John Deere B main case to final drive gasket replacement

pmarkel · Jul 22, 2017

Looking for advice on replacing the main case to final drive housing gasket on a 1948 B. After shredding about 10 acres of wheat stubble with a 3 pt bush hog, I noticed I had developed a pretty sizable leak along the gasket seam between these two housings. I found three of the bolts on the flywheel side to be pretty loose and tightened them snug but it still seems to be weeping and I'm afraid the gasket is simply wearing out. How much work is required to split the tractor between the main case and final drive? Aside from the obvious disconnection of cables and possibly the platform, can the final drive housing be chain hoisted and rolled away from the main case or is there more internal dissasembly required? Thanks,

Pete

turklilley · Jul 22, 2017

That tractor does not need to be completely split to replace that gasket. Get
some bolts 2" longer than what is in there now. Install one at each corner. Put
a jack under it to support some of the weight, and remove the remainder of the
bolts. Spread it apart an inch or so, clean the flanges, split your new gasket
at the top and work into place. You could spread a little sealer in the crack
if you want.

deeretails · Jul 22, 2017

Not that bad of a job, but make sure you use a sealer on the bolts when you reinstall them.

pmarkel · Jul 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:35:18 07/22/17) Not that bad of a job, but make sure you use a sealer on the bolts when you reinstall them.

Thank you both for the advice. What type of sealer would you recommend for the bolts and what type of shellac for the gasket surface itself?

ndgregor · Jul 24, 2017

For what it is worth, I have a 51 B that developed a slow weeping leak along the bottom right edge of that gasket. I drained all of the oil and then cleaned the area the best I could with brake cleaner. After that I used JB Weld epoxy along the seam where it was leaking. Filled it back up and now it no longer leaks. This is obviously not the proper way to repair this, but this is not a show tractor and was much easier than having to split it. FWIW.

RLA · Jul 24, 2017

If you clean up & loosen all the bolts I have fixed 2 of these without splitting them all the way apart.
Spread apart just enough to allow the pipe tape or floss to ride against the outside of the mounting bolts.

I've used Teflon pipe tape on one & used a New roll of dental floss on another. Neither one leaked. I have
a friend who claims fishing line stretched over the outside of the bolts will work too.

John Deere B main case to final drive gasket replacement

pmarkel

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deeretails

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ndgregor

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RLA

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