water in hydraulic system

mic-t · Jan 5, 2023

Whats the best was to flush the hydraulic system on a ford backhoe 555C

Sean in PA · Jan 5, 2023

Drain the system as per the manual and refill with new fluid, then work all cylinders from fully retracted to fully extended and back several times, then drain, change the filter and fill again. Work the tractor for a while after that. If the new fluid seems badly contaminated repeat the procedure.

mic-t · Jan 5, 2023

I was afraid of that

showcrop · Jan 5, 2023

In the future you need to get your fluid hot and keep it hot for an hour every six months in order to drive the moisture out.

wp6529 · Jan 5, 2023

I suspect you could put the drained oil into a suitable pot (turkey fryer?) and heat to say 250F and hold for a while to drive out moisture and then filter and reuse if you wanted to save money vs. time.

mic-t · Jan 5, 2023

Iam resurrecting this machine that has set for 10 yrs . when i started it up and blew a hose the fluid was emulsified. In hindsight i should have drained if before starting it. LESSON LEARNED

Sean in PA · Jan 5, 2023

(quoted from post at 10:56:55 01/05/23) I suspect you could put the drained oil into a suitable pot (turkey fryer?) and heat to say 250F and hold for a while to drive out moisture and then filter and reuse if you wanted to save money vs. time.

Heating to 250 degrees is not a good idea. Most hydraulic and UTF fluids will begin to break down somewhere between 180 and 200 degrees.

Dan · Jan 5, 2023

I have a 555B - those beasts take a lot of hydraulic fluid! I did what the replies say and drained/refilled twice ($$$$). Now, I go out when it is cold in the morning, before starting, and when the backhoe has sat for several days and crack the hydraulic drain plug JUST until fluid leaks through the threads (if you unscrew too much it will be a mess!). The water sinks to the bottom of the oil and will drain out first. When you see oil screw it back in place. If you have time, do this a few times days apart before starting the tractor. Always do it when it has gone from hot to cold and visa versa as this is when condensation builds up in the reservoir.

Also, as said, working it hot for a few hours helps as well.

Good luck,
Dan

wp6529 · Jan 5, 2023

(quoted from post at 12:51:37 01/05/23)

(quoted from post at 10:56:55 01/05/23) I suspect you could put the drained oil into a suitable pot (turkey fryer?) and heat to say 250F and hold for a while to drive out moisture and then filter and reuse if you wanted to save money vs. time.

Click to expand...

Heating to 250 degrees is not a good idea. Most hydraulic and UTF fluids will begin to break down somewhere between 180 and 200 degrees.

That seems odd, many hydraulic systems operate in that temperature range I believe. I suppose a lower temp for a longer time might work as well. I definitely like the idea of not wasting gallons of oil if you can otherwise get the moisture out much as it would be driven out during long hot operation in the machine. Too bad there isn't an equivalent to the diesel tank tampons for hydraulic oil.

water in hydraulic system

mic-t

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Sean in PA

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mic-t

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showcrop

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wp6529

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mic-t

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Sean in PA

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Dan

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wp6529

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