Hydraulic line blister??

[Logan]

I just noticed that on four of the hydraulic lines going to my loader bucket there are what appear to be blisters. The attached picture shows one, it's in front of my finger. They do not bulge when the loader is operated and can be pressed down with your finger. It is on an LA 482 loader on an L3010 Kubota, about five years old. I never noticed them before yesterday when the sun hit them just right and some were obvious. Is this a fatal flaw where I need to get new hoses or just let it ride.

 

[aczlan]

I would replace them ASAP, you dont want 2000+ psi hydraulic fluid squirting out all over the place.


Aaron Z

 

[Redbug]

That's interesting. I would like to know, also. I am not sure either. But here's my opinion...

I have seen the same sort of thing on auto tire sidewalls. I would guess that you are not in immediate threat, yet. Otherwise, hyd fluid at a high pressure would have already shot through the thin rubber hose wrapping, if it were a real leak. I think some fluid migrated, (osmosis?), thru the hose and is caught under the final layer of rubber. What would I do?...I would measure the longest hose on the loader and buy that size to keep as a spare on the tractor-just in case. I am interested to see what the "been there done that", folks say...

 

[john_bud]

I had one blow out last summer. Ran to the hydraulic hose repair shop in town, he made one up for under $20 if I recall, ran home and was back in the seat in under 40 minutes.

You can either replace it on your schedule or on it's schedule, but you are going to be replacing it soon.

jb

 

[JerryG]

Logan,
If you look at older equipment it isn't usually to find those types of bubbles. They are where the lines have been bruised so to speak. I have seen some of them last for years and never bust.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

The lines for my FEL were doing that but were a bit larger. Along with some abrasion marks at other points. Rather than waiting until they leaked or burst I just replaced all 4 of them. $111 was worth it over worrying about if or when they might go.
Jim

 

[rdbrumfield]

A bubble in a hose doesn't mean it is about to bust. Like the man said above, if it were leaking it would have gone through the rubber coating no problem. If you are concerned I would take a garden hose big enough to put the line inside of so if it did blow it wouldn't spray hot oil on you. We use old fire hose a lot to bundle hyd lines in especially in the engine compartment and where chaffing is a problem.

 

[RFB]

Those could be signs of a dissecting aneurysm.

In humans, quite dangerous.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Believe it or not, this is a common problem in certain brand hoses which have a certain cover. Well, it's not really a problem, but many people end up replacing hoses unnecessarily because of it. If this were fluid under pressure, you wouldn't be asking if it should be replaced or not. It would already be done. Certain make hoses have a sealed cover. All, and I mean ALL brands of hoses weep fluid thru the hose. Some brands deal with it better than others. Gates and Dunlop are a couple of hoses in particular that does this. The hose in the picture has a very airtight cover which won't allow built up gases to escape. If you take a razor and make a small slit in the bubble, you will release the harmless gases. May be oil also, but nothing to worry about. If it makes you feel better, get them replaced and save these for spares. My advice, take the money you would have spent on replacements and take the family out to dinner.

Now, if all of you had a hose catalog like I suggest, you would have found the answer. On page 25 of the Weatherhead catalog.

 

[john_bud]

5. Problem: Hose cover blistered and
pulling away from carcass. Gas has
effused through the tube and become
trapped under the cover.
Solution: Use perforated, pin-pricked
or fiber cover hose.


Page 28 in my copy....