Cracked or pinhole leak in hydraulic steel tube

[mike48130]

I've seen OEM tubes that have fittings brazed to them.

I had a steel tube wear thru. Took it to a hydraulic store and had them flare the end for a JIC fitting and make a short flex hose to replace what is missing. Haven't had an issue yet.

If it's just a pin leak, I would braze first, and start looking at ebay and salvage yards for the part.

 

[EddieWalker]

I had something similar happen on my dozer. Metal line to the blade had a crack in it and was shooting out hydraulic oil when I lifted the blade. While I was taking it off to then go and try to find a replacement, my neighbor came over and asked what I was doing. I showed him the problem and he said that he could weld it up with his torch and a coat hanger. I was skeptical, but he said that while getting his training to be a pilot, he earned his living as a welder. Who knew? It took him less then an hour to fix it and it's held perfectly for about ten years now.

 

[mike48130]

I had something similar happen on my dozer. Metal line to the blade had a crack in it and was shooting out hydraulic oil when I lifted the blade. While I was taking it off to then go and try to find a replacement, my neighbor came over and asked what I was doing. I showed him the problem and he said that he could weld it up with his torch and a coat hanger. I was skeptical, but he said that while getting his training to be a pilot, he earned his living as a welder. Who knew? It took him less then an hour to fix it and it's held perfectly for about ten years now.

Coat hangers are plastic now, so may not be as effective!!! HAHA!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Brazing will be effective if done well.

Yep. Have fixed several over the years.

 

[ericm979]

Trying to lift too much with the loader and tripping the loader valve's relief should not damage anything. Everything in the hydraulic system that sees full pressure should be rated to handle more than that. An example would be the relief at 2100 psi and the hoses etc are rated to 2500 or 3000 psi. Unless perhaps the relief pressure has been greatly increased by adjusting the relief valve.

 

[MH8675309]

Brazing will work acceptably. If the line is stainless get it as clean as possible - scuff it up some. If all you have is bronze take your time and start with a low heat. If you scorch the steel the bronze will not grab onto it and youll have to start over and clean it up again. Silver is preferred for stainless but either of these is better than trying to tig (yes it can be done) such thin material in that the solder or bronze is less prone to leak after the repair is made.

 

[RickB]

Whatever makes anyone think this tube is stainless? It is an hydraulic tube on a compact tractor. It has to be clean prior to brazing at any rate.

 

[LouNY]

Whatever makes anyone think this tube is stainless? It is an hydraulic tube on a compact tractor. It has to be clean prior to brazing at any rate.

Yep, most hydraulic lines are plain mild steel unless someone with an industrial tubing background has been around with tubing benders and stainless tubing.
Then you could find most any type of fitting from compression, to sweated/soldered, to brazed, or even welded, now days it could have been a fancy automated orbital machine as found in medical or computer wafer manufacturing.

 

[wdchyd]

Where’s DaveK?

Lots of speculation without closeup pics of the problem.

 

[zzvyb6]

I blew a line on my NH Stackliner that cracked. My Parker Hydraulics store suggested cutting out the cracked area and replacing it with a new section and compression fittings at the joints. Works perfectly, no runs, hits or errors.