My H is leaking!

Last Nov. I drained the old transmission oil out of my H Farmall and filled with new. A day after I parked it for the winter in my shed with concrete floor, I noticed leaks from the ends of both axles. Both ends kept leaking for weeks (used a lot of old rags). Yesterday I drove it for the first time of the year and then put it back in the shed. This morning more oil from both ends. Will it quit leaking when the oil level is equal to the axles? Will the remaining oil be enough to avoid problems during road cruises or a plow day? At my age I am not interested in taking the wheels off and fixing the seals the proper way...I can afford buying more oil if I need to keep it filled at a high level.
LA in WI

How much oil did you put in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(quoted from post at 11:14:51 03/19/12) Last Nov. I drained the old transmission oil out of my H Farmall and filled with new. A day after I parked it for the winter in my shed with concrete floor, I noticed leaks from the ends of both axles. Both ends kept leaking for weeks (used a lot of old rags). Yesterday I drove it for the first time of the year and then put it back in the shed. This morning more oil from both ends. Will it quit leaking when the oil level is equal to the axles? Will the remaining oil be enough to avoid problems during road cruises or a plow day? At my age I am not interested in taking the wheels off and fixing the seals the proper way...I can afford buying more oil if I need to keep it filled at a high level.
LA in WI

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IF the axle bearings are going to recieve enough oil to be properly lubricated, then yes, the oil level needs to be that high. You have 2 choices, either put up with the drips and add oil as needed, or replace those axle seals.

You might try some gun grease in those zerks on the end of the rear axle bearing housings - it stops the leaking on my BIL's M, Hal.

LA on the clutch petal side of the transmission there is a plug about even with the bottom of your axel housing. Park the tractor on the leval and remove the plug, your oil level should be just so it don't run out. If it is running out you are over full. HTH

Bob

Try tightening the bolts on the end of the axle housing,it worked for me.

It probably has lots of water in the rear end and floated the oil level so it is above the axel seals. C's, H's & M's will get water from leaking or condensation in the rear ends if not used enough to keep the water "boiled" out. To remove the water, leave it set for a day or two so the water settles to the bottom of the housing. Then loosen the big plug at the rear bottom of the housing. After you can turn it with your fingers, take it all the way out of the threads, but keep the plug against the hole, lift the bottom of the plug slightly and let the water drain until the rear end oil starts to flow. If you have never drained it, you will be amazed at the amount of water that will come out. Have at least a 2 to 2 1/2 gallon bucket under the plug to catch your drainings. (Oil will float to the top and can be skimmed off like cream, if you think you want to re-use it.) Also, if it has sat out in the rain, water WILL leak past the indented bolt heads in the platform. I drain my H, which is parked outside, every fall and get a quart or more of water each time. We had an M that we forgot to drain last year. After freeze-up we went to use it, but it wouldn't move. The water froze solid enough that the bull gears wouldn't turn. It took a couple of hours with a Knipco pointed at the underside of the tractor to thaw it. We got more than a gallon of water out of it after it thawed. (My $0.02 woirth. jal-SD)

Did you use 90 weight? Did you only add it to the level of the plug on the left side of the tractor? Those seals do not start leaking a "stream". They begin leaking slowly. Changing 90 weight should not cause them to leak.

I changed the transmission lube on mine 2 years ago and it has leaked out the axles since. I have tried pumping them full of grease and no luck.

Make sure it is at least 90W, and grease the axles seals with about a dozen pumps each.

Use heavier oil (90 wt). That should help. The only time I have any issues with heavy transmission oil is when its -20.
I tried hytran in my H and it leaked some too.

He said he drained it last fall so there would not be any moisture from setting in a shed.

Leaking H; answers and more details:

CNKS: There was never a stream of leaking, just drip, drip, drip.

ND856:
david G:
CNKS:
kevinj54: "Yes" to you fellows, I did put in 90wt trans oil.

david G:
farmallhal: I pumped 12 shots of grease in the axle zerks, thanks for the idea. Will see if it helps.

CNKS:
S2710:
rustyfarmall: I added it to when it leaked out the plug hole on left side, ahead of the clutch, according to the manual.

Old weldorIT: I tightened the bolts, they were not real tight. Hope it helps.

kevinj54: I added 6 gal, as per the directions in the manual.

jal-SD: My tractor does not sit outside...ever. No water came out last fall when I drained it. Thanks anyway. The old girl worked hard for 50 yrs, now she rests and sometimes plays.

Thanks to all you guys for help. I have a cold Leinenkugel waiting for you.

LA in WI

Where are you located? I will come put the seals in if I am close. I did my H a couple summers back and it is pretty easy. Make sure you get the axle shafts good and clean (Before I get there)