Opening up a hydro trans?

[Anthony Wendover 124]

So I have to replace a right side axle bearing in my 520h. How much of a pain in the butt is it to do vs an 8 speed. What is the best method. I have read the service manual however looking for real world advice from guys that may have done this before. Trying not to break anything lol 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,046]

If I remember correctly the right side case can be removed without removing the assembly from the tractor. It is outlined in a service bulletin that I can not find at the moment.  

 

Wrong transmission. Don't know if this is possible with the Eaton

 

[WHX?? 48,828]

This manual has the procedure for service without removing the transmission from tractor. 

492-4205 Eaton 11 SM.pdf

[Anthony Wendover 124]

Thank you both. Iv read it and it does not seem horrible. It’s already half way there to being able to try to open it up while it’s still mounted to the tractor. However if anyone has done this before or has pictures I’d love to see. Thank you guys. 

[METAL BENDER 25]

11 hours ago, Anthony Wendover said:

So I have to replace a right side axle bearing in my 520h. How much of a pain in the butt is it to do vs an 8 speed. What is the best method. I have read the service manual however looking for real world advice from guys that may have done this before. Trying not to break anything lol 

 

[953 nut 55,298]

@METAL BENDER, the bearing that @Anthony Wendover needs to replace is on the rear axle but thanks for sharing and we look forward to learning more about you and your Wheel Horse. Click on this link and introduce yourself.

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/forum/47-introductions/?do=add

[953 nut 55,298]

12 hours ago, Anthony Wendover said:

Thank you both. Iv read it and it does not seem horrible. It’s already half way there to being able to try to open it up while it’s still mounted to the tractor. However if anyone has done this before or has pictures I’d love to see. Thank you guys. 

I have never done nore attempted removing the right half of a hydro transaxle while on the tractor. You can seperate the transaxle from the hydrom drive and leave the drive unit suspended from the steering wheel.

      It seems like gravity would be fighting you all the way unless the tractor was on its left side while this was being done. Splitting one on the workbench is easy enough but  when assembling it for reinstallation I always have the left half laying down. That way the gasket stays in place and the shafts slide into their bearings easily.     

If you attempt the on the tractor split please post your results,     

[WHX?? 48,828]

I've done one Anthony and it's not terrible once one gets everything out of the way and hub  removal.

No pics since my hands were covered in oil most of the time. In other words have some oil dry or kitty liter on hand since the transaxle doesn't drain completely and drips oil forever. 

I had some old fence wire get wrapped around the hub and it ripped up the thrust washer and that took out the seal. I was able to do the right side seal & bearing on tractor. 

29 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

right half of a hydro transaxle

Left hand Richard, right hand requires complete removal. 

Easy to miss in the manual. 

Edited April 27, 2022 by WHX??

[Anthony Wendover 124]

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

I've done one Anthony and it's not terrible once one gets everything out of the way and hub  removal.

No pics since my hands were covered in oil most of the time. In other words have some oil dry or kitty liter on hand since the transaxle doesn't drain completely and drips oil forever. 

I had some old fence wire get wrapped around the hub and it ripped up the thrust washer and that took out the seal. I was able to do the right side seal & bearing on tractor. 

Left hand Richard, right hand requires complete removal. 

Easy to miss in the manual. 

So now I got a little confused lol. You said you did the right hand side while attached to the tractor but then below wrote to service right side it has to come off tractor. Am I understanding correct or am I missing something. Thank you bud! 

[WHX?? 48,828]

The left side case comes off. The left side case is not attached to the tractor just the right side is. The right side and the pump stay right on the tractor but you can service the axle bearings and the seal in the right side without having to take off the right side off. The right side needs any more that that the whole thing needs to come off. So if you are just replacing the right axle bearings & seal it stays on. You do not want to or have to pull the pump or anything and is much easier. 

 

What was confusing, for me anyway is 'Nut laying the tractor on it's left side to remove the right side case. Can't be done ....the whole trans axle has to come off and that's a lot more work.  Once the left side is off all the innards are free to come out. The left side case half is just a glorifed cover pretty much. The whole procedure is easy to see once the tractor is stripped down. 

