LS170 Leaking Hydro Oil

[mfyock]

Here is a new one that has stumped me a bit. I have an LS170 that I was using around the farm. Runs and operates good. Drops a little oil from the middle of the machine, but no big deal. Loan it to a friend to use for a commercial mulching job. Brings it back after 1/2 a day. Says it is leaking hydro oil BIG TIME. I lift the seat. Oil laying in the belly pan between the wheel motor and fuel tank. A lot of oil. I check the pumps, hoses,motor, cant find anything. I decide to tip the cab. Still cant find a major oil leak. Run it around the farm for a few days, everything is fine. I sell it to a local guy. When I load it on the trailer it starts leaking. Drops about a drip a second from the belly pan. He uses it for 2 weeks and says he really hasnt seen it leaking much... So, after pondering this for 2 weeks I think I might have an idea. The machine leaks when: 1. It jerks around while turning on asphalt 2. The machine is on an angle, like backing up trailer ramps. Is there a breather on the chaincases that could be missing? Are the chaincases automaticaly refilled with hydro oil? Could the gearboxes be leaking when they tip at an angle??

 

[Mike10]

Unless your skid plates under the loader are clean of debris the oil that does leak out will be trapped by the skid plates since the drain holes are plugged. Whenever you load the machine the loader is at an angle and the oil goes to another part of the machine and if there is an opening it will run out. If the chain cases are over full then you could have a hydro motor seal leaking. If the gearbox and chain case are separate reservoirs then generally if the seal leaks the oil will come out the breather of the gearbox which is high up on the gearbox.

 

[mfyock]

Unless your skid plates under the loader are clean of debris the oil that does leak out will be trapped by the skid plates since the drain holes are plugged. Whenever you load the machine the loader is at an angle and the oil goes to another part of the machine and if there is an opening it will run out. If the chain cases are over full then you could have a hydro motor seal leaking. If the gearbox and chain case are separate reservoirs then generally if the seal leaks the oil will come out the breather of the gearbox which is high up on the gearbox.

I had cleaned up the belly pans when I tipped the cab, and the belly pans had remained clean untill the machine went up the trailer ramps. Where do you check the chaincase level? Is that on the outside in the access plate?

 

[Mike10]

I had cleaned up the belly pans when I tipped the cab, and the belly pans had remained clean untill the machine went up the trailer ramps. Where do you check the chaincase level? Is that on the outside in the access plate?

In the lower front corner of the access plates between the front and rear wheel. You will need a 3/8 drive ratchet or breaker to fit the square hole in the plug. If the gearbox was filling with oil from the hydro motors there would always be a stream of oil leaking from the breathers when the unit was moved.

 

[B-Edwards]

In the lower front corner of the access plates between the front and rear wheel. You will need a 3/8 drive ratchet or breaker to fit the square hole in the plug. If the gearbox was filling with oil from the hydro motors there would always be a stream of oil leaking from the breathers when the unit was moved.

When I purchased my 7775 I couldnt figure out why I got such a good deal (from a JD dealer). 7775 is basicly a ls160 with deere decals and different engine. I was using it a few weeks after I bought it removing logs and brush with a grapple bucket when I noticed that when I went down a hill it left a stream of fluid. I could work for awhile and when I got just right it would let it run out. We lifted the seat and looked and looked for the leak. Finally with the seat raised and working all the hydraulics we finally found it, it didnt spray it just ozzed around the crimped fitting on the hose. I feel sure the dealer thought something was cracked but after a twenty dollar hose and all was fine. I asked him later (the dealer ) why I got such a great deal on the loader,,, he said he just liked me alot.