Pinion seal for an 03' champion trike
I just wanted to thank everyone on here that offered help with the issue l was having. I did manage to get the pinion seal replaced. I really wasn't in a position to remove the old one 1st to get a part# So I bought 3 different ones & luckily 1 of them was the right one. It's really a shame that there's not some sort of method. To tell what model of Toyota differential Champion used in their trike kits.
Pinion seal for an 03' champion trike
The seal that l ended up using, was for a pre-2005 Toyota Tacoma truck. The Tacoma truck was much smaller before 2005. And Champion switched to a Suzuki differential in mid year 2006. The reason l ended up w/3 different seals is because l couldn't find out what model of Toyota they used. So l got a seal for pretty much every possibiity there was. The kit on our trike is a 2003, so l'm not sure how many years they used the Tacoma differentials. However, l doubt they used a lot of different models. I took the Toyota part# for the Tacoma 90311-38047. And they cross referenced it over to a National brand part #710525. Hopefully this will be helpful to anyone else w/a pinion seal issue. When l called the new owner of Champion, he was not very helpful. Other than he was able to confirm that ours did in fact have a Toyota differential.
Pinion Seal Headache AGAIN :(
I wasn't sure how to go about making a new post. So, instead l'm just adding to my past post. The problem l'm having is that the leak @ the pinion seal, l had replaced has returned. I'm sure the correct seal was installed, because l had the auto parts cross reference the # off the one that was removed. The trike had less than 10k miles on it when it was replaced. The leak stopped for a short time, but then returned after a few hundred miles. I guess my ? to my fellow triker friends is. Did the person install the seal incorrectly or somehow damage it, or is there something else causing the leak? There's no vibration or strange sounds that l'm aware of. It's not leaking badly or dripping constantly, & if l wipe the oil off of it. It doesn't leak while the trike is setting, only after l drive it again, is when the oil reappears just behind the pinion seal area. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Pinion Seal Headache AGAIN :(
Thanks Jack, l wasn't aware there was a vent, but l'll check it out. I'm sure the fluid level is correct Because l've already checked that. I told the person that installed the seal, about putting silicone on the splines upon assembly & he said they usually do that. So l was under the impression that he was familiar w/that part of it. When l called him back after it started leaking again. He said the only thing left to do would be to change the pinion?? Sounds a bit extreme to me, when the trike has less than 10k miles on it.
Pinion Seal Headache AGAIN :(
Jack, I located the vent on the differential, and it's the kind that can't be removed. I did check it though and the little cap on it spins freely and it's very clean under there. From what I've read you can pop the cap off of the vent and check it or you can leave the cap off and run a little hose off of the tube that's in the differential. I did pry on it a little bit before I read about removing it and it didn't seem like it wanted to come off very easily. My question for you is since it's very clean under there and it has such low mileage on it. Do you think I should go ahead and pry it off to check to make sure it's not clogged or do you think it's okay to just figure it's not that and probably something else? I'm getting ready to go for a pretty long ride on Sunday and I don't want to risk messing something up by taking it apart and then not being able to extend it with a hose. Please let me know what you think about this thanks again
Pinion Seal Headache AGAIN :(
Hello Jim, thanks for your response. I'm not sure how the flange fits, because l had someone else do it for me. I had it narrowed down to 3 different seals. The person that installed it for me said that the seal for the pre 05' Tacoma was an exact fit. It didn't leak for a few hundred miles, but then it started again. It inly leaks when it's in motion though, it doesn't leave any drips on cardboard etc if you leave it set. To be absolutely sure l had the correct seal, l had the number off the old one. Cross referenced at the auto parts. And it was in fact the same number as the one l had installed. The other thing that has me puzzled is that Toyota used the same seal on their mini trucks up until 1995. The strange thing is that from what l can find, all their trucks had 5 lug wheels.
A Champion trike has 4 lug wheels. I cant find any way to tell what vehicle they made that used that differential & had a 4 lug wheel pattern. Not that that really matters all that much. But from what l can find, Toyota produced 3 different differentials for their trucks, & the most common is called the "4 cylinder" differential. This is most likely the one that champion used in their kits. I can't explain why they have the 4 lug pattern though. I guess l'll just have to find someone in my area that isn't afraid to work on a trike. Sorry for such a long reply :(
Pinion Seal Headache AGAIN :(
Oh and also Jim, l forgot to mention in my last message. But l've already cleaned it off, and the leak us in the exact same place again. Right where the pinion shaft goes in to the differential. Behind the end cap that's on the very tip of the differential.
Thanks again
Pinion Seal Headache AGAIN :(
Hello again Jim, thanks for your help on this & the diagram as well. I'm not sure where it's leaking at other than it's coming out of the front where the cover is over the large nut. When l get back home l'm having a different person try to see what the problem is. Hopefully this time it can be resolved, thanks again!! Trace :)