Old wrote:

Don't let the control shaft drop down or you will bugger up the detent mechanism.
There is a Service Bulletin upgrade.....The single seal has been replaced by the use of two seals.
 

Any tips to prevent the shaft from dropping down?  Im thinking reassemble the shaft and controls with the pan off so I can watch it closely.
 

Looked up a 1J2381 seal and nothing came up. What would the replacement of that seal be?  Upon further inspection it appears to be leaking from the seal between the two control levers.  To replace this one seal between the levers can it be done without removing the pan?

When I put those numbers into google I get lots of hits, also 1J2381 crosses to 6F3578 and 9F3847 and 1j2382 crosses to 4B1925 an 4B1927( might use both) and 9F3849.

You will need to remove the front cover to replace that seal.

www.google.com/search?q=caterpillar+1j23...ceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

www.google.com/search?q=caterpillar+1j23...sclient=gws-wiz-serp

www.finditparts.com/products/408452/national-seals-471281

josh wrote:

When I put those numbers into google I get lots of hits, also 1J2381 crosses to 6F3578 and 9F3847 and 1j2382 crosses to 4B1925 an 4B1927( might use both) and 9F3849.

You will need to remove the front cover to replace that seal.

www.google.com/search?q=caterpillar+1j23...ceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

www.google.com/search?q=caterpillar+1j23...sclient=gws-wiz-serp

www.finditparts.com/products/408452/national-seals-471281


Fantastic, thanks!  Can a guy get away with using Black RTV over a pan gasket?
 

I would not use RTV on that gasket, it is designed to be reused if in good condition and last I checked is available from Cat.
I would disassemble before ordering the seals so you can check the depth of the counterbore where the seals sit and make sure you are ordering seals that are the correct thickness to fit two in each spot, one seal is oriented to keep dirt out and the other to keep oil and pressure in.

Thanks for the advice. How exactly are the seals orientated? A little confused, I am imagining a pickup axle pinion seal that does both jobs in one, seals the oil and prevents dirt intrusion.

You can see in the diagram above, the orientation of the seals, it's just the old seals were two seals in one housing and now that is no longer available you get to use two separate seals.
The #44 hydraulic control is not a vented system, so depending on several factors the system can be pressurized or have negative pressure and without sealing from both directions can push out oil or pull in dirt and water.

it might sound strange but a smear of grease will allow you to reuse a gasket and it still seals properly a light smear that is.
it also helps hold it in place while you get the bolts in.

trainzkid88 wrote:

it might sound strange but a smear of grease will allow you to reuse a gasket and it still seals properly a light smear that is.
it also helps hold it in place while you get the bolts in.



I will keep that in mind.  To be honest I am just running it how it is right now.  This leads me to my next question.  What should the fluid level in the surge tank be?  When I got it I looked in the tank, saw it was low and then dumped a few gallons in it.  Now reading more I am realizing that it shouldn't be full of oil.  Has me thinking it is causing it to leak possibly more than it should with all that fluid sitting above it in the tank.