Why me Lord? Another hydraulic leak

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
Why me Lord? What have I done to deserve another oil leak?
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I haven't used the tractor all winter. Hydraulic hose started leaking and now the cylinder on the rear boom started leaking after we had the warmest day in 74 days.

Why did they decide to leak just sitting all winter?

Only thing I can think of is we had about 3 weeks of near zero temperatures at night and never got above freezing.

I think the last time I used it was to dig a backyard pond for a relative's expensive gold fish in late summer.

This hoe is 17 years old. I've rebuilt many cylinder, don't recall rebuilding this cylinder. I'm guessing either an O ring or U seal failed because of age and cold temperature.

I'll know if the rod caused the problem when I spin it in lathe and polish it with 600 grit. Nerve endings in your fingers can feel imperfections your eye may not be able to see.

So how many have cold temperatures related hydraulic cylinder leaks ?

I would to hear what the people in northern states or Canada have to say about cold temperature hydraulic issues.

George
 
I kinda figured if something is going to leak, it will leak in warmer temps since the oil is thinner....can't say that weather has made any difference though....

Ben
 
maybe its just me, but I would be happy if that's the biggest oil spot I could find under most of my tractors! Leaking at that rate it would take 10 years to be a quart low. But you obviously like to stay on top of things. Could it be a one-time leak, and stop when it warms up?
 
Well I would be running that as is. The rod needs lube ya know. If it was "resting" with pressure on the cylinder in that spot, I would assume it would leak over time. I tend to leave equipment that will be idle for a day or more with the pressure off hydraulic components. Jim
 
Ray,
I too have oil leaks that are minor and I'm not taking engine apart for a drip a day.

This leak is a steady drip. It won't get better, only worse. I have nothing to do. Pole barn is solar heated, no insulation. Today is sunny and in upper 50 to 60.

Going to take advantage of warm place to work.
George
 
I envy you. I've always had to put one or more oil change pans under the tractor to catch the leaking fluid when I'm done for the evening.
 
George Ill trade you. Ill fix that cylinder if you do mine. I bought a 2002 Cat loader backhoe last summer. Not much for leaks at the time. Once December rolled around puddles under all of it. The plastic seals shrink in the cold and start leaking. When you take the cylinders apart, most of the o rings break because they are brittle with age. So far, I have 2 cylinders done, 10 more to go. Some of these are 6 inch diameter.
 
I've always dreamed of owning a leak-free machine. The last tractor that I overhauled was gonna be the one. The first time that I used it after the overhaul was on a hay tedder and it wrapped hay around the pto and wrecked the oil seal. Leak-free machines are just a figment of our imaginations. I admire your tenacity George.
 
Put a Harley Davidson sticker on the side and no one will think any thing about it. Ya I know I just made enemies now. All in fun. I had a H D in my younger days.

Pete
 
I would rather seal that cylinder than deal with the hoses you just replaced!

If it has urethane seals, they do fail with age, regardless of use.
 
if we don't add more than a gallon every month we just let them leak.
I have never had a tractor with loader not leak more than that on a daily bases.
always worse when it gets cold and you use it. seems that the rubber breaks more in the cold and maybe even freezes on. I changed all the cylinders on one tractor because they ran not leaked Was a Belarus and had odd ball seals so couldn't find what I needed. only ever actually replaced seals on one cylinder.
 
Larry claimed to other terramite. The one that needed a new Dana 44 rear gear. It also needed 2 new hoses. The 20 year old hoses cracked and leaked all over the the rearend making heart skip a beat or two.

I figured out why the cylinder might have leaked. Rust behind a backer washer.

George.
 
We pulled dad's 1466 apart from the clutch back and striped to the casting for a ring and pinion set about 10 years ago now. It just started to have a drip from an axle seal I see last year. The Valve cores need to be replaced on the inside tires this spring before field work.
IF I had equipment without any leaks I would probably have to either make a few or quit farming.
 
For your hose problem you might just as well take some pictures and then change them all now or else they will be a bigger problem later this summer when you really want to use it. That's my experience.
 

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