Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder?

   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #1  

radioflyertoo

Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
43
Location
East Coventry pa
Tractor
Kubota BX24
My bx 24 has about 25 hours on it and a weld is leaking on the left FEL cylinder that raises it right where the hydraulic fitting goes in. :mad: :mad: :mad: I don't weld - so is ther any other way to fix it for the short term? (I did check this throughly it's not the hose or the fitting and it's a flowing leak not a drip.)

I'm cutting in for a paver walk and have 20 yds stone, 2 yds sand plus 6 pallets of pavers being delivered this week and I need tractor operating. (Yeah I got a shovel and a wheel barrel:eek: ) I figure a week to get it fixed by the dealer.

Again is there a short term fix?

thanks

bob
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #2  
Odd that a weld would allow a flow but not out of the question at all, if it was not properly welded (likely a robotic weld, but with that said, there lies the oddity to me).

For the quick time utilization, I can only see that a fab shop can grind out the weld area and replace additional filler material. That brings another array of concerns but it will need to be done one way or another. I'd not just spot weld on top. Too many variables for failure of a fix (from welding into a contaminated area without prep). Upon proper prep (now you ask? :D ) go ahead and remove the filler to the base metal and fill back in. Be sure that your fabricator / welder knows the metallurgy and process, prep, cleanliness, and a sound practice of intermittent placement to prevent another said leak. A nice clean weld area with a mig or tig welder and an hour or two to make it right is about all that I can think.

Clean prep and slow heat input.

Probably much easier said than done from my point of view. I am not aware of a quick fix, other than a weld shop getting you in and out in the same day.

Honestly, I'd seriously consider warranty replacement and a delay in the project, because if you have a fabricator to work on it, that may raise a warranty issue from the dealer. Then at that time, your project gets more expensive with out of pocket $$ replacement.
.
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Crbr - thank you - I'll delay the project - bob
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #4  
You could just let it leak, how bad is it? It won't do the machine any harm if it is a small leak & you don't let the SUDT level get low. Now on the other hand, if it is actually a spray coming from it....
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #5  
It would be off to the dealer for warranty repair. If you mess with it they will more and likely not cover it under warranty and it would be out of your pocket instead. Good luck hope you get it fixed soon!
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #6  
You might explain your situation to the dealer, offer to remove the cylinder yourself and bring it in, and ask if they can exchange it with a cylinder from another machine in the sales lot. If you've already got a good relationship with the dealer, they might go for this. If you haven't built a relationship with the dealer yet, this would be their opportunity to make themselves look really good to you and to everybody you tell about the experience. But if they don't have the same machine in the sales lot, I guess you'll have to delay your project.
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #7  
Hi Bob,

I don't have any tips on how to get by with what's happening, but I would like to see what you have planned for your walkway. I've been putting one over here in South Coventry for the past 10 weeks or so, and I finally got to the point of laying the pavers this weekend.

Many delays came along with this project, and I found myself with an inoperable BX24 for a couple of days during it as well. Fortunately, there were other tasks to be done, like working on the garden that will be behind the wall, planning out some steps to put in, and other non-tractor things. You could just take the time to spend with your family, since that time will be cut back severely while you work on this project! So, I suggest that you get the dealer to fix it as soon as they can and not try to jerry-rig something that will make fixing it properly harder.
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #8  
This won't help radioflyertoo, but for other readers with a similar problem, if you have an oxy/acetylene torch or know someone who has one, you can repair this kind of leak without disassembling the cylinder.

Remove the cylinder, move the rod so that the piston is at the end away from the bad fitting, submerge most of the cylinder under water (keeping water out of the fittings, of course), and then braze over the leak. The brazing rod will flow into crevices and provide a good seal which won't rust.

Submerging the cylinder in water will keep it cool, but probably isn't necessary. I've repaired fittings on two hydraulic cylinders this way, and have stopped leaks in other equipment this way. I've sealed leaks in three gas tanks this way (red flags popping up all over) after filling them up with water, but when I did the last one I vowed I wouldn't do any more. I didn't want to be a candidate for the "Darwin Award".

By the way, when I spell-checked my post, "radioflyertoo" was flagged and the suggested replacement was "grandiosely". Go figure.
 
   / Any short term fix for leaky weld on a FEL cylinder? #9  
TedLaRue said:
You might explain your situation to the dealer, offer to remove the cylinder yourself and bring it in, and ask if they can exchange it with a cylinder from another machine in the sales lot. If you've already got a good relationship with the dealer, they might go for this. If you haven't built a relationship with the dealer yet, this would be their opportunity to make themselves look really good to you and to everybody you tell about the experience. But if they don't have the same machine in the sales lot, I guess you'll have to delay your project.
+1 Time for the dealer stand up and be counted,...or be discounted as a dependable dealer.
 

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