leaky lift cylinders?

[kmaz]

Hey guys, I feel like I might have a couple of leaky lift cylinders on a pt425 with 8 hours on it. It might be normal Im not sure but as the shaft slides in the cylinder oil pools up on the end. just out of curiosity does cold weather effect the seals or could this be a problem?
Thanks

Kris

 

[BobRip]

I have never seen that at over 500 hours. PT sells a seal kit. I don't remember the price (I bought two just in case) but it was not much.
My experience with hydraulic leaks (on motors) is that you can loose a lot of oil fast.
Are you sure its not leaking from the hose fittings. I have had them loosen up on the quick attach lines a couple of times.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey guys, I feel like I might have a couple of leaky lift cylinders on a pt425 with 8 hours on it. It might be normal Im not sure but as the shaft slides in the cylinder oil pools up on the end. just out of curiosity does cold weather effect the seals or could this be a problem?
Thanks

Kris

I wouldn't imagine that both rams would develop leaky seals at the same time. Are you sure it is oil? How much fluid are we talking about here, volume wise?

The ends of the cylinders act as wipers to remove anything from the ram as it retracts. Perhaps the oil is coming from some place else, spraying or dripping on the rams, then getting wiped off by the end of the cylinder as it retracts.

Try this:

Wipe the entire area down real good with paper towels and simple green cleaner. This will cut through all the oil and grease. Be sure to get any fittings and hose connections as well as the face of the lift cylinder where the ram goes in and out.

At full throttle, cycle the lift cylinders all the way up and then back down. Shut off the unit and inspect for oil at all connections, fittings and the face of the lift cylinder again.

Repeat the cycling as necessary until you find the true source of the leak. If it is coming out around the rams, then you probably have bad seals.

Remember, a small hydraulic stream from a pinhole leak can be under extreme pressure, so if you do find a spray, don't stick your hand in front of it. It could penetrate your skin.

Let us know what you find as to the source of the leak.

 

[J_J]

Put some leak detector from NAPA in your system and obtain a black light or ultraviolet light. The leak will show yellow/green.

 

[kmaz]

Hey guys, Thanks for getting back. Here's whats happening, as the rods extend out of the cylinder i can see a good coating of oil on the rod and then as they slide back inside the cylinder the oil pools up on the top outside of the cylinder. "pool" might be a little dramatic but enough to where it ends up dripping down the front of the cylinder.

Thanks
Kris

 

[kmaz]

one more thing, on the one cylinder most of the paint has simply wiped away on the top because of the saturation.

Kris

 

[J_J]

Apparently, you do have a small leak. If you can live with a small leak, then do nothing but check it out every now and then, and when it gets to the point that it is making a mess by dripping oil and collecting dirt, rebuild it with a kit as mention above. I believe that your cylinder has a screw in collar, and when you unscrew this collar, the piston and all the parts, plunger , o-rings, etc. come out as a unit. Replacement is as simple as removing the old and installing new. The wiper seal has to be installed correctly.

 

[2deeskip]

KMAZ said in his first post that his machine had 8 hours on it, only eight hours. If in fact the seals are leaking, would'nt this be a warranty issue? This seems unusual for what essentially is a brand new cylinder.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey guys, Thanks for getting back. Here's whats happening, as the rods extend out of the cylinder i can see a good coating of oil on the rod and then as they slide back inside the cylinder the oil pools up on the top outside of the cylinder. "pool" might be a little dramatic but enough to where it ends up dripping down the front of the cylinder.

Thanks
Kris

Is it only one cylinder or both lift cylinders?

 

[toy]

Hey guys, I feel like I might have a couple of leaky lift cylinders on a pt425 with 8 hours on it. It might be normal Im not sure but as the shaft slides in the cylinder oil pools up on the end. just out of curiosity does cold weather effect the seals or could this be a problem?
Thanks

Kris

Just out of curosity did you do your eight hour service and then notice the oil pooling? If so could it be from where you sprayed the cylinder ends with lubricant and the excess ran down the push rods and collected on top of the cylinder? A lot of times it is better to think simple before you think complicated sometimes that will save you a lot of money. If you can have someone work the lever and raise the lift arms up and down as you carefully watch as mentioned before clean it off first.

