Finding the leak and sealing it.

Mtjohnso · Aug 15, 2015

Have a hydraulic tank that is a steel tank that has been welded together. It is on a orphan garden dozer, Windolph Model D. The tank is actually part of the seat on the back of the dozer just like the fuel tank is on the International dozers.
I know I have a leak since there is all of this hydraulic fluid on the floor of the shop. I know it is the tank because I had it tipped up there was no leaking fluid coming off of the intake or output ports on the tank.
So thought about putting red kool aid in the tank to see if I might more readily see where the leak is coming from. Thoughts on finding leak. Leak is slow.
Question 2 is how to fix it? Would the gas tank sealers work in this application? Could it safely be welded once the spot is located?
Marvin

Wisconsin_cowman · Aug 15, 2015

Would be better off welding the crack in the tank to stop the leak.

moresmoke · Aug 15, 2015

Weld or braze the leak.

blue water massey · Aug 15, 2015

don't think kool aid will mix withe oil
try a test mix before hand
I would think food coloring as it is more designed to mix with oil based icings
how about trans fluid its already red and wouldn't hurt seals or other parts
or talk to a fuel supplier they use something to color fuels might be able to get a sample from them
but after removing tank for repairs I'm sure you'll see where your leak is without dyes

FBH44 · Aug 16, 2015

Something I did once, that has worked for 2 or 3 years so far. I had a seeping leak of water from the water jacket gasket on a 1950 Farmall H, and I was afraid to try to undo the little bolts / nuts, I just knew they would break right off. They thread into the block. As I was painting it, I just cleaned the area off and gave it 3 or 4 good heavy doses of CaseIH red spray paint, let it soak in good, did it again. Seems ike it might have stopped. Fingers crossed.

bill mart · Aug 16, 2015

deere makes this for seeing the hyd. fluid easier in sight glasses. Bill

This is the red dye you pour in with your hydraulic oil so you can see the fluid in the sight glass after the fresh oil goes in. In Xcopterdoc's post on this dye, he said that each bottle treats 5 gallons of hydraulic oil, but what it actually says on the bottle is - to pour the entire bottle contents into a fluid reservoir that holds AT LEAST 5 gallons. Just means that 1 bottle is plenty for our CUT's.

John Deere part number is on the box, MT3668.

jnf · Aug 16, 2015

I have successfully repaired two hydraulic reservoirs by cleaning the area to bare metal and applying multiple coatings of JB Weld.

Finding the leak and sealing it.

Mtjohnso

Member

Wisconsin_cowman

New User

moresmoke

Well-known Member

blue water massey

Well-known Member

FBH44

Well-known Member

bill mart

Well-known Member

jnf

Member

Similar threads