Page 18 - July 2021 Track N Times

TECHNICAL TRAINING

Accumulating dirt and grind dust provide an indication of a leaking solenoid cartridge pictured on
the left. The picture on the right indicates a leaking hydraulic pump flange leak.

tial for hydraulic fluid to be inject- side of the item you were inspect- of resources including time and
ed into your skin. Once you find a ing. If the hydraulic fluid drops money. The second one is what
suspected leak, clean any dirt or were from directly above, inspect happens ninety nine percent of the
grind dust away from and around the item directly above it. If the time. Not only have you damaged
the fitting or hydraulic compo- hydraulic fluid drops left a fluid trail an expensive hydraulic component,
nent with the wire brush. Then along the bottom of the item you you may have created a machine
spray the suspected fitting or hy- were inspecting, follow the fluid delay situation. Usually it just keeps
draulic component with brake trail until you can find the hydraulic snow balling and gets worse from
cleaner. fluid drops coming from directly there.

Note: Avoid spraying brake clean- above. Keep repeating until the The following is a list of things you
er on din connectors, indicator hydraulic fluid leak is found. should take into consideration and
gauge faces or other plastic com- Now that the leak has been found, remember when repairing a hy-
ponents. Brake cleaner can soften you will want to shut the hydraulic draulic fluid leak. More importantly,
plastics or make them brittle and system off and lock out according help you prevent causing a future
break. The brake cleaner will re- to your machine’s procedures be- hydraulic leak or issue.
move any remaining dirt, grind fore beginning any repair. Never
dust and any hydraulic fluid resi- under any circumstance should you
due. If the suspected fitting or try and tighten a cap, plug, hose, • Make sure you have new seals
component is actually leaking, you flange, manifold bolt, or other com- or parts on hand before even
now will be able to see the hy- ponent while the hydraulic system attempting repairs. This in-
draulic fluid leak safely. is running. One of two things is cludes absorbent pads. For ma-
going to happen. The first one be- chines that use water glycol
The first place to start is to look ing that you single handedly hydraulic fluid, oil only absor-
for hydraulic fluid drops on the stopped the leak and saved the op- bent pads will not absorb water
lowest item directly above the erating shift without spending a glycol hydraulic fluid. You will
puddle of hydraulic fluid. This dime. The reality is, that what you create a bigger mess than what
could be a tube, hose, electrical thought was just a simple fix; has you already had. Invest in a
conduit, gearbox, mounting stretched some threads or created good quality o-ring kit for each
bracket, etc. Once you find the a stress crack in a manifold, pump/ type of hydraulic fitting and
hydraulic fluid drops, observe if motor housing, or valve. The end manifold valve seal kit for the
they came from directly above or result will be a future down time
did they travel along the under- event resulting in a needless waste size hydraulic manifold valve
you have from a hydraulic shop.

Volume 2 : Issue 6 Page 16