C160 Hydro questions/my topic for the day n next fix

[12Horse Paladin 1,038]

So onto pteperation n planning for the next fix(es) to my as yet unnamed c160...

As of now, this tractor has no noticible leaks from either the engine or tranny. Except, near as i can tell, either the ram or hoses for the hydraulics. 

I. Hate. Leaks 

From the pics, you may see what im wondering about n maybe not. I just think it is either the ram itself leaking, or from the fittings. I thought the hoses look ok.

Also noticible is that the ram stays pretty wet on its bottom side.

If you need more pics to diagnose,  just sayso, n ill get them.

Now: i know that wheelhorsepartsandmore has hoses; can rebuild the ram. But here is a question, n something i am wondering because of something my Dad told me who knows more bout this stuff than i of course...but also does not know eveverything. 

I say this only because i dunno who/what to believe.

He basically said it wasnt worth the expense because even if everything is done right, unless it works 100%, youll just endup with a bigger leak/mess/soent funds for nothing, because youll fix that, n unless its perfect, there will be a pressure problem n itll just leak again, n maybe worse. He said it has something to do with the seals n o rings, if i remember right.

So....thoughts? Input/advice? 

My Dad did say from what he sees here by lots of y'alls posts, that many of you know way more than himself...n i sure agree to that, as pertains to me.

Sanwhat would YOU do, were it you, to fix it properly, once n for all?

I. Hate. Leaks.

Lol.

I will fix this, if i can.

Many thanks

[ebinmaine 67,274]

I'll go ahead and throw my two cents in here.

 

First of all. Nothing against your father or anybody else with a certain mindset but I do not agree with the fact that fixing one leak causes another or causes a worse leak down the road.

If the leak is fixed. It's fixed. If there's another leak beside it. It was going to leak or it was already leaking.

 

Dealing with cranes and forklifts everyday like I do I also deal with leaks on occasion.

The way I've dealt with it over the last several years is, if it hits the ground it has to be fixed immediately. I'm not going to tell you that minor seepage is are normal but, they are kind of acceptable. There's a lot of expansion and contraction and these fluids are pretty thin even when cold.

 

 

[squonk 41,023]

By the looks of your hoses they are due for replacement. Lowell sells the hoses and repairs the cylinders.

[12Horse Paladin 1,038]

@ebinmaine...

Here are a few more pics.

It hits the ground, lol

@squonk...

Thanks for your onput on the hoses; i dunno how to tell. But now ill add it to the list 

N fact is, since i gotta save for a bit till i can afford such, ill prolly save all the way n have the cylinder redone, too.

Leastways that was my thinking on it...

[pfrederi 17,664]

The brass fitting hise is probably original.  The big outer one is a replacement. The hoses do not usually fail it is the O ring in the fitting or the swivel itself that fails.  You could try replacing the O rings for a few cents before you pay big bucks for new hose.  Frankly several of mine seep a bit still work OK and it keeps things from rusting  

[12Horse Paladin 1,038]

7 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

The brass fitting hise is probably original.  The big outer one is a replacement. The hoses do not usually fail it is the O ring in the fitting or the swivel itself that fails.  You could try replacing the O rings for a few cents before you pay big bucks for new hose.  Frankly several of mine seep a bit still work OK and it keeps things from rusting  

You said 'seep'

Well, in the pics above, thats the LEAST ive seen it overnight, n my fluid levels all check out. But it usta be lots more.

Puddles.

Edited August 5, 2020 by 12Horse Paladin

[pfrederi 17,664]

I would replace the o rings first they are cheap.  O rings first.  All the fittings are ORB (O ring Boss)  SAE #5 or maybe #6.  My hydro horses are all older and use #5.  Check if a 1/2" NF bolt thread in it is #5.  The O rings you want are Dash # 905

 

For the cylinder ram leak if it isn't a welded cylinder you can get o rings and seals for it and do it yourself.

[oliver2-44 9,684]

32 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

I would replace the o rings first they are cheap.  O rings first.  All the fittings are ORB (O ring Boss)  SAE #5 or maybe #6.  My hydro horses are all older and use #5.  Check if a 1/2" NF bolt thread in it is #5.  The O rings you want are Dash # 905

 

For the cylinder ram leak if it isn't a welded cylinder you can get o rings and seals for it and do it yourself.

 But I would clean all the fittings and cylinder with solvent, brake cleaner, etc. Run it a little moving the lift several times. Then put some of that white paper under the tractor again and on the running board under the hoses.  Check back in a few hours, then again over night to see if all the hoses need o-rings or just one.  

[Achto 27,504]

9 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

The way I've dealt with it over the last several years is, if it hits the ground it has to be fixed immediately. I'm not going to tell you that minor seepage is are normal but, they are kind of acceptable.

 

Weep means that the area is wet, seep means it forms a bead, leak means the bead hit the floor. At least these are the definitions that I was given with Harley's. 

[squonk 41,023]

9 hours ago, Achto said:

 

Weep means that the area is wet, seep means it forms a bead, leak means the bead hit the floor. At least these are the definitions that I was given with Harley's. 

Cept you can't find the words weep and seep in a Harley manual! 

 

Back on topic: Those outer jackets on the hoses are oil soaked and compromised. The crimps are rusty. Replace them and you'll only have to mess with it once.

Edited August 6, 2020 by squonk

[953 nut 55,075]

17 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

clean all the fittings and cylinder with solvent

Like @oliver2-44 said, the first step is to clean everything thoroughly so you know what is leaking.

In my opinion the smartest way to approach this is to find a down time when the tractor can be removed from service, send the cylinder to Lowell https://www.wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/hydraulics.html and let him rebuild it properly and also buy all four new hoses from him. This should fix it for the rest of your life