Smoke from Bell housing

[Ironside]

I just finished plowing my driveway and noticed white smoke coming from the bell housing where the bolt holes are for where the cultivator mounts. It's been sitting for a while like 3 months but I start it every week. I've not seen this before should I worry about this?

[Don McCombs]

Could be the heat of extended hard work burning off residual oil from a rear seal or transmission oil leak.

[tst]

throwout bearing getting hot from using the clutch a lot plowing, do you grease the bearing ?

[ricky racer]

, do you grease the bearing ?

^^^That's important!!

[Bill Hudson]

And use the cheapest grease you can find.

Bill

[Ironside]

I do grease everything and replaced/greased the bearing when I did the clutch in the spring.

[cobra2411]

Were there any out of place odors? If not probably just heat steaming off moisture.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I had that same symptom many years ago on my 49, I think it was. Turned out to be a hairline crack on the rear of the block to the right of the oil pump. Did not figure it out till I split it after noticing coolant on the oily surface of the concrete floor where I parked it the following spring.

[Larry in WNY]

John - Was it fixable? I've seen smoke coming from those holes too. My Cub engine is rebuilt and tractor is painted. It would bad if the block had to be swapped out at this point. Mine has barely done any work yet. Thanks

Larry

[Larry in WNY]

I thought maybe it was some blow by from the rear seal since the rings may not have seated yet. My rear seal is dripping a little. Before the rebuilt I replaced it and no leaks. After the rebuild it started dripping after the tractor was assembled and painted

Larry

[lowgearfarm]

It was a few years ago that I started my '49 and smoke poured out of the uncovered bell housing inspection hole caused by a burning a mouse nest.
Mice have also nested in the brake housings and battery box. Fortunately they have not caused any mechanical damage. I set lots of traps, but shy away from rodent poisons. Rumor has it that mice like the newer soy-based wiring insulation in newer machines.

[Larry in WNY]

Good point. I did see some mouse activity in the brake housings again. I'll pull the clutch inspection cover to see if there's another nest in there.
Thanks

Larry