Kubota B2600 Loader, ram shoots oil out...?

autocol · Aug 8, 2011

Hi everyone,

Some guys on this site helped me get my little old kubota's hydraulic system working about 12 months ago, and since then she's been doing a great job moving dirt around the back yard of my new place.

However, one of the main rams that lifts the bucket seems to shoot out a jet of oil when you extend it past about halfway. IE, once the bucket reaches about 4 feet off the ground, lifting it any higher works, but you're squirting a thin blast of oil out of the one ram on the right (straight onto the front tyre, too!).

So, when it first happened I assumed the seal around the ram would be shot, but that's not the case. There is a tiny little hole, maybe 1.5-2mm diameter, in the body of the ram (the outer body of it, not the chromed slider). It looks like it's supposed to be there, it's a perfectly drilled hole... I don't think it's meant to launch oil out though!

So, can I just plug this hole somehow? It it supposed to be performing a function? If I can plug it, what would you suggest?

Any advice you can offer would be really appreciated. Thank you

J_J · Aug 8, 2011

Sounds like a weep hole associated with SA cyl

May also may be a rod end relief valve outlet.

Extracted from an article.

Cylinders with weep hole stroke limiters will expel high pressure oil through the bleed hole
to the atmosphere if extended beyond the visual maximum stroke indication. If this occurs,
seals must be replaced.

• A weep hole is provided between wellbore ram shaft packing and the hydraulic seal. This feature eliminates the possibility of hydraulic fluid contamination should the ram shaft packing fail.

wdchyd · Aug 9, 2011

Autocol,

JJ's right on

Your cylinder piston packing is worn/blown....

That cyl is a single acting cylinder and what you are experiencing is the piston seal is allowing oil to get above piston head, thus squirting out the vent when extended out.....

Simple repack will save the day......make sure you hone/polish the bore inside cuz that style of cylinder will become rusted easily (cyl tube internally is exposed to air/condensation when retracted during storage)....check carefully inside before putting it back together....