Replacingl my loader hydraulic

CajunRider · Mar 5, 2017

After suffering through 2 hurricances (Rita and Ike), all the hydraulics on the KL249 loader of my Kiotic tractor finally gave up. The lines are all rusted and all the connectors are beyond reuse. I took all the lines, hoses, and cylinders to several local shops. I received quotes totaling roughly $2500 ($1300 for the steel lines & hoses and $1200 for the cylinders). Some offered 10% discount on the price, which would cover the sale tax but that was it. $2500 is far more than the value of my loader so that wasn't an option for me.

So I went on a shopping spree mostly on ebay and the Surplus Center advertised here on TBN. I ordered all the cylinders and hoses from Surplus Center. Then I bought stainless steel tubing (Zorro on ebay), stainless steel fittings (various sources), and oil impregnated bronze bearings. My total bill so far is $650 including shipping.

Now I can't wait for everything to get here so I can put things together. It will be nice to have my FEL working again without leaking. There will be no more rusting lines, no more greasing of FEL!

Xfaxman · Mar 5, 2017

Is the stainless steel tubing pressure rated for hydraulic use?

Leejohn · Mar 5, 2017

You said no more greasing of FEL! I wouldn't do that, there is a lot of pressure on the pins and bushings.

CajunRider · Mar 5, 2017

Xfaxman said:
Is the stainless steel tubing pressure rated for hydraulic use?

The stainless steel tubing is rated for the pressure in my FEL. Burst pressure is 4 times my tractor FEL operating pressure. We use similar tubing at my place of work all the time.

CajunRider · Mar 5, 2017

Leejohn said:
You said no more greasing of FEL! I wouldn't do that, there is a lot of pressure on the pins and bushings.

Truth be told I probably will grease any way. However, I'm told that the oil pregnated bronze bushings eliminate the need for greasing in FEL appliation. I figure this way if I forget to grease it, I won't feel too bad about it.

CajunRider · Mar 23, 2017

Got it all done. The stainless steel tubing worked out very well but come to think about it, I could have done the whole thing in hydraulic hoses for much cheaper. As it was, I replaced all the steel lines and fittings with stainless for reasonable cost because I spent time to buy them through ebay. Now I have a crappy, rusty tractor with shiny shiny hydraulic lines!

Coyote machine · Mar 23, 2017

What does teh two hurricanes and whatever have to do with your FEL lines/hoses needing replacement?
What age is your DK, and how many hours? Why all the rust you mention.
How about before/after pics of the work?:confused3:

CajunRider · Mar 23, 2017

My tractor got flooded with salt water and that caused severe corrosion every where. Last month the steel lines sprung leaks and I had to replace them.
I think my DK45 is 17-18 year old. I have no idea how many hours. I bought it at 800 hrs, which turned out to be a lie because I found out the previous owner replaced the meter and failed to mention that to me and I found that out when I brought it in for hurricane repair. I myself replaced the meter again after the hurricane flood and it now reads 520 hours. The corrosion is bad I replaced the fuel tank with an after market aluminum tank. The floor board, seat, fenders, and rops are all rusted.

But it still runs, although it will kick out of gear when I put it in 4th gear. So 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are all I got.
I'll take some pics this weekend.

CajunRider · Mar 24, 2017

I don't have the before while the steel tubes were still on the tractor.
I need to arrange the stainless steel tubes to make them all neat. It not as easy as I thought but it will be done. Right now I'm just glad I get the tractor operating. There are more pressing stuff I need to get done like repairing my hurrican damaged shop.