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There are several possible reasons: 1. The oil level is too high. Check the oil level to the lip of the fill plug with the hitch draft arms down. If you want to run a higher oil level, raise the vent higher with pipe fittings. 2. The hitch cylinder may be scored and/or piston o-rings or leather cup ('51 probably has the cup) is leaking excessively and oil is being blown back through the rock shaft housing vent/leakby tube into the torque tube as the hitch is raised. 3. The void in the rock shaft housing has an accumulation of grease that causes the air and any oil to return to the torque tube at a high pressure (spray) when the hitch is raised. Same thing for a restricted vent/leakby tube. If it isn't a high oil level, disconnect the vent/leakby tube at the fitting on the rock shaft housing. Cycle the hitch up and down about 10 times to force out residual oil and grease. Put a couple hundred lbs on the draft arms, lift to maximum height, shut off the engine. Observe the oil leak-off, (1) ideally none, (2) real world slow drip, (3) fast drip or more time to think about pulling the cylinder. While you have the tube disconnected, make sure it is not restricted either with compressed air or take it off, clean or replace. If everything here is ok, put back in working order and down the line you have the same problem again. 1. Pull the cylinder and clean the grease out of the rock shaft housing. 2. Throw away your grease gun. The rock shaft housing does not have bearings. The rock shaft rotates in contact with the housing in 4 places in way of the grease zerks. The clearance is very small and requires a small amount of grease (2 pumps) about once a year. Any excess grease, especially at the 2 center zerks ends up under the piston and by extension in the torque tube. Joe
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