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MikeV 
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Joined: 26 May 2024
Location: Muncie, IN
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 Topic: WD45 transmission questions
Posted: 29 Sep 2024 at 7:53pm |
I'm rehabbing a neglected 1955 WD 45 and am suspicious that it's leaking hydraulic fluid past the seals into the transmission. If that turns out to be the case, I'd like to postpone the seal replacement until a more opportune time and wonder how that might work.
How much overfill of the transmission is tolerable, especially if one fills the transmission, differential, and hydraulic reservoir with hytran throughout? Leaking in new places would be expected, and it'd be great if the hytran can seek a level high enough for the pump to run until the proper fix can be done. Have any of y'all given this a try in the WD 45?
Mike V.
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DrAllis
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
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Posted: 29 Sep 2024 at 7:58pm |
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As MACK used to say: "if HyTran is good enough for a new 600 HP tractor, why would it not be OK in a WD-45 ??" I've used HyTran type oil in my WD-45 for 12 yrs now. No issues.
Edited by DrAllis - 29 Sep 2024 at 8:02pm
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Brian G. NY
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Posted: 30 Sep 2024 at 8:54pm |
I've never had that problem with my WD or WD-45 but I have it with my D-17. It is a pretty good bet that modern Hytran oil is probably better than the gear oils of the time.
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Les Kerf
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Posted: 01 Oct 2024 at 9:03am |
 MikeV wrote:
...How much overfill of the transmission is tolerable... |
In your situation where you are already experiencing fluid transfer I cannot imagine any actual harm occurring so long as there is adequate venting to compensate for expansion as the fluids expand.
Of course I have never actually done this 
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ekjdm14
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Location: Manchester UK
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Posted: 02 Oct 2024 at 5:09am |
Same here, I'd suggest that since HyTran appears to work in the transmission that I'd just ensure adequate venting to the transmission & keep adding to the hydraulic reservoir as required, it'll either find it's own level or start overflowing somewhere higher on the transmission I'd expect.
As per above post, I've no experience of doing this but can't see any harm in the oil being overfilled in the rear.
Edited by ekjdm14 - 02 Oct 2024 at 5:12am
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WF owner
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Location: Bombay NY
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Posted: 02 Oct 2024 at 6:28am |
The only downside I can think of is that hydraulic fluid is a lot thinner than gear oil and would be more prone to leaking if there is a weak seal or gasket.
If it is overfilling, you better keep removing the excess fluid or, at least, keep it vented in some way or it will make its own vent.
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DrAllis
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Posted: 02 Oct 2024 at 6:39am |
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The vent for the transmission/torque tube compartment is the rubber boot on the gear shift lever. It generally doesn't seal tight at the bottom where it meets the shifting tower.
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MikeV
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Posted: 02 Oct 2024 at 9:56am |
Thanks to all for the useful comments. I replaced the deteriorated shifter boot, and it's pretty tight - hope it works as a vent now! Another item on this same tractor was the steady leak from the "C" adjustor atop the hydraulic pump which was stopped with the adjustor turned all the way in (the adjustors had been set for HOLD). This doesn't seem to affect the lift arms operation and we won't be concerned with future delayed lift of cultivators. This tractor will be assigned to bush hog in the summer and grader (snow) blade in the winter. Would it be a simple matter of plucking out the o-ring I see on the parts diagram, and replacing it to fix the "C" leak? Mike V.
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Brian G. NY
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Posted: 03 Oct 2024 at 9:45am |
A few years ago I had a leak where the control valve meets the pump. I teplaced that O-ring and while I was at it, replaced all the other O-rings in the control valve as well. Fairly simple process.
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