154 rear main seal

[wagonmaster]

Rear main developed a major leak all of a sudden during the first mow of the year. Last year there was very little. Any one else seen one go from a little to a lot so quickly ? will I have to pull the engine to fix it?

[mozer71]

If it was leaking before, the temperature extremes may have done it. Block heaters are cool but must be maintained. While mine has been parked in an unheated garage, I may face the same situation. Revolving engines and machine parts during temperature changes is good. It doesn't become so abrupt to seals and belts which undergo a fixed nature in cold. Better advise to follow, I'm sure about that.

[staninlowerAL]

The service manual will help answer that question but you may be able to remove the drive shaft and change the seal without removing the engine. Someone who has done it will probably post their experience.

[64/67lo-boy]

looks like you may have to remove the lower rock shaft under the frame then it will come out no problem. also not sure what year but the drive shaft has to come out and some years need the engine moved forward to make that happen.

[wagonmaster]

As for siting all winter, it did run briefly several times during the winter. As for removing the drive shaft, some PO weld everything together and the rear end has to be moved back or engine forward to get it out.