leaky lift cylinders?

[kmaz]

Hey guys, I feel like I might have a couple of leaky lift cylinders on a pt425 with 8 hours on it. It might be normal Im not sure but as the shaft slides in the cylinder oil pools up on the end. just out of curiosity does cold weather effect the seals or could this be a problem?
Thanks

Kris

 

[BobRip]

I have never seen that at over 500 hours. PT sells a seal kit. I don't remember the price (I bought two just in case) but it was not much.
My experience with hydraulic leaks (on motors) is that you can loose a lot of oil fast.
Are you sure its not leaking from the hose fittings. I have had them loosen up on the quick attach lines a couple of times.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey guys, I feel like I might have a couple of leaky lift cylinders on a pt425 with 8 hours on it. It might be normal Im not sure but as the shaft slides in the cylinder oil pools up on the end. just out of curiosity does cold weather effect the seals or could this be a problem?
Thanks

Kris

I wouldn't imagine that both rams would develop leaky seals at the same time. Are you sure it is oil? How much fluid are we talking about here, volume wise?

The ends of the cylinders act as wipers to remove anything from the ram as it retracts. Perhaps the oil is coming from some place else, spraying or dripping on the rams, then getting wiped off by the end of the cylinder as it retracts.

Try this:

Wipe the entire area down real good with paper towels and simple green cleaner. This will cut through all the oil and grease. Be sure to get any fittings and hose connections as well as the face of the lift cylinder where the ram goes in and out.

At full throttle, cycle the lift cylinders all the way up and then back down. Shut off the unit and inspect for oil at all connections, fittings and the face of the lift cylinder again.

Repeat the cycling as necessary until you find the true source of the leak. If it is coming out around the rams, then you probably have bad seals.

Remember, a small hydraulic stream from a pinhole leak can be under extreme pressure, so if you do find a spray, don't stick your hand in front of it. It could penetrate your skin.

Let us know what you find as to the source of the leak.

 

[J_J]

Put some leak detector from NAPA in your system and obtain a black light or ultraviolet light. The leak will show yellow/green.

 

[kmaz]

Hey guys, Thanks for getting back. Here's whats happening, as the rods extend out of the cylinder i can see a good coating of oil on the rod and then as they slide back inside the cylinder the oil pools up on the top outside of the cylinder. "pool" might be a little dramatic but enough to where it ends up dripping down the front of the cylinder.

Thanks
Kris

 

[kmaz]

one more thing, on the one cylinder most of the paint has simply wiped away on the top because of the saturation.

Kris

 

[J_J]

Apparently, you do have a small leak. If you can live with a small leak, then do nothing but check it out every now and then, and when it gets to the point that it is making a mess by dripping oil and collecting dirt, rebuild it with a kit as mention above. I believe that your cylinder has a screw in collar, and when you unscrew this collar, the piston and all the parts, plunger , o-rings, etc. come out as a unit. Replacement is as simple as removing the old and installing new. The wiper seal has to be installed correctly.

 

[2deeskip]

KMAZ said in his first post that his machine had 8 hours on it, only eight hours. If in fact the seals are leaking, would'nt this be a warranty issue? This seems unusual for what essentially is a brand new cylinder.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey guys, Thanks for getting back. Here's whats happening, as the rods extend out of the cylinder i can see a good coating of oil on the rod and then as they slide back inside the cylinder the oil pools up on the top outside of the cylinder. "pool" might be a little dramatic but enough to where it ends up dripping down the front of the cylinder.

Thanks
Kris

Is it only one cylinder or both lift cylinders?

 

[toy]

Hey guys, I feel like I might have a couple of leaky lift cylinders on a pt425 with 8 hours on it. It might be normal Im not sure but as the shaft slides in the cylinder oil pools up on the end. just out of curiosity does cold weather effect the seals or could this be a problem?
Thanks

Kris

Just out of curosity did you do your eight hour service and then notice the oil pooling? If so could it be from where you sprayed the cylinder ends with lubricant and the excess ran down the push rods and collected on top of the cylinder? A lot of times it is better to think simple before you think complicated sometimes that will save you a lot of money. If you can have someone work the lever and raise the lift arms up and down as you carefully watch as mentioned before clean it off first.