960 front pedestal

[Myronw]

I took the cover off my front pedestal to paint it and there was nothing but basically rusty water inside! This is a tractor that has been sitting outside for ten years or so, but how would water get in there? I’m pretty sure the idiot who owned it never checked the oil level…

 

[Sean in PA]

If it's the original 1 piece front pedestal, then it's most likely is that some one in the past opened the plug where you check the level and fill it and they left it off for some amount of time.you use the dipstick from the 3 point hydraulics to check the level if it was ever left loose. That's just a guess, but don't ever underestimate stupid.

 

[Btzj02]

I took the cover off my front pedestal to paint it and there was nothing but basically rusty water inside! This is a tractor that has been sitting outside for ten years or so, but how would water get in there? I’m pretty sure the idiot who owned it never checked the oil level…

I found the same on my 960. I had to drill the drain plug out so I could flush the sump good. I got it as clean as possible and added two quarts of 80w90 gear oil. Surprisingly no leaks! I forget to mention that I also found that the previous owner had screwed a "too long" bolt in the upper left threaded hole. It cracked the casting inside the sump. That is a good place for water to get in!

 

[MarkB_MI]

I drained a significant amount of water out of my pedestal. I had to heat up the drain plug with an acetylene torch to get it out, so I assume the oil had never been changed in over forty years.

 

[Myronw]

I get the feeling that the people who owned mine never gave it a thought. I guess 70 years of condensation could be the culprit. Thanks for your replies and have a great day!
Myron

 

[showcrop]

I get the feeling that the people who owned mine never gave it a thought. I guess 70 years of condensation could be the culprit. Thanks for your replies and have a great day!
Myron

I was thinking of posting something about condensation yesterday since that is how water usually gets into these old tractors, but I didn't know what the vent situation on the steering box is. I may get up the ambition today to check the fill plug on 1or 2 of mine.