tiller axle seal replacement

[Skipper 1,789]

Hello good folks.

 

I have never before had to dig into a tiller, so I was wandering if anyone could comment on just replacing oil seals for the axles, from the outside. 2 on the tine axle(s), and 1 on the input axle. ?  

 

Don't want to split it if it ain't mandatory

 

Doable or a rubbish idea?

 

Thanks

[WHX?? 50,829]

Hello Tom... I suppose you could do that  but I would be tempted to split it just to check things out in there. Clean, inspect and new fluid. Especially if has been used quite abit. I have never been in one before either.

You might already know this but @wheelhorseman offers the gaskets & such. 

[Lane Ranger 11,131]

I have replaced the two seals on one side on two different tillers.  Clothes line and wire rubbed the seals open. Two seals on each side and I did not have to slit the case. The two piece tines on each side remove pretty easy to access. 

[Skwerl58 751]

I also replaced two on the outside. Cleaned up the shaft, removed them and replaced them. Changed the lube while I was at it. I found a parts schematic and took the part number and seal to a local O'reillys and they had the seals for me that afternoon.  The tiller is a great piece of equipment and built like a tank.

[c-series don 9,468]

I too need to reseal my tiller. I was hoping someone was going to say that they split the case, resealed and gasketed it and it was a piece of cake! 

[Skipper 1,789]

Thank you all for the info. 

 

It was as I hoped

 

This tiller is just looking for a new home, but can't bring my self to sending it on it's way leaking. I will opt to quick fix it, and just reseal from the outside then, as nothing seems too wobbely or has bad noices.

 

Had it been a keeper, I would no question just have pulled it apart.

 

Thanks!

[mike avad 45]

I plan on take mine apart and replacing the inter and out seal are the inter hard to remove? Iv had it  apart before just not sure about the inter seals

[rick 245]

Unless you are lucky, the hardest part of taking the tiller apart will be getting the tine assemblies off the tine shaft.   Lots of time and a good penetrant.

[HyperPete 592]

On 3/3/2020 at 9:24 AM, Lane Ranger said:

I have replaced the two seals on one side on two different tillers.  Clothes line and wire rubbed the seals open. Two seals on each side and I did not have to slit the case. The two piece tines on each side remove pretty easy to access. 

 

I know this is coming back from the dead, but I am struggling to replace my seals.  I removed the outer two times & the square plate, and the two shaft "pins" & cotter pins.  I can't get the tines off the access the seals.

 

Are you able to help?

 

 

[WHX?? 50,829]

Should be pins that come out but yes the tines may be brown welded on. Maybe try tilling with the pins out loosen it up ? 

[mike avad 45]

I'D put a little heat on them and tried to used a pice of wood and a hammer mine came right off  but I had mine apart before good luck

[ineedanother 1,499]

9 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Should be pins that come out but yes the tines may be brown welded on. Maybe try tilling with the pins out loosen it up ? 

I have two tillers, both in pretty good condition but I'm going to pull the tines off in the next week or two.  is how I'll go about it.  I'm getting too old to not let the machine do the work when possible.

[Lane Ranger 11,131]

 

 

HyperPete:

 

I had leaky seals on mine as the clothes line rubbed the seal up and the axles were coated.  .  They came right off but if yours are not welded heating them up with a gas acetylene torch should do the job.   Your pic does show a little  twist in the one tine.

 

 

[HyperPete 592]

Thanks everyone for the replies. The acetylene torch was next on my list, but I wanted to be sure there wasn't a circlip or something similar inside that I was fighting against. It would really be unpleasant too hammer the heck out of it and end up snapping something off internally. 

 

I did get the top section of tines on one side to slide on the inner-axle, but it still wouldn't come off. I have been slamming it with a hand sledge and it just isn't moving. So I guess I'll hit it with the torch and see what happens next.  And I'll get some updated photos.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 01:52 AM by HyperPete

[HyperPete 592]

On 5/1/2025 at 12:26 PM, WHX?? said:

the tines may be brown welded on

 

PS: What does "brown welded" mean?  Rust?

 

 

 

 

[pfrederi 18,379]

yes, rust is a very powerful bonding agent

[HyperPete 592]

Got 'em off!

[c-series don 9,468]

I couldn’t get mine off either until, with the pins removed from the shaft I heated the crap out of the tine tubes and then immediately put the tiller to work in some hard ground. Eventually they broke loose and then I kept turning left and right until they came off the shaft. 

Edited Wednesday at 12:08 AM by c-series don

[HyperPete 592]

Interestingly, I had been dousing everything liberally with penetrating oil.  I was hammering the crap out of the underside of one side, and it began moving on the inner shaft.

I sprayed it all again and left it for a few days.  I came out today, prepared to do more battle, and the tines literally just slid off the shafts.

WIN!

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 12:47 AM by HyperPete