axle problems on 3x20 series

9742 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by dschuffert, Jul 18, 2012

LHS

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2012

It seems there are some axle problems you hear about on some of the 3x20 and 4x20 series tractors. I bought my 3520 in 2010. On the day it arrived I ran it around getting a feel for it, about an hour. I noticed the next day a puddle of fluid on the floor under the axle near the tire. I checked the fluid and the stick was dry.

I called the dealer and tore into them right good. It was a Saturday so I left a voice mail for the salesman and sales manager. They called me first thing Monday morning and had a tech come out and put more fluid in the axle. It didn't take much. I made him leave me the gallon of fluid. The tech said even tho the stick was dry it still had plenty of fluid as to not cause any damage.

60 hrs. later I haven't had a problem since that one time. I always check my fluids before I start it, keeping a close eye on the axle.

Is there a good reason why I had that leak?

Is there anything I should do or any questions to ask before my warranty runs out at the end of the year as far as the axle goes?

Thanks

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tomd999

· #2 · Jan 21, 2012

Check the vent

Hiya,

The service manual doesn't show a vent fitting on the front axle housing so, depending on conditions, the axle could pressurize. This could simply be a case that the fluid was checked at the dealer in cold conditions and your garage was warmer, as the axle warmed, the resultant pressure may have pushed fluid out.

Tom

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toolcrib

· #3 · Apr 15, 2012

How about venting the axle?

Was thinking about venting the axle via a very small hole drilled thru the plastic dip stick / filler plug. Might use a dab of candle wax as a safety seal.
Could this void the warranty?

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bhill

· #4 · Apr 15, 2012

toolcrib said:
Was thinking about venting the axle via a very small hole drilled thru the plastic dip stick / filler plug. Might use a dab of candle wax as a safety seal.
Could this void the warranty?

I would ask an JD service manager before you make any modification. IMO if the wax falls out or deteriorates you now have a open port to allow contamination...ie water

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hanson1999

· #5 · Apr 15, 2012

I vented mine. I drilled the top of the dipstick to take a 1/8" pipe thread with a 1/4" hose barb fitting. ran 1/4" black fuel line up under the hood and put a cheap fuel filter on the end to keep dirt out.

haven't had any wheel seal issues since.

and if you have any warranty issues just take this off and buy a new dipstick ahead of time to swap out if needed.

sometimes what they don't know don't hurt them.......

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bhill

· #6 · Apr 16, 2012 (Edited)

hanson1999 said:
I vented mine. I drilled the top of the dipstick to take a 1/8" pipe thread with a 1/4" hose barb fitting. ran 1/4" black fuel line up under the hood and put a cheap fuel filter on the end to keep dirt out.

haven't had any wheel seal issues since.

and if you have any warranty issues just take this off and buy a new dipstick ahead of time to swap out if needed.

sometimes what they don't know don't hurt them.......

What about moisture?? Doesn't a fuel filter allow the passage of fluids?? If you feel the need the vent your differentials- shouldn't you consider a one way check valve?

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hanson1999

· #7 · Apr 16, 2012

bhill said:
What about moisture?? Doesn't a fuel filter allow the passage of fluids?? If you feel the need the vent your differentials- shouldn't you consider a one way check valve?

what moisture?? i have it way up by the air filter for the engine.

and a one way valve isn't the best because when your differential cools down, some air needs to get back in or your essentially sucking your wheel seals in.

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bhill

· #8 · Apr 16, 2012

hanson1999 said:
what moisture?? i have it way up by the air filter for the engine.

and a one way valve isn't the best because when your differential cools down, some air needs to get back in or your essentially sucking your wheel seals in.

Really? I have never heard of this??

So cant your "fuel filter" still suck moisture or water vapor- regardless of the location??

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glc

· #9 · Apr 17, 2012

hanson1999 said:
what moisture?? i have it way up by the air filter for the engine.

and a one way valve isn't the best because when your differential cools down, some air needs to get back in or your essentially sucking your wheel seals in.

This indeed is true. You don't want to "block" the ability of the gearcase, or differential in this case to breathe. hanson,that is a very good idea you come up with. Now the question,why didn't JD vent this differential. :unknown:

Greg

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scrappy

· #10 · Apr 17, 2012

some moisture from the atmosphere is going to get in no matter what you do. the oil in the axle gets splashed around during operation and wets all the surfaces to help keep corrosion from happening. also running the tractor helps to get rid of the moisture. the oil has a change interval for a reason.
I think I would rather change the fluid occasionally to help get rid of accumulated moisture than to keep it sealed up and blow out and expensive and/or time consuming to replace seal.

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hanson1999

· #11 · Apr 17, 2012

bhill said:
Really? I have never heard of this??

So cant your "fuel filter" still suck moisture or water vapor- regardless of the location??

well i guarantee your engine is sucking way more moisture in than this differential vent will ever see.

Think about how much air goes in through your engine air filter. have you ever found a wet one??

The little bit of air that travels in and out of this vent i made isn't going to do anything harmful. it will however, save wheel seals.

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kml

· #12 · Apr 23, 2012

And then there is pressure washers....

Good points here about the moisture problems some have had and I think the lack of a vent on this axle is a serious oversight on JD's part but I'm leaving mine as-is until I have an issue. I just check the fluid often and change as scheduled.

Another way to get water all sorts of places it shouldn't be is the misuse of pressure (or power) washers. Clean tractors are nice and all but you can blow water right by seals with these things. If you use one on your tractor be carefull where you point it and keep the pressure down bellow "kill".

Kelly

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toolcrib

· #13 · Jul 18, 2012

Front axle vent valve (3520)

I finely came up with a way to vent the front axle via modifing the dipstick plug.
I used what Granger calls a Relief/Filler Vent Plug (Item 1U573).
It has rating of 1-5 PSI and filters down to 20 Microns. I drilled out the top of
the dipstick just enough to epoxy the valve in.
I then drilled a very small hole at an upward angle thru the bottom of the base of
the dipstick till it reached the opening underneath the valve.

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dschuffert

· #14 · Jul 18, 2012

toolcrib said:
I finely came up with a way to vent the front axle via modifing the dipstick plug.
I used what Granger calls a Relief/Filler Vent Plug (Item 1U573).
It has rating of 1-5 PSI and filters down to 20 Microns. I drilled out the top of
the dipstick just enough to epoxy the valve in.
I then drilled a very small hole at an upward angle thru the bottom of the base of
the dipstick till it reached the opening underneath the valve.

Can you take a picture of this and post it here?

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