Used #46 Backhoe maintenance question

[smalltown]

Slowly taking parts off, removing rust, priming and painting.
I have been doing this leaving all the hydro lines connected.

When I first brought it home we placed it on a pallet that just so happened to have a heavy piece of paper installed on it.

Over the next few days I spotted a small discolored spot under one stabilizer assembly. I realize now it must be hydro fluid.

The spot is slowly growing it's not the hydro cylinder nor the hoses or connections at the valve assembly.

There appears to be a wet area as the two hoses make their final turn through the frame before turning upward toard the valve assembly.

I am trying to understand how these hoses might leak.
I thought they would be fabricated with a metal core and wrapped in rubber or are they all rubber?


I any case after supper I will take another look, but it appears I will need to replace a hose and will need some advise on how I should disconnect the hose.

Just took a second look where the hose(s) is wet there is no chafing but the hoses are definatley wet I think one leaking onto the other.

 

[smalltown]

When I finally disconnect the weeping hydro hose what should I expect?

The hydro cylinder is compressed into inself so I am hoping there isn't much that will leak from it. What about fluid coming from the hose going to the valve assembly? I am corcerned about pressure and spraying fluid !

I am waiting untill all the painting is done before replacing the hose(s)

Going to try and have hose made up at NAPA not sure again what hose to ask for. Still researching hose.

 

[kennyd]

I am not sure what to say, hoses can leak for many reasons-age, abrasion...we are not even sure it's a hose leaking yet.

 

[Runner]

Sometimes it will actually be leaking at the fitting and then running down the hose. That would be my first suspicion, unless there was a visible crack in the hose.

 

[smalltown]

The wet area is at the spot where the two hoses for the stabilizer turn outward through the frame. I have moved the hoses around a little to try and see which hose(s) might be leaking.

1st photo: hoses turning out toward stabilizer, spots are primer over spray.

2nd photo: underneath looking at wet hoses turning and headed upward toward valve assembly.

3rd photo just below the valve assembly a little dirty where I cut the plastic tie holding the cables to check, but dry.

I intend to add some of that split plastic wrap to protect the hoses or find some soft material to circle the frame opening before buttoning everything up.

Runner I just read you post. Not knowing hydro hoses can they leak at the connector and travel on the inside of the hose cover and show itself at the bend?
I guess I should remove the metal covering the valve assembly to check the "tightness" of both connectors.

 

[Runner]

"I guess I should remove the metal covering the valve assembly to check the "tightness" of both connectors."

That wouldn't be a bad idea. I had one leaking from that area on a brand new, from the factory, backhoe.

 

[Zebrafive]

If the connectors use o-rings,( o-ring boss, or o-ring face seal), the connection could be tight and if the o-ring is bad you could still have a leak.

I recently cracked an o-ring boss fitting to relieve pressure to hook up a quick coupler then tightened it back up. Ended up with a bad leak. Had to replace the o-ring. I had done this several times before with no problem. I guess the o-rings are only good for so many tighten/loosen cycles.

 

[smalltown]

Finally got time (in between projects) to take another look at the leak. I pulled the panel covering the valve assembly and it was bone dry.

I managed to rotate the stabilizer cylinder 360 deg., and that straightened out the two hydro lines so I could seperate them and get a better look.

The good news is I found my leak. One hose has been rubbing on the frame and had chafed through the outside coating and I can see the metal braid underneath. The chafed area is weeping hydraulic fluid and reappears after I blot the area with a paper towel. The second hose although not leaking is also chafed so I will replace both.

So my next step is to disconnect the hoses. I need some advice on removing the hoses. The cylinder looks completely compressed do I just remove the hoses and keep a can or pail handy to catch any leaks or is it going to spray like the forth of July?

 

[kennyd]

Since there is no pressure in the system, no fluid will squirt out, but you will loose some. Just be sure the cylinder cannot move- like if it is collapsed now, just be sure it cannot extend once a hose is loosened from the weight of the outrigger. There will be some fluid in the cylinder also but just keep the ports looking up so you don't loose it. Also, flush those new hoses out with mineral spirits or similar to get the debris out from when they cut them.

Hope this is the answers you where looking for...

 

[joed3320]

this happened to me I just had both lines replaced after two years.I need some ldea's how to prevent this.Pipe insulation is all that comes to mind