The (now leaking) front seal is relatively new, one of the lip-seals that I recently installed. I didn't disconnect that spool from the linkage when I next change the rear seal, so figured the front seal wouldn't be see a sharp groove or land on the spool going past it (the seal lip) when I moved the spool back-and-forth. However, I did move the spool rearward more than its normal travel, trying to make it easier to compress the big spring and get the detent plunger thread started, so am now hoping that DID disturb the front seal someway. If not, then the lip-seals are rapidly failing and I will have to change all to quads... ugh! After all this fussing, knowing now how everything is built, I think I might be able to change all the spool seals (to quads) without removing the engine, or much else in the rear area except the spool covers. I now know rear access is "good enough", and you can leave the detents assembled if you are careful in pulling out the spools. The front will be a bit more difficult, as the big hose from the reservoir will have to stay in place, can only be disconnected at the front and bent out of the way as much as possible. I say that hose has to stay in place because I see no way to get to the fitting at the reservoir except by removing the engine and fan shroud; or maybe loosening the reservoir and lifting it up, but I don't want to explore that new process! This poor beast has become like a race-car or helicopter, lots of oil loss and 10-20 hrs of maintenance/repair for every hour of use.
