Front Wheel Bearing Seals...

Tom Bowman · Apr 11, 2014

When I disassembled the front hubs on the TO-20, it had this kind of seal (the catalogs call it a "lip-type" seal):

They fit into the hubs very loose.

I ordered replacements, and I got this kind, which Sparex lists for the TO-20:

I like the looks of the Sparex seals: they're a lot more substantial, and they seem to fit the hubs and spindles better than the other kind. (I haven't assembled them with the bearings yet.)

Has anyone else tried the Sparex seal?

miner09 · Apr 11, 2014

That is the new type seals. All company's are the same. They will work fine.

Tom Bowman · Apr 11, 2014

Thanks, Miner. Since I didn't replace the wheel bearings themselves, I wanted to make sure I could use these new seals with the old bearings.

Bruce(OR) · Apr 11, 2014

Greetings!! I hope you realize that wheel bearing
seals on tractors are NOT, NOT designed to keep
grease in. They were designed and installed to keep
dirt out. So, when you pump grease into the hub, it
will ooze out and force the dirt out at the same
time.

Charles in Aus. · Apr 11, 2014

An interesting point about the front bearings .
I have always left a little free play in wheel bearings ; tighten them up to a nip then back off half a turn .
I was well and truly told off by an old tractor man for doing this. Seems that the 19'' wheel puts such a lateral strain on the bearing and hub that any free play leads to a wobble fairly quickly , this in turn ruins the seal . A preload of a few ft lbs. is recommended to keep the bearing and seal in service without undue wear .

Tom Bowman · Apr 11, 2014

Thanks, guys.

Charles, I think the Shop Manual says to tighten the nut, then back it off by one face of the hex nut and insert the cotter pin. (I haven't adjusted tractor wheel bearings before, but bicycle cup-and-cone wheel bearings tend to loosen up with use, so you usually err on the tight side.)

Bruce, my hubcaps don't have grease fittings, but I see that they're available: should I get a new hubcaps?

Greg Vickers · Apr 11, 2014

(quoted from post at 02:01:59 04/12/14) An interesting point about the front bearings .
I have always left a little free play in wheel bearings ; tighten them up to a nip then back off half a turn .
I was well and truly told off by an old tractor man for doing this. Seems that the 19'' wheel puts such a lateral strain on the bearing and hub that any free play leads to a wobble fairly quickly , this in turn ruins the seal . A preload of a few ft lbs. is recommended to keep the bearing and seal in service without undue wear .

I was always taught to tighten the bearing nut until it affects how free the wheel spins, and then back it off slightly until the wheel spins freely, usually less than a quarter of a turn. Have never had any problems. You don't really want free play, just free and smooth spinning.

jennifer408 · Apr 11, 2014

I was always taught to tighten the bearing nut until it affects how free the wheel spins, and then back it off slightly until the wheel spins freely, usually less than a quarter of a turn. Have never had any problems. You don't really want free play, just free and smooth spinning.[/quote]

yep, that's how grandpa showed me.

Bob · Apr 11, 2014

You ACTUALLY do want a small amount of play and NO "preload" in wheel bearings.

Charles in Aus. · Apr 11, 2014

(quoted from post at 05:31:47 04/12/14) You ACTUALLY do want a small amount of play and NO "preload" in wheel bearings.

Bob, that is what I have always understood to be the best practice . There is though , a Ferguson service bulletin that states the exact opposite and does specify pre load . This is what the old tractor service agent that told me off, waved under my face when I tried to reason with him . I backed off fairly quickly after reading it .

Tom Bowman · May 19, 2014

Which direction is the "new" kind of seal (the Sparex seal in the second and third pictures) installed in the hub?

Ark68SS · May 19, 2014

(quoted from post at 11:12:31 05/19/14) Which direction is the "new" kind of seal (the Sparex seal in the second and third pictures) installed in the hub?

The "open" end (third picture) goes toward the bearing.
BillL

Tom Bowman · May 20, 2014

Thanks, Bill. (I thought that made the most sense, but sometimes my thinking ain't always right.)

Front Wheel Bearing Seals...

Tom Bowman

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miner09

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Tom Bowman

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Bruce(OR)

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Charles in Aus.

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Tom Bowman

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Greg Vickers

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jennifer408

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Bob

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Charles in Aus.

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Tom Bowman

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Ark68SS

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Tom Bowman

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