520H Rear Axle Oil Seals

I've started working on the basket case 93 520H that followed me home in December. Lots of things need attention. So I'm taking them one at a time. I jacked up the rear of the tractor and both rear hubs are loose. I popped them off and I will need to cut new key slots. The right rear seal is leaking badly. It looks like I can pop the seal out. Anyone have any tips on removing the seals? I'm thinking of drilling or punching a hole and prying away.

Kurt I've always used a thin flat common screw driver and driven it into the center steel portion of the seal and pried it out from there. Did both axle seals on my C-161 that way last year. Wish I'd taken pics.

They make a seal pick.....I've drilled small holes and put small screws in the holes and pulled it out with a pliers.....both sides at once seems to work sometimes pretty good.....I've followed Major's plan of attack if that doesn't do it.....

Thanks guys. I have a seal pick, I'll try that first. My seal pick seems too flimsy. If that's a no-go, I'll try the screw/small screw driver approach. New seals on order, due here on Thursday.

Glad to see you're getting started on fixing the old gal up Kurt! I try everything with a screwdriver first, it's always in my back pocket.

If the shaft is out this is what I use.



Shaft in puncher and pray.

i have removed many seals with small sheet metal screws.
if i know what is behind it wont be damaged i will
get small sheet metal screws that are long or some better drywall screws even work well
drill 2 or 3 holes in seal equally spaced around it
grind the point off the screw
start putting the screws in the drilled holes
as they bottom out go just half turn more on each
go back and forth on the screws and you will jack out the seal. bingo........

jm46322 wrote: i have removed many seals with small sheet metal screws.
if i know what is behind it wont be damaged i will
get small sheet metal screws that are long or some better drywall screws even work well
drill 2 or 3 holes in seal equally spaced around it
grind the point off the screw
start putting the screws in the drilled holes
as they bottom out go just half turn more on each
go back and forth on the screws and you will jack out the seal. bingo........

I like that idea!

Yep Geno, I started. It got up to 28 degrees today, just enough to do a little work. I pulled the left hub last week and cut a new key way 180 degrees out. It fit right on today. I'm worried about the slot on the axle, but so far it seems tight enough. I pulled the right hub and it was soaked in oil. No doubt the seal is toast. So, now I wait for parts. In the mean time I will cut a new key way slot in the right hub. Where is spring? I have lots of painting to do.

GT, the axle shaft is still in, so that puller won't work.

jm, I like the screw approach. I think I will try it. Worst case is that I will pull the axles and punch it out from the other side. I really don't want to do that.

Thanks.