I haven't even blocked it up yet, let alone remove a tire, so I don't even know if the bearings are bad too. The service manual I have says the axle is all one piece, and the chain sprocket is held onto it with a large nut inside the chaincase. There is supposed to be an access cover for that nut on the inside of the chaincase but I don't see it. Guess I'll have to drain the oil and remove the large access cover on the outside to see what I have. Thanks.
Update: In order to change/replace the axle seal you have to drain the chaincase, remove the side cover and the inside cover to access the axle nut, and drop the chains. The axle slides out through the sprockets. There is also an external seal guard that is clamped over the non-removable hub (bearing housing) four 3/8 bolts each. As it turns out in my case the chaincase was so full of hydraulic oil from a slow leak in a motor that it was being pushed back out through the seal. I drained off about 8 gallons of oil which brought the level down to normal. Now I know that whenever I have to add hydraulic oil, I have to check the chaincase oil level too. So the leaking motor seal is probably not going to be repaired on my watch.
Sounds like it's a big job like earlier model Bobcat machines, the axle needed to come out. Remove the chain/sprocket inside, slide the axle out, replace seal, put it back together.
Yes, it's definitely a slow leak. It's probably been a year since I checked it last when I replaced a badly leaking brake release cylinder, which I thought was the source of my excessive oil. I'll keep a closer watch on it now and check it about every 25 hours or so. This unit will probably go up for sale or trade in the future because I want a compact articulated loader anyway. Thanks for your insight.