 

[kmaz]

Well , I started her up today to take another look at the cylinders. My problem is im not sure whats an acceptable amount of oil. If I lift and lower at a different part on the rod it leaves a ring at each spot which eventually leads to good amount of oil when I lower completely. Maybe this is normal...I dont know. I do love my machine though. On a side note there was a thread recently where the articulated steering was being discussed and mine does not quite opperate as i was led to believe. At a stand still when turning, my rear wheels turn slightly for a second and then skid, That ,I dont like and maybe an adjustment needs to be made. does anyone elses do this?
Not to be a pain in the but here ...just stating what is happening.

Kris

 

[BobRip]

Well , I started her up today to take another look at the cylinders. My problem is im not sure whats an acceptable amount of oil. If I lift and lower at a different part on the rod it leaves a ring at each spot which eventually leads to good amount of oil when I lower completely. Maybe this is normal...I dont know. I do love my machine though. On a side note there was a thread recently where the articulated steering was being discussed and mine does not quite opperate as i was led to believe. At a stand still when turning, my rear wheels turn slightly for a second and then skid, That ,I dont like and maybe an adjustment needs to be made. does anyone elses do this?
Not to be a pain in the but here ...just stating what is happening.

Kris

I would call PT and explain the problem. They will probably send you a seal kit free and you can use it if the leaks gets much worse. They will explain how to replace it to. I have never seen any leakeage on mine, and that seems normal.

I don't quite understand your "skidding" problem. I think what you mean is that the tires kind of jump after steering a bit. To minimise turf damage with any machine you should be moving at least a little bit while turning the steering. This also puts less wear on the tires.

Ask as many questions as you like, people can answer if they like. Most people here are glad to help.

 

[J_J]

What do you mean, that your rear wheels skid. Are any of the other wheels moving? Do you mean that the wheels move forward, when you think you are in neutral?

 

[kmaz]

What I mean by the rear wheels skidding is that someone else mentioned that one would move forward while the other rotated backwards when turning. Mine does not do that ...they both remain stationary if turning completely while stopped. They've actually left scuff marks on the concrete.
I must add , Obviously its only common sense to have either some forward or bacwards motion and in doing so, things work perfectly. I just wasnt sure because someone else mentioned in the past there was no skidding.
Thanks so much guys
Kris

 

[stray]

When you put some ware on those wheel motors I'll bet they will start leaking through a little bit (this being normal) and the scooting will stop. Man you must have some really good wheel motors. I wouldn't complain about that. lol

 

[hogi]

Something must be wrong, that's one of the selling points of a PT- no scuff marks when turning because the wheels should always roll as long as your off the treadle.

 

[kmaz]

Hey stray... Thanks, I also felt things needed to "loosen up" a bit in the wheel motors perhaps. Do love the machine though. Only 12 hours on her..mostly snow removal. Any waranty issues I might have ill address come springtime when she really gets worked over.

Thanks,
Kris

 

[J_J]

What I mean by the rear wheels skidding is that someone else mentioned that one would move forward while the other rotated backwards when turning. Mine does not do that ...they both remain stationary if turning completely while stopped. They've actually left scuff marks on the concrete.
I must add , Obviously its only common sense to have either some forward or bacwards motion and in doing so, things work perfectly. I just wasnt sure because someone else mentioned in the past there was no skidding.
Thanks so much guys
Kris

When my front wheels are up on jacks, when I turn one wheel, the other wheel turns in reverse. I don't understand it, but the one wheel must be acting as a pump . The rear wheels , when turned, do the same thing. So I am thinking, that if you turn your steering all the way to one side, one of those wheels moves in reverse, or slows down.