K46 leaking oil from vent cap

8100 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by sproulman, Aug 10, 2009

albertj03

Discussion Starter · Aug 7, 2009

Today I was checking a few things out on my X300 (as you may have seen in a post about my tractor going slower than it should) and I noticed that it seems to be leaking oil from the vent cap on top of the k46 transaxle. I washed the tractor last Saturday and know for sure it wasn't there then because I would have noticed it. The next day I did get stuck while pulling a cart of wood up a little incline that happened to be all mud under the leaves. I tried a couple times to make it up the incline by backing up and going forward again with no success. I wouldn't say I was beating on it by anymeans. I finally unhooked the cart and was able to drive out and go get a neighbors 4-wheeler to get the cart out.

I put the tractor away shortly after and don't recall looking it over so didn't notice anything wrong or a leak. This is the only thing I can think of that may have been the cause of this. I wiped it with my finger and nothing came off. It has 230 hours on it and to my knowledge the oil in the k46 has never been changed. What do you guys think after looking at the picture? Definite leak? could the vent cap have a bad seal or something? I guess it's time to change the oil in the unservicable transaxle.

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davidg

· #2 · Aug 8, 2009

it is a VENT cap, therefore it allows air to go out. in your case you likely overheated the tranny and the oil expanded and some went out the cap. i had that happen on my L130 when i was using a sleeve hitch pulling a disc. i was workign it too hard and you likely were too, though not as hard as i was!

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albertj03

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 8, 2009

That makes sense....:fing20:

I think I will change the oil without pulling the tranny out. I'll need to look for a pump to get the oil out.

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davidg

· #4 · Aug 8, 2009

freaked me out when i saw it on mine, so don't feel bad. i thought i had fried the tranny. that was why i bought my Craftsman GT shortly afterwards.

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thebanjoman

· #5 · Aug 8, 2009

albertj03 said:
That makes sense....:fing20:

I think I will change the oil without pulling the tranny out. I'll need to look for a pump to get the oil out.

By the time you look for a pump you can have the 10 or so bolts and clips off and drop the transaxle and dump the oil. Its easier than you think to get it out.

Then you can be assured you get it all out and can clean the housing and put in fresh synthetic.

I just recently did this on my L130 and I'm very glad I pulled it too. I had lots of mud from the previous owner caked into the fins that was holding in the heat. I never would have seen this mud and been able to clean it out if I just pumped the oil out.

I put in Mobil1 10w30 synthetic and she is very happy. I just mow and pull a small trailer. I had 75 hours on mine when I changed it.

Don't know how accurate the info is but there was a recommendation posted as coming from Tuff Torq to change it at 50 hours and every 200 after that. An afternoon and a few bucks for new fluids was worth it to me.

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albertj03

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 8, 2009

Thanks for the help guys. How much oil did you put in it? I'll take a look at it to see if my limited mechanical aptitude can handle the job without breaking anything.

Is 10w30 synthetic the recommended oil?

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1lawnboy

· #7 · Aug 8, 2009

Ill keep an eye on this post. I would like to change the fluid in mine next year. Can someone post specific instructions? Im kinda in the same boat with albert on this one. Im not real familiar with these riders. Does it involve complete removal of the transmission?

I think Im going to try some Lucas oil when I change mine.

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Grasshopper67

· #8 · Aug 8, 2009

1lawnboy said:
Ill keep an eye on this post. I would like to change the fluid in mine next year. Can someone post specific instructions? Im kinda in the same boat with albert on this one. Im not real familiar with these riders. Does it involve complete removal of the transmission?

I think Im going to try some Lucas oil when I change mine.

I think it will require complete removal but it looks really easy. The best I can tell on my x320 (without taking deck off) it appears to be a handful of bolts and a few pins. Just pay attention to how you dissasemble it, then just put it back the same way. Take a few pictures along the way in case you are unsure about something on reassembly. TT will give you purge instructions. If all else fails, call one of your more mechanically inclined buddies for a Saturday cookout at the house.:trink39:

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sproulman

· #9 · Aug 10, 2009

i also feel the best way to drain it is to remove it from mower.put back the amount of oil you take out.this way you will get all oil out of tranny.some say to use 10-30 syn some use 10-50 syn.i took mine out and replaced a part inside.draining it was easy ,just turn upside down then take oil and measure how much.i poured it in use 1 qt bottles of oil with the window on side around 1.8 qts.some are more or less.

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