2N Brake mod?

I did a brake job on my 2N perhaps 15 years ago including Sure Seals. Last weekend I got tired of having crummy brakes so I tore into it. Left brake is OK and is dry. Right side had NO brake and was oil soaked, so I'm replacing that side. Trans oil level is at 6 o'clock bolt hole. When I removed the Sure Seal there was several ounces of oil inside. After staring at it for a while I'm convinced it's about impossible to keep the brakes dry. Problem is the trumpet flares out so any oil that makes it out to the end of the trumpet can't drain back into the sump. If you're lucky the oil will leak out the back side of the backing plate, but I'm never lucky so it leaks down the inside into the brakes. So, I'm thinking about grinding a grove in the end of the trumpet to help any oil that makes it out there drain down the outside. Wadaya think?

Doug - it will drain back... you just have to make a left hand turn on a 45 degree slope just joking. It does sound like a logical modification, but I don't think i would do it personally. I am planning on adding sure seals to my 2N. The SS seals against the alxe, but what about at the outer edge? Could you apply any gasket maker to the back flange of the SS prior to seating the axle and brake backing plate to increase the effectivness of the SS? just a thought - I haven't done this yet so I can't draw from experience. Good luck. Keith

Keith. I think you're onto something except when making the left hand turn on the 45 degree slope I need to drop the left tire into a ground hog hole...when the tractor rolls the trumpet will drain.

Anyway, since my post was getting kind of long I didn't tell the whole story. When I did the brakes way back I did puckey the back side of the flange that fits into the trumpet. I think that was a mistake. The oil that WILL accumulate there has no where to go except past the sure seal and eventualy thru the bearing and onto the brakes. I think that's why I found a lot of oil inside the sure seal. I'm trying to give the oil somewhere to go that does no harm.

sure seals dont work well. also there must be zero end play in the axels

Doug.......DON'T cutta drain. Yer Sure-Seal is BAD!!!
yeah, ittza PITA but better deal than original design

Remember, the original design used "splash lube" from the diffy oil-slinger to lube the axle bearing. Yer sure-seal STOPS the splash lube so it don't leak out the axle mouth onto yer brakes. That is WHY you haffta GREASE yer axle bearing when installing sure-seals. .......Dell

Hi Dell - I have a 2N that I got from my Uncle that I am restoring right now. I too was wondering about sure seals since this tractor did not have any installed. Since you mention the original design of the sel that made me wonder if it would be worth replacing the original seal in addition to adding sure seals... I know you have beeen giving support to N owners for a long time and I want to ask you this question in hopes of one of your very detailed explainations.

Ok heres my question.

Originally - was there a seal on the outside of the bearing? And then on the inside of the bearing there is a collar? I would like to renew all that and add sure seals. It would seem like double insurance. Would that be right?

Second part of the question - what is the process to remove the collar and bearing to replace that "original" seal? From the looks of it the collar gets detroyed during removel. At least the is what my original owners/mechanics book describes it this way. Also any tips for reinstalling the collar? I have never done this job, and don't want to do it wrong so I am looking for some experienced knowledge.

Thanks Dell.

Keith