What is leaking here? Steering or... ?

[MikeEyre74]

My tractor is leaking pretty good from this area, but I can’t tell if it’s where the steering shaft goes through, or is it more likely to be this housing where it attaches to whatever you call this other thing that the axle attaches to?

https://flic.kr/p/25mDRrP

[Urbish]

Looks like thin oil leaking out of the seal where the steering shaft goes through into the bolster. Pull the upper of the two small pipe plugs shown in your photo. It is possible that it has been overfilled. Let it run out until it no longer flows from the upper hole. Then it will be at the correct level. If/when you change that oil, put in something thicker like gear oil.

[Cubfriend]

My tractor is leaking pretty good from this area, but I can’t tell if it’s where the steering shaft goes through, or is it more likely to be this housing where it attaches to whatever you call this other thing that the axle attaches to?

https://flic.kr/p/25mDRrP

Pull the fill plug (on top) and make sure the vent hole is not plugged. There is a hole in one of the flats where the wrench goes on, that intersects with a hole coming from the bottom inside of the plug. They can get clogged with dirt and grease building up pressure inside the steering housing forcing out lubricant. A small drill bit or a wire can clean them out. Blow some air through from the bottom of the plug. You should be able to feel it on the outside flat.

[Glen]

Hi,
It looks like the oil seal on the steering shaft is leaking. It is a common place that they leak.
TM Tractor has new seals.

The oil in the steering gear has to be at the right level, like was said above. You could change it's oil, if it hasn't been changed lately. The owner's manual tells how.

Also, the vent hole in the oil filler plug, the top plug, needs to be open, so pressure will not build up in the steering gear. Pressure can make oil run out.
Below are pics of the vent holes. You need to take the plug out to clean the holes. The hole goes up from the bottom, part way through the plug, then turns, and goes out through one of the flats for a wrench on the upper part of the plug.
I use small drill bits to clean the holes, use them by hand, no electric drill. Turn the bit in, and it will collect the dirt, then pull it out of the hole, clean it and go in farther, if it won't go in all the way in one try.

You could also check the 5 bolts that hold the steering gear base onto the upper part.
They have to be kept tight. There is a gasket between the 2 castings, oil can leak if the bolts are loose.

Below is a pic from TM Tractor, of the steering gear base. You can see where the 5 bolts are in a circle. Sit down in front of the Cub, and they are easy to see.

Below is a listing at TM Tractor for a new seal. You have to remove the steering wheel to replace the seal. The steering wheel can be tight on the shaft, if it hasn't been off lately.
There is a gasket at the part the seal is in, TM Tractor has that too.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/st/369fp.htm

[Bob McCarty]

Unless it's seriously overfilled, I'd start by changing the seal on the steering shaft.

[Dale Finch]

I suggest you go ahead and drain, then refill the housing with gear oil up to the full level plug (upper small one), because it could be full of water with a small amount of oil on top.

As said above, make sure the vent in the fill plug (large one on top) is clear. Clean up the area, and see if you have further leaking around the shaft, and if so, replace the shaft seal...available from NAPA, and fairly easy to do.

[ricky racer]

My tractor is leaking pretty good from this area, but I can’t tell if it’s where the steering shaft goes through, or is it more likely to be this housing where it attaches to whatever you call this other thing that the axle attaches to?

https://flic.kr/p/25mDRrP

Pull the fill plug (on top) and make sure the vent hole is not plugged. There is a hole in one of the flats where the wrench goes on, that intersects with a hole coming from the bottom inside of the plug. They can get clogged with dirt and grease building up pressure inside the steering housing forcing out lubricant. A small drill bit or a wire can clean them out. Blow some air through from the bottom of the plug. You should be able to feel it on the outside flat.

[MikeEyre74]

Boy are you guys on the ball! Not only was that vent plug, plugged, but it was also overfilled by a bit. I have just changed the oil probably two weeks ago or so, but when I opened the top fill check plug, I probably got 1/ 16th of a cup extra out of it. But then again, the vent plug was completely jammed up as well. So much so that I never noticed that there was a hole there? It looks like it should be OK now, so I’ll see what happens… But, it was leaking pretty good before so anything is better than that. Thanks!

[Drfting1]

I had the same issue, somewhere along the line, someone replaced the fill plug on mine with one that didn't have a hole, once it got hot out, couldn't vent and would leak..... I drilled a small hole in it and haven't had an issue since

[Willy]

I had the same issue, somewhere along the line, someone replaced the fill plug on mine with one that didn't have a hole, once it got hot out, couldn't vent and would leak..... I drilled a small hole in it and haven't had an issue since

That's probably why mine keeps puking oil out around the steering wheel shaft. Once it gets warm, the grease starts flowing out around the shaft. I've been thinking that I must have really overfilled it last year and have been waiting for it to find it's "happy spot". I'll have go to look at that plug tomorrow while I'm in the shop.

Willy