leaking 90W

[Paul F B]

My tea 2085 is leaking gear oil out of a cotter-like pin on the bottom of the tranny housing , right near one of the drain plugs. Is this a seal problem and how difficult is it to fix it? Paul

 

[Richard L]

I am not familiar with the TEA however on the TO in the bellhousing area there are 2 of the cotter pins that are attached loosely so that they are allowed to continually vibrate and keep the area from becoming plugged so the oil can drip out and (hopefully) not get on the clutch. If you are getting oil out the front pin hole it is probably coming from the rear engine seal. If coming from the rear hole (and 90W as you say) your front transmission seal has probably used up its life and will need to be split to have the seal replaced. DO NOT try to plug the hole as it will get all over the clutch then you will be spending more money. Also you said it is leaking from the tranny housing, I really think it is from the bell housing. Richard

 

[JEFF_Oh]

2 cotter pins? I am only aware of one. But I'll have to look tonight.

 

[JEFF_Oh]

Richard is correct. That cotter pin is placed in the hole to keep it clear. It is a drain to keep oil from accumulating in the clutch housing. There is only one cotter pin.

If it is 90wt oil then it is comming from the Transmission case seal.

This is not "That" bad of a fix but it will take some time and you will need to split the tractor.

How bad is the leak? An ocasional drip that is anoying and stains the floor? or Drip drip drip. enough to actually accumulate?

Splitting a sounds harder than it really is.

To get at it you'll have to remove the steering assyembly. Then split it at the Bell housing. Suppot the engine and slide the back end off. Once exposed you can get at the seal.

A shop service manual will be helpful. John UK may have a sheet already available on this.

If you need more details we can get into them.

The pictures shows what you can expect to see when you splitt the tractor.

Jeff

 

[Jerry/MT]

Someone must have slipped an extra one in yours. My TO-30 only has one.

 

[Richard L]

Like I said I don't know about TEA but my TO 30 has two. When you said that then I had to go double check as you had me thinking (and that hurts). Richard

 

[Richard L]

Jerry maybe you better pick up another cotter pin and put it in the other hole so that one does not get plugged up. I have 1 JUST behind where it is split, in the very front of the bell housing and 1 right at the very rear of bell housing. These 2 cotter pins are 15" apart. Mine was made in the last 2 weeks of TO 30 production if that makes a difference. Richard

 

[Bob (Aust)]

The TEA20 had two cotter pins, one in each transmission drain hole. Sounds like you have a leaking transmission input shaft seal, which is not uncommon on these old machines.

Splitting the tractor is quite simple and quick. Whilst in there, check the clutch and engine crankshaft rear seal. Parts are easy to obtain and relatively cheap.

The only steering disassembly required is to disconnect the drag links and radius rods, a good time to check and possibly replace the steering box drop arm seals - you do not need to disassemble the steering box to replace the seals.

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20

 

[Don Hooks*]

Paul, the responses are right on. However, there is one thing to check - the oil level in the transmission. Sometimes the tranny seal is marginal but OK under most conditions. In this scenario anything that increases the pressure causes the leak rate to increase. Two possibilities are parking the tractor nose-down or getting water in the transmission. If there is water in the transmission you need to change out the oil and fix the water leak.

 

[Paul F B]

My tractor does leak the 90 wgt when pointed nose down0 minimal when on a flat surface, don't know how much went he tractor is in use. Don, when you say to check the oil level in the tranny, where should it be? Also, how do you discover water in the oil and where would the most likely place it would be coming from. Thanks to all who have helped me so far. Paul

 

[Bob (Aust)]

Check the transmission dip stick, right side, below the seat, in the round "port hole" inspection plate.

If the oil is brown you have water in there.

All TEA20s leak water into the transmission down the gear lever (transmission shifter) and around the depth control spring behind the seat.

Never leave a TEA20 out in the rain without a tarpaulin over the back half, from the steering wheel back.

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20

 

[Don Hooks*]

The TO models have a dipstick in the round right-side differential/hydraulic inspection cover. The proper level is even with the lowest bolt holding that cover on and I presume the 2085 is the same. In-leakage usually comes around the draft control spring seal or the shifter boot. Oil with water in it usually has an opaque brown color. The only fix if it has water in it is to replace it - and of course fix the leak. If the oil is clean then your problem is probably just a worn seal and you can decide if you are ready to split the tractor and fix it.

 

[Paul F B]

The three drain plugs on the bottom- 2 are located on the housing and the 3rd, is it on the other side if the transmissin drain ( an 11/16 plug?

 

[Paul F B]

Sorry, I meant on the other side of the crankshaft drain?

 

[Bob (Aust)]

Rubber boot helps to reduce water ingress but is certainly not water proof:

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20