking about it. I realized that the color I'm seeing is the same color as the stuff that was in it when I changed it out. Almost a motor oil color.

Could it be possible that when I changed out the filter that some of the old stuff collected somewhere I missed on my wipe down then and it's just now made it's way down there?

I should know tomorrow, hopefully, since I wiped everywhere I could reach with the fenders on. It just doesn't seem consistent enough to me to be a leak from the trans itself.

I'm still going to take the fenders off tomorrow and give it a good cleaning.

PS- And Scott it was the "apparently you don't" remark that ticked me off a bit. Since I know what I put in and it's definitely not what's dripping onto my garage floor.

Matt G. · #7 06-20-2010, 11:03 PM

The axle tubes will retain old fluid, even if the rear is drained. Where is it dripping? If it's in the vicinity of an axle tube, I'd suspect either an axle seal or one of the axle tube gaskets.

Danger · #8 06-20-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt G.

The axle tubes will retain old fluid, even if the rear is drained. Where is it dripping? If it's in the vicinity of an axle tube, I'd suspect either an axle seal or one of the axle tube gaskets.

It was dripping off the front of the trans itself. Landing about 2-3 inches away from the rear of the mower deck. I didn't notice any dampness around the usual places that I checked before I mowed today. I checked around the rear cover, the axle tubes and the filter. All were dry according to running a rag around those areas.

TEET · #9 06-20-2010, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danger

It was dripping off the front of the trans itself. Landing about 2-3 inches away from the rear of the mower deck. I didn't notice any dampness around the usual places that I checked before I mowed today. I checked around the rear cover, the axle tubes and the filter. All were dry according to running a rag around those areas.

Sounds like the cork gasket. Did you take the deck off? It would be easier if you could crawl under it to peek up under the pump. My 1211 had the same issue, and it was the cork gasket....it was hard to see where it was running from until I cleaned it real good and crawled under and saw it running down. Also the trunion seal has a way of running down and dripping where you wouldn't expect it.

Good luck

Jeff (teet)