Rear end leak on a 1200

[young enthusiest]

Hey guys, Yesterday I went down to look at the 1200. Underneath the rear end, was about a liter of Hy-Tran. I checked the oil levels in the rear and the creeper, and the rear might be down just a bit. I think I found the source of the leak, right at the bottom of the rear cover gasket. The spray paint did not stick there at all, because the surface would have been oily. I am sure I need a new gasket, but the hy-tran was just put in about 4 weeks ago. Do i dump the brand-new oil, replace the gasket, and re-fill with new stuff, save the old oil, or just keep topping up every now and then for a year or so, and then do it the right way. I will end up making my own gasket no matter what, so some tips on that would be appreciated. Thanks everybody!
Oh! yes, pics should be on ASAP.

[Matt G.]

If you just changed it, there's not sense throwing it away, especially if it's going in a gear drive. Drain it into a clean pan, fix your leak, and put it back in. In fact, when I change the hytran in my hydros, I save if if it isn't full of crap or burnt-smelling, and I put it in my gear drive tractors.

[young enthusiest]

Ok, I got the pics on photobucket, here they are
The puddle

The puddle #2

The problem

The problem #2

Problem #3

If you want different angles, please say so!

[young enthusiest]

Originally Posted by Matt G.

If you just changed it, there's not sense throwing it away, especially if it's going in a gear drive. Drain it into a clean pan, fix your leak, and put it back in. In fact, when I change the hytran in my hydros, I save if if it isn't full of crap or burnt-smelling, and I put it in my gear drive tractors.

Hmm... Interesting. My dad said to never keep old oil. I think I shall see what everybody else says, just to get some more opinions.

[drysumpjet]

I could easily be wrong, but from the pictures, it appears that there is oil leaking from your oil fill plug. (Or maybe the picture was taken immediately after topping it off)

Also, the hitch plate that originally came on that tractor is missing. The hitch plate helps distribute the clamping force of the bolts over the gasket sealing surfaces adjacent to the lower 3 bolts. A suggestion is to add a hitch plate (with the appropriate longer length bolts) without removing the cover, saving your oil, and it might help the leak issue.

Good Luck!

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by drysumpjet

I could easily be wrong, but from the pictures, it appears that there is oil leaking from your oil fill plug.

Also, the hitch plate that originally came on that tractor is missing. The hitch plate helps distribute the clamping force of the bolts over the gasket sealing surfaces adjacent to the lower 3 bolts.

I agree...

If he put the longer bolts back in without the hitch they may have bottomed out before the gasket was mashed tight.

[Yosemite Sam]

And don't throw that oil out... drain it into a clean pan and use it again. If you didn't have the leak you wouldn't be taking it out anyway.

[CBH]

Looks like that LEAK needs immediate attention!

[young enthusiest]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

I agree...

If he put the longer bolts back in without the hitch they may have bottomed out before the gasket was mashed tight.

I only had one bolt in the bottom the rest were about a quartar inch too long. I had the tiller bracket on, so I used the longest bolts I could. It is not leaking from the fill plug. I opened it, cleaned my finger, stuck it in, to see the level. It came through the threads and dripped down. I just have not cleaned it up. I hoisted the rear end way up, so that I can leave if for a few days. Calving takes a lot of my time, so I can't do much right now. Thanks for the help guys!

[CBH]

Using too long of a bolt can easily bust the housing. The bolt holes do not go all the way through, and using a long bolt will bust the back side of the bolt hole out. If that's the case, you'll have to replace the rear end housing.