Dana 6800-2 Leaking Oil!!!

Hi all,

The Dana 6800-2 out of my LT2000 is leaking oil pretty bad. I had it open not long ago to repair my locker, and resealed very well around outer edge and axle seals with RTV. However, it still leaked oil badly. After taking it out, cleaning it off and watching for leaks, I’ve found that it’s leaking from around the shifter seal where the shaft comes out of the top of case. I can’t find any parts for this transaxle online.

Could I fix it with RTV? I feel like the movement of the shifter would just rip it off. Does anyone know where I could purchase this seal?

Thanks

Do you have a vent and is it possible that you may have put too much oil in it? If no vent, when it gets hot, gasses will escape the easiest way and possibly oil too.

There’s no vent. I added 1 qt last time, because that’s what I read somewhere to do. Had a hard time finding a certain oil capacity. Info seems to be very hard to come by on these transaxle.

But that sounds like a good idea, to add a vent to the case. I have a 3” pulley on transaxle and stock on engine. Runs about 25. It probably would help to relieve some pressure and stop oil from leaking...

Yeah the vent tube should probably help. I didn't see the purpose in it till I tried it on the MM. It actually blows a small amount of oil out of it.


When you cleaned the trans off, about what percent of it was covered in oil?

And before I went back and read that you said it was coming out of the shifter seal, I had already written all this, so I don't see what harm it would do to just leave it:

What type RTV did you use? I find that that makes a difference. Not THAT big of a difference, but it still matters. I used the $3 RTV once and every part of the seal blew. So I use the high heat oil resistant $7 black RTV, Permatex brand. I still have been successful only once at sealing a geared trans and that was with the red RTV. But I used the black RTV to seal a hydro and it worked amazing. I am not saying this will fix your problem, but it might make a difference when you reseal it.

I expect the lack of a pressure release played a role in blowing the seal, but I also expect the main cause was some type of flaw in the bead you put down. I am very rarely successful at sealing trannies, so whenever I do, I just lay the bead the best I can, and just hope it holds.

Yeah a vent will help... 1QT? My MST-206 which is about the same size only took 16oz. 80w90

I wouldn’t doubt that it takes a smaller amount. I’m not gonna add as much this time, gonna do a little research and see if I can find the spec. All of my RTV work held up fine. I’m using some black Permatex stuff, don’t know the specific name right now. I also have found oil coming from the seal around the splined shaft that the brake rotor goes on, makes more sense as to why all my brake components were soaked in oil and not working. I had the same thing happening with axle seals in the past, and I put RTV over them and it sealed them up. I’m about to take it apart and redo the RTV all around, try to add a little extra around those two seals. Also gotta see if I have what I need to put in a vent tube. I’ll keep y’all posted.

Alright, got everything cleaned up and back together today. I got the RTV in a caulk tube and was VERY generous with it around axle seals, brake shaft seal, and tried to get a little around shifter seal. Also, got the vent installed. I didn’t bother to find out size of it or anything, just one I had in the shop. But it seems large enough. Going to attach a tube to it and run it to a higher location on mower. Waiting on the RTV to set and then I’ll add the oil and hit the road. Fingers crossed.