Knuckle lube leaking around warn hub dial?

Before last weeks dis-assemble clean grease and reassemble of my Warn hubs I had zero leaks. but now I have what looks like knuckle pudding leaking around the dial of my Warn hubs. One is a Warn M2 and the other I don't know but its probably older than the M2. The only hub leaking is NOT the M2.

Nothing got replaced when cleaning these hubs (reused old O rings) I am sure I got the hubs reassembled correctly and I flattened the thin washer and I used a very thin layer of Sta-Lube marine grease.

Right now what im thinking it could be are maybe the O rings for the hubs got stretched or failed from the cleaning solvents used to clean the parts. But I don't know if there is something else that could cause this. Any Ideas???

 

Also the reason I cleaned them was I like to do them yearly so they always work perfect but mostly because one of my hubs the dial was turning past the "Lock" spot. It turned out there was so much dirt crammed behind the dial it was creating a ramp for the dial to jump over the stop edge for the dial. and the disassembled pics are from the M2 not the leaking one in question. but it was identical internally and the only difference was one took an allen screw and one took a slotted screwdriver.

 

The dial o-ring or "V" seal needs replaced. They wear out over time and cleaning solvents can break them down. Run into this many times. They do dry out over time as well. Unfortunately I haven't found any good sources for them. Someone on here a couple years back found a source for the o-rings but iirc had to buy in bulk from an industrial supplier.


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Some places will custom cut o-rings to specification from lengths of material.

 

I believe I have a spare hub that is the same as the leaking one, ill have to check. it came on my Jeep when I bought it. if I remember right it's exactly the same but has a spacer about 3 inches thick, I don't know why it has a thicker one but that's why I took it off my Jeep I bought it

 

I bet McFadden-Dale has orings in that size.

I have the same issue. My International Harvester Lock-o-matics (Warn) are leaking.

 

Iirc the thicker bodied hubs were used because of applications where the outer axle had a threaded stub to control end-float. Early 25's with Rzeppa or Bendix joints.


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Yep, o-ring. The fact that you found dirt behind the dial suggests that o-ring has had a problem for awhile and am surprised the internals are not all rusted up.

McMaster-Carr will have the o-ring but you will be buying a package of 100 and probably $10 for shipping/handling. That's about 20 cents/each and a 100 year supply.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=n6am2d

 

"McMaster-Carr will have the o-ring..."

Also, I've had good luck finding more affordable packs of o-rings on ebay.

 

there is a simple fix instead of filling knuckle with oil use grease mine has been this way for 43 years

 

That won't keep water out of the hub. The seal/o-ring works both directions.


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Well, I tore it back apart and replaced both o rings and so far no leaks. The smaller o ring was an easy find at Napa. The larger one I looked everywhere and no one had it or offered to order me one. Last ditch effort I checked Ace Hardware and found it. But who knows if it will hold up to grease/oil.

 

Do you still have the packages for the o-ring you bought? Because mine are leaking in the same places and I'm trying to find new ones.

 

2-3/16 x 2-3/32 #73 O ring STK NO 35720B is the number of the outer ring. I dont know about the inner one

 

Sealsourceinc Is where I get most of my seals/o-rings from, if it's something I can't source easily locally.