Hydraulic leak at FEL ram

[mpilihp]

Hi I have a leak on one of my hydraulic rams and hoping someone here can help me. The tractor is a Pasquali 988 if that makes any difference.

The leak is where a fitting threads into the ram, appears to be leaking at the threads. It appears there is some kind of sealant on the fitting threads. The fitting is a 90 degree street elbow and appears to be metal but isnt rusty, maybe cast??

My questions are:

What can be causing this leak? IE could the elbow be cracked or is just the seal at the threads broken? Wondering if I should get a new street elbow before taking apart.

What is the sealant used on hydraullic fittings? IE is it the same stuff used for black pipe fittings?

What is the threads on the ram made from? Steel? Alumin? Wanting to know if I could damage the ram if I over tighten the fitting.

What footpounds should hydraulic fittings be tighten to?

If in reconnecting the fitting it does not line up with the ram as it should for the line to attach, do I risk damaging the ram if I turn it another 360 degrees to get it to line up?

Lasty I think I know this, how do you bleed the air out of the ram after I redo the fitting connection to get rid of the leak? Do I just work the bucket up and down repeatly??

Thanks alot !!!

~ Phil

 

[kennyd]

Welcome to TBN Phil

You asked a lot of questions, lets see if we can help.

Lots of things can cause a leak, hard to say exactly without seeing it, Can you post a picture? The fitting could be cracked, the threads stripped, never installed tight from the beginning...

The proper sealer for hydraulic is a PTFE based paste, not regular Teflon tape or pipe dope from Home Cheapot. Tape (especially if not used CAREFULLY) can cause problems in hydraulic systems-but there is MUCH debate about that here on TBN, but rest assured all the people who make a living with hydraulics agree that tape should not be used.

Hydraulic fittings are made from machines steel usually. Regular cast fittings are not rated for the pressure.

These systems are self bleeding, so all you have to do is operate the control a few times after it's back together.

 

[mpilihp]

Hi Kenny thanks, Ill get some of the PTFE Past at Home Cheapo If its not pouring out Ill take a picture of it tonight and post it.

How about how tight can the fitting be put on?

Do I pose a threat of damaging the RAM if I tighten it too much?

Thanks

~ Phil

 

[kennyd]

Hi Kenny thanks, Ill get some of the PTFE Past at Home Cheapo If its not pouring out Ill take a picture of it tonight and post it.

How about how tight can the fitting be put on?

Do I pose a threat of damaging the RAM if I tighten it too much?

Thanks

~ Phil

I simply cannot answer the "how tight" question without knowing what type and size the fitting is. It may be NPT, ORB/SAE, JIC or who knows what...that's why the picture is important.

 

[mpilihp]

Hi Kenny ok I understand, I tried to take a picture of the fitting in the rain. If neither of these are useful let me know and Ill try again tomorrow.

Thanks

~ Phil

 

[kennyd]

Oh yes Phil, that is perfect. That looks like a regular NPT galvanized cast plumbing fitting, and it probably cracked. They are only rated for like 150 PSI anyway so you have been lucky to this point. If you have other like that you may want to change them now also.

Get a proper fitting, take it all apart, clean the threads and reassemble. They only need to be a good snug-to-tight for a proper seal.

Here are some fittings to look at, you will need to measure what you have though.

Steel Pipe Fittings (NPTF) > Discount Hydraulic Hose.com

The #5702 at the bottom should be what you need, and they have the PTFE paste also. There are cheaper ones available also that are not swivels.

 

[mpilihp]

Hi Kenny thanks for the help, one last question, when measuring do I measure the outside threads or it is the inside diameter of the fitting opening? Id like to order them before taking it apart.

Thanks

Phil

 

[kennyd]

Outside will be fine...Here is a chart I use: Hydraulic Warehouse - Size Chart you want the first one.

 

[wdchyd]

Phil,

Beware these Pasquali Tractors were made in Italy (IIRC).....the pipe threaded connection shown in your pics may be different than our american pipe threads......if you take these apart check the thread pitch......the american 1/4 & 3/8 pipe threads will be 18 TPI (threads per inch)......and the British pipe threads will be 19 TPI........http://pipeandhose.com/?q=node/2

If they are 19 TPI, then you will need BSPT fittings if you change them.....(Kennyd's Link shows these).......just good info to know for the future.....

Some of these FEL's may have been installed in the US and not in Italy.....

Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll only need to be cleaned up and redoped and tightened........:thumbsup:

 

[mpilihp]

Hi thanks for the tip on the threads, it appears this one is US installed as the fitting I bought hand threaded on easily. But it did not fix the leak.

I took the fitting off, cleaned the threads on both the hose (which has a male nipple on it) and the threads in the ram. I applied the PTFE goop making sure to not get any on the first thread and it tightened on the ram about 3 turns and then I gave it two turns with a wrench. I then did the same with the hose side. I left it for about 2 hours, the jar of goop did not say there was a min dry time. I started it up and moved the FEL a few times and I though I was good. turned it off and left it, when I came back after doing something else, I saw hydraulic fluid puddling on the fender again, leaking from the same location.

It appears there is a problem with the RAM threaded connection point which scares me.

Any thoughts??

~ Phil