Leaking transmission shifter

[Jayton]

My name is Jayton and I'm a newbie on your forum. I live in the Foothills in Northern California and I have an 800 tractor with a 5-speed transmission. After a warm up period, transmission fluid starts leaking out the shifter and I'm wanting to replace the oil seal on the shaft but I'm having troubles finding it locally. My parts store in Chico says that part is no longer available. I tried making one out of gasket material but it doesn't work at all. Is there anyone out there with a similar problem and knows where I could find that seal?

 

[pomester]

My name is Jayton and I'm a newbie on your forum. I live in the Foothills in Northern California and I have an 800 tractor with a 5-speed transmission. After a warm up period, transmission fluid starts leaking out the shifter and I'm wanting to replace the oil seal on the shaft but I'm having troubles finding it locally. My parts store in Chico says that part is no longer available. I tried making one out of gasket material but it doesn't work at all. Is there anyone out there with a similar problem and knows where I could find that seal?

'800'? Ford?
Have you checked the fluid level in the transmission after the 'warm up period'? Fords have the hydraulic tubes running thru the transmission and can get a hole in the pressure side, fill up the transmission and force its way out of the shifter.

 

[Jayton]

'800'? Ford?
Have you checked the fluid level in the transmission after the 'warm up period'? Fords have the hydraulic tubes running thru the transmission and can get a hole in the pressure side, fill up the transmission and force its way out of the shifter.

Thanks for the quick response, I like that thought that would certainly make sense and I'm looking forward to checking that. So after the engine cools off would it go back to normal fluid level I'm wondering. So I'll post what I find out on that one thanks again.

 

[Tgrasher]

Since the hydraulic lines have pressure and the transmission doesn't have any, it's a one way transference. You can drain the transmission down a couple gallons to stop the shifter leak for awhile but the problem will return as your going to have to add hydraulic oil eventually. You might want to post on the Ford forum for exact information on how to fix the leaking lines.

 

[pomester]

Thanks for the quick response, I like that thought that would certainly make sense and I'm looking forward to checking that. So after the engine cools off would it go back to normal fluid level I'm wondering. So I'll post what I find out on that one thanks again.

The fluid should not equalize as there is a seal (two actually, for the transmission and the pto) between the transmission and the hydraulic reservoir. But that seal is now 70 years old, perhaps? So I'd never say never....

 

[showcrop]

While the overfill situation due to a leaking hydraulic tube is a very good possibility, another one is the missing seal. I fought that problem for years until I finally studied it when I had the cover off. I cut a piece of heater hose that fit snugly over the shifter, and barely made contact with the inside of the tube that the shifter is in. It is maybe an inch long. It took the place of the original seal and stopped the leak

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

Does this tractor have a vent on top of the rear housing like MF do? I'm not familiar with Fords. If that is plugged it will push oil out around the shift lever.