Did I set the dip stick right?

Cat 16G 93u 1594 When I got the machine it did not have a dip stick to check tandem oil levels. Got the 8D1810 dip sticks from Cat. Welded a 1" tall pipe onto the inspection plate, added a whole in the plate, dip stick screws onto pipe. Have had some problems with tandems leaking and wondered if I got it set right. Seems like we couldn't get the plate with a pipe on it without some trouble and was suggested I do it the way I did. Is my pipe height set right? Had trouble with them dripping and have worked on them before. Bought 2 remaned ones this winter, one of them is leaking over a quart a day now. I picked up the two finals 8D2785 last fall 12/27/24. Rebuilt at time of sale, 6 month warranty. Mechanic installed left side, started on right side, saw it had way to much play. Called Van Keppel, they delivered two more finals after couple weeks. Installed one on right side. Filled both with oil and sat down. Left side started leaking. Changed out left side with the other one they had sent. Both held for several weeks, then right side started dripping. Now it is leaking. Van Keppel offered to send another one, I asked if I could wait until down time in winter to install and they said no. Also if it looked like our mistake they would charge me for another one. We used new oil and kept things clean. Not sure what to do. Guess warranty ends the 27th of this month.

I'm not sure but it appears as though the tandem is supposed to "breathe" through the dipstick hole. The parts list quotes a 6D9677 Filter as part of the cover/nipple/dipstick assembly. I wonder if it is sealed too well where the dipstick sits and is it pressurizing the inside of the tandems too much thus causing leaks.? TBH I would put a nipple in the other cover and screw a 4H6112 breather into it. The 16H and later models have the breathers mounted on the inside of the tandem. Ref # 14 in the illustration below. Edit: I can see that your tandems are also supposed to have a breather on the inside surface. See below. Any chance the breather is plugged.?

The dip stick has a breather hole in it, should of took a pic. It does not have the breather you are showing, think I have a cover there, place to get the master link out maybe? I don't think it is pressurizing, with the hole in the cap, and I only tighten it by hand. Brakes are good I think. Will check that and take a picture. Like the idea of adding the breather. If I took a cover off is there a measurement I could check to make sure I have kept the right oil level?

More info........ To start with the 3H6906 nipple originally fitted (see attachment 8D-1730) is 44mm or 1-3/4" long. Yours looks slightly shorter in the photo so it should be OK to get the level correct. I would suggest to check closely if the tandem is pressurizing when it gets up to temperature. If you get a whoosh when you pull the dipstick out you'll know it is. I would also suggest to drain the oil then refill with exactly the 32 gallon quantity specifed in the manual and see how that compares to the indication on the dipstick. The breather was only added from Serial Number 93U2934-Up, so after yours. See attachment 8W-8710. If you want to fit them then SEPD0804 should give you an idea even though it does not specifically cover your S/N. Also note that the breathers have to be installed at the front end of the tandems, not the rear even though there is also a cover in that location.

Wow, thanks! Amazing how you find that information. Should of refilled tandems with the right quantity, will next time. Will check tandems for any pressure. Thanks!

zhkent said: Should of refilled tandems with the right quantity, will next time. Click to expand... TBH I would do that tomorrow if it was me, and see if the tandems still leak......... Then I would be checking for any pressurization inside the tandem case. zhkent said: Amazing how you find that information. Click to expand... It's all out there. All that's needed is to know where/how to find it.

zhkent said: Got the 8D1810 dip sticks from Cat. Click to expand... I missed this before. You got the WRONG dipsticks. I'm not sure if this makes any difference or not, BUT......... 8D1810 is listed for 93U machines with S/N between 1179 and 1404. 6D9667 is listed for machines with S/N between 1405 and 2524. See the 8D-1730 group posted above. They call it a Plunger As. The two Part Numbers do not cross to one another so they must be different in some respect but I cannot find any details. Time to start draining the oil and refill with 32 gallons I suspect.

Thanks! The one tandem is not leaking, the right one leaks constant and will have to be repaired. I plan to have better lasting results after fixing and putting in the right amount of oil. After starting this thread I got to thinking how long I have had this grader, got it in 96, so have had it 29 years. That's crazy. Wonder it has lasted as well as it has. Appreciate the help!

zhkent said: I plan to have better lasting results after fixing and putting in the right amount of oil. Click to expand... Provided that you can get the oil level correct and conclusively prove that the tandem case is not pressurizing then you ought to be safe going down the warranty route with the finals. If the supplier is using aftermarket Duo-Cone seals that could be an issue.

Update. Looks like I have been running about 3.5 gallon over when at full mark, to about .5 gallon over at add mark. Drained and refiled with 32 gallons. Used a 4' level to make sure tandem was level. The brakes are not leaking, when tested would get a bit of air out the vent hole when first applied, then no more. Then a slight amount of air back in when let off brake. The vent hole. I plan on adding vents, machine has a plate on the left front and plug on the right front inside of tandems. This is the amount of oil leaked out in about 30 minutes after refilling Doesn't leak as much if parked tipped. Put tape over vent hole for an hour while running and no pressure. Think I will do a longer test tomorrow. Should take more videos of grader moving dirt. The sound comes out real loud and I haven't learned editing skills. In some loose dirt today that was damp enough to stick to moldboard. That pulls hard. No dust though!

A couple weeks after this picture it quit leaking. Didn't want to post that, figured it would jinx it. It didn't so much as drip for 4 months. Vents are clean. Has started dripping this week. Another symptom is the tandem does not pivot like it should. It binds, moves jerky. It did that before also, but had been pretty smooth the 4 months it wasn't leaking. Kind of acts like there is no lubrication in there.

zhkent said: Another symptom is the tandem does not pivot like it should. It binds, moves jerky. It did that before also, but had been pretty smooth the 4 months it wasn't leaking. Kind of acts like there is no lubrication in there. Click to expand... Sounds to me like it needs to be pulled apart for an inspection sooner rather than later. Those fibre bushes have been known to tear up the pivot shaft which could be expensive.