Rear axle oil seals FE 35

Thanks for any assistance.

Bob

Note that some modern tractors have a grease point at the hub bearing to allow you to put grease into it occassionally. MF35 and MF135 don't have this and I believe there is a service recommendation that rear hub bearings should be repacked with grease periodically. In my experience it just doesn't get done and tractors seem no worse for it but I guess regreasing them after 50 years would be a good thing to do when you have the half shafts out.

Outer ones are standard seals too. The outer seal is only there to keep grease in the hub bearings and dirt out. It isn't designed to keep oil in the axles housing and you coudl get away with leaving it alone. It can be a real hassle to change as you have to remove the hub bearing carrier. This involves drilling and spliting the retaining collar and pulling the bearing off. This can be really tight. Massey mechanic tells me he has had 15 tons force on their press to get some of them off. On the other hand, some do come off easily - mine didn't - I got dealer to pull and replace them. Apparently there is a type of seal that you can fit without taking it apart and I have seen postings praising this but haven't used one myself. When you have refitted the hub bearings you heat a new collar and drop it onto the shaft and it shrinks to fit. You do have to check end float when bearing carrier has been removed and shim axle to suit. Proper way is to use a dial gauge but many people would just pull the half shaft out and in to check they were getting a just perciptible movement.

What I will pass on is the information that there is a kit available which slides up the half shaft towards the hub - with lots of good thick grease between the hub and this kit - which means that the axles stop leaking onto your brakes. (So you will need to re-do those as well)

It is a lot less hassle than removing half shafts, removing brass collar, sweating new brass collar on, refitting half shafts, etc.

I know you can get it from The Old 20 Parts Co. here in the UK, their email address is [email protected] There are probably other suppliers too.

All usual disclaimers apply, hope the info helps make a rotten job easier.

As the kit (and the brake shoes) come in axle sets, I'd do both sides at the time. It is always safer to do both brakes together, anyway - so "while you're there . . . ."