Loader block leak

[MDM]

My 2800 HST has 43 hrs on it and it has developed a leak somewhere on the loader block. Sometime in the last 5 hrs. I just noticed it today when I saw a few drops oil had accumulated on the garage floor in the time it took me to remove the loader and hook up my mower. The hydraulic block was wet with oil on the face of it, but I couldn't tell where it was coming from because the oil is so clear. I suppose I will have to hook my loader back up to try to see where it is coming from. I suspect one of the 3 connections shown in the picture below. Would it hurt to try to snug them up or should I call my dealer? I want to loosen up the hose 2nd from the bottom and turn the hose up a bit because it is laying right against the bottom hose. I didn't know if there were torque specs on these or if I could try to snug everything up a bit. I have lost about 1/8th of and inch of hydro fluid in the site window.

 

[wushaw]

Take your finger or a white paper towel and wipe around each fitting to see if any are wet.

 

[MDM]

I found the culprit. Its the fitting to the far left in the picture above. It started running down the face of the block as soon as I started raising and lowering the loader. Its fairly substantial as I think it would produce a drip every 15 seconds. Should I try to snug it a bit? I don't have a torque wrench, so I guess any torque setting is a moot point unless I try to get my dealer to swing by. It only seems to leak while using the loader. I should be OK for a while because I won't be using the loader for a while.

 

[wushaw]

Put a wrench on it and tighten it up.

 

[texbaylea]

I am guessing that it was leaking when the dealer completed the FEL installation so the mechanic put a wrench on it and tightened it causing the whole hose fitting to turn and put that sharp bend in the hose. That connection should be taken completely apart and the mating surfaces inspected for damage. I believe that the male fitting into the block has an o-ring under it that may be the source of the leak.

Vernon

 

[MDM]

I'm going to tighten it and see what happens. I'm stuck for now though because I can't find my dang cresent wrench. I need two, one to hold the nut on the male fitting and one to hold the the nut on the 90 degree fitting. The male fitting is not completely tight. I figure they tightened it until the hose got binded against the other hose and that was it. I definately just started leaking, because I just checked for leaks in this location a couple of weeks ago. Also, I just now started to lose hydro fluid in the site window. I figure it should stop once I get the male fitting snugged down and adjust the bend in the hose.

 

[N80]

I've got an L4400 and I looked in the shop manual but could not find torque specs for the loader hose connection to the front hydraulic block. No loader info is included in the tractor shop manual or parts manual. You'll have to call the dealer for torque specs. I don't think there are shop manuals for the loaders.

 

[cheesehead]

I had a leak in the same spot 100 hours ago and got some sage advive from Mad Referee that fixed the problem. To fix it get a teflon based thread sealant from the plumbing department. You'll have to remove the coupling for the hose (it's a pressure fit with no o-ring) and clean the threads. You may find what I did which is remnants of teflon tape. Do not re-apply teflon tape! Use the thread sealant instead when you put the parts back together. Total repair cost 9ncluding tax is less than $4.

 

[texbaylea]

I just looked at the parts manual for the LA723 loader for the GLxx30 series which should be comparable. There is no O-ring shown under the male adapter fitting into the hydraulic block. I would remove, clean and reinstall that with teflon paste thread sealant. I can't give you any specs for how tight as I always do it by feel after many years experience with similar fittings. Then put on the right angle hose end and turn it down hand tight then 1/4 turn more. Never go tighter than that for a JIC flare fitting.

Vernon

 

[MDM]

Thanks. I think I got it fixed. The fitting wasn't very snug at all. I tightened the fitting and straitened up the hose. I let it run for 20 minutes and raised the loader periodically and the leak has stopped. I will check it again when I get the fluid good and hot while using the loader.

 

[Redbug]

Hi MDM and the gang,

I also had a few small seeps with 3 or 4 fittings on my loader and tractor. They started when the tractor had a few hours on it and after heavy use. I think it is just a normal thing, really part of the break-in process. After undoing the fitting, I applied teflon paste and resnugged the fitting. Make sure you clean the old teflon tape out of the threads. Then, one crescent holds the hose end in place, the other larger crescent tightens the fitting itself. Teflon tape is OK, but the paste is better. Small pieces of the tape could become dislodged and get caught in a valve, etc. (or so they say).

No more leaks with mine. I have not had to retighten a fitting twice.