Start in the manual top of page 18 with this. Page 19 has some good pics. Study them and the will come on. 

Keep in mind you can pound the old bearings out but new ones must be pressed in and that requires thinking outside the box to press the right side one in with the right side still hanging on the tractor. I can coach you you get to that point. Really wished I woulda took pics now. 

 

 

[lynnmor 7,307]

I've done the left side several times with the trans in and that wasn't difficult.  My question is; can the snap ring be removed from the right axle with the left side off and the parts removed?  If the snap ring can be removed, the axle will come out and it may be possible to bang out the bearing with a long punch. 

[WHX?? 48,828]

13 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

If the snap ring can be removed,

I see what you are saying and maybe worth while looking into. The whole differential will slide out IF the hub is off.... . But if the differential can be disassembled and reassembled  in place and the snap ring removed the axle can slide right out with the hub on.

 

Could take the potentially offending hub to a press then and reassembly would be a snap. 

It works on gear jammers that I know for sure. 

 

Trying to reassemble a diff in place is gonna take five hands  I would guess. Or lay @953 nut's tractor on it's right side so Mr. gravity helps you! 

 

Bet we got Anthony really confused now! 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by WHX??

[953 nut 55,298]

10 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Left hand Richard, right hand requires complete removal. 

I was going based on the service bulletin that Garry posted above. I've not had a problem with an Eaton but have Sundstrand experience so guess you've schooled me.       I'm going to have to read over the Eaton manual and pay more attention to what hydro we are talking about.

 

[Anthony Wendover 124]

7 hours ago, WHX?? said:

I see what you are saying and maybe worth while looking into. The whole differential will slide out IF the hub is off.... . But if the differential can be disassembled and reassembled  in place and the snap ring removed the axle can slide right out with the hub on.

 

Could take the potentially offending hub to a press then and reassembly would be a snap. 

It works on gear jammers that I know for sure. 

 

Trying to reassemble a diff in place is gonna take five hands  I would guess. Or lay @953 nut's tractor on it's right side so Mr. gravity helps you! 

 

Bet we got Anthony really confused now! 

 

Lol not super confused just yet. But do i need to turn the tractor on its side? Or is it ok to do on jack stands? Once I start doing this hopefully this week ill post some pictures as i go about the process.

 

7 hours ago, WHX?? said:

 

 

[lynnmor 7,307]

I don't know the exact procedure you are going with, but well placed jack stands should be OK.

[WHX?? 48,828]

We were just kinda joking about on the side but if you do put a pillow under it and covers... 

I see now after looking at Garry's post. Yes Richard this applies to Eaton 1100's only. Sunnies don't play this way. 

[953 nut 55,298]

12 hours ago, Anthony Wendover said:

is it ok to do on jack stands?

When I am doing anything other than changing a tire I prefer to use cribbing under the tractor. Metal on metal with small contact points like you have with jack stands can be hazardous when you are shifting things around. I keep pieces of 6 X 6, 4 X 4 and 2 X 4 at the shop to build the supports.                  Much safer support while you are working.

[Anthony Wendover 124]

I love the wood idea. I use to do that and for this that’s a good idea. I think I may have lucked out regarding having to open the rear end. I got the right side hub off. And the axle pulls in and out about an 1/8 but there is no up and down play at all. I am thinking I can get by with just doing the axle seal. 
 

 

 

[lynnmor 7,307]

With some carefully selected words you can get the seal out.  Now notice that the plastic washer between the hub and the transmission has been wearing the old seal.  When installing the new seal a hub can act as a slide hammer to get it flush, then come up with something to drive it in a bit.  I use an old hub that I turned so that it has a step for that purpose.

[Anthony Wendover 124]

Sounds great! i am going to work on it tonight and hope it isn't to terrible. After all the hubs should of been the hardest part and they fell right off for me lol.  Here are a couple pictures after i got the hubs off and started cleaning up years of dirt and the oil being blown around by the hydro fan.