Backhoe JD 8A Backhoe Cylinder Leak

[Wooley Booger]

Greetings All - I have a JD 8A backhoe that I run off of my JD 1070 compact tractor. The backhoe works well but has developed a leak in one of two cylinders under the footrests that control the sideways swiveling of the unit. The leak appears to be coming from an overflow/pressure relief (?) valve that is on the back end (see yellow circle... the other photo is the one that is actually leaking into a plastic bag attached to the cylinder). I am trying to troubleshoot this but am not even sure if I have identified the overflow (?) valve correctly. Does anyone out there know what this is and why it might be leaking? Thanks for any advice.

WB

[leonz]

Would you hate me if I asked for better photos?, as
you cannot tell much with the double acting cylinders
and the hydraulic plumbing covered up.

The swing cylinders should have NO control valves on the barrel.

Is it possible you have single acting swing cylinders with vents on the rod side of the pair of cylinders?

If you have cylinder vents you will see a bronze screen of sorts in the middle of the fitting that is on the rod side of the barrels.


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Once you go flail you never go back

[kennyd]

These are SA (single acting) cylinders. The fluid is most likely leaking from the vent. There is no PRV or overflow.

A new seal kit should fix you up.

[Wooley Booger]

Thanks for the input... the seal inside the cylinder must be leaking and allowing hydraulic fluid to escape through the vent. With the info provided, I've located several suppliers of the seal kit on the internet. When I get this kit in, would you know if there is anything in particular to look out for as I start opening up the cylinder?

WB