Author	[Modern View]
lfnel 09-09-2012 04:37:31 173.27.205.97 Report to Moderator	Years ago I put all new seals the steering column of my MT. I then refilled with the specified oil. I haven't refilled since and it's still leaking out the lower seal. Maybe it's leaking through the upper seal into the lower reservoir, I doubt it but even so, the lower seal has to be leaking. I remember taking extreme care when installing that big lower seal and re-inserting the lower shaft and am pretty darned sure I got it done without damaging the seal. Are the MT's sort of notorious for leaking there, is it fixable, or should I just cave in and go to corn head gear box lube or gun grease? It's a warm weather tractor ride machine! [Reply]   [No Email]
Dave H 09-10-2012 05:14:56 66.116.25.219 Report to Moderator	Re: MT steering leak in reply to lfnel, 09-09-2012 04:37:31   I am sure you got a winner there with thinning the corn head grease some. I have been using the corn head grease straight in weaping gear boxes for years. It has lots of applications. My garden tiller for example, The seals went out in the lower tine shaft drive. Put the corn head grease in years ago and have not looked back. try it you will like it. :) [Reply]  [No Email]
M-MAN 09-09-2012 11:00:51 184.39.61.57 Report to Moderator	Re: MT steering leak in reply to lfnel, 09-09-2012 04:37:31   It's leaking from the top down & you are never going to get it spot free, dripless & usable. They were built to work & the thoughts of a drop of oil leaking out didn't bother the engineers one bit. In fact they counted on it. The steering box is sitting right on top of a hot radiator so that oil is gonna get hot & thin no matter what you do. On an M the lower bushing depends on that little leakage to lubricate it. Saved Deere from having to put a bearing there. You could have the shaft built up and turned back down to specs, replace all the bushings, bearings and seals & it is still gonna weep a little cause that's just the way it is. The best you can do is replace the bushings and seals if needed & then fill it up with a mixture of cornhead grease & enough 140wt gear oil to make it pourable. This will lower the seepage rate but will still allow some like it's supposed to. The worst thing you can do is use gun grease. It will destroy it. [Reply]  [No Email]
Hotflashjr 09-10-2012 05:08:39 199.144.39.28 Report to Moderator	Re: MT steering leak in reply to M-MAN, 09-09-2012 11:00:51   You are right about it always weeping. I have been struggling with the fact of tearing mine apart a third time to get it to stop but, I think I am going to add in the corn head grease and call it good. It's just a pain to always be checking the level up top. [Reply]  [No Email]
Mark-Ia 09-09-2012 05:48:12 207.177.117.7 Report to Moderator	Re: MT steering leak in reply to lfnel, 09-09-2012 04:37:31   Most guys recommend John Deere corn head Grease [Reply]  [No Email]
FBH44 09-09-2012 05:31:23 64.85.217.37 Report to Moderator	Re: MT steering leak in reply to lfnel, 09-09-2012 04:37:31   Different tractor, but I whipped up a 50-50 blend of 90 wt. transmission oil and high-temp. wheel bearing grease, with a coat hanger in my elec drill. In a coffee can. Got what I thought was a good thick concictency, poured it in, and no leaks since. None. [Reply]  [No Email]
Hotflashjr 09-09-2012 05:10:26 71.192.122.39 Report to Moderator	Re: MT steering leak in reply to lfnel, 09-09-2012 04:37:31   I have rebuilt mine twice in the two years I have owned my MT and it still leaks. I went as far as to find a NOS lower bushing ring for mine and I still have leaks from top to bottom. I used gasket sealer, cleaned everything, de-burred everything. I can't get it to stop weeping. It is the worst in the summer. I think I am going to go to a mix of oil and corn head grease myself after I give it one more try. [Reply]  [No Email]