More Hydraulic problems - Need help

woodlandfarms · Jul 24, 2007

Well, Today was a nice day so I figured I would try and fix all the leaks on the PT. I found one big one, from the Pump to the left rear wheel motor. I found the adapter connection was loose. The connection from the adapter to the hose was so tight I could not budge it. As I followed the hose with my hand I came across a serious abbrassion, with the steel covering poking out. When I tried to wrench the hose loose, I heard a crack. And yes, lucky me, I broke the hose at the abbrassion.

So, It is spagetti central in the engine compartment. My one great fear of two great fears has come true, a major hose has ruptured and is buried at the bottom of the pan.

Anyway. My question is how do you release the hose from the motor? I don't have a clue what kind of wrench to get in there? I am thinking maybe a crows foot. Anyone have any ideas? I don't want to drop the motor but if I have to I will...

My second fear may be coming true shortly. I think I may have a leak in the tunnel. I don't know how you run a new hose through that mess.

Carl

J_J · Jul 24, 2007

Carl, If that hose is the wheel motor hose, just take the hose off at the wheel motor, and the tee connection. Did it break before or after the tee connection? If you have a hydraulic shop in the area, take the hose in and they will make up a new one. There are also wraps that you can put over a hydraulic hose to prevent or slow down abrasion. My 1445 is an early 90's model, and I have replaced about 7 hoses . One of my wheel motor hoses burst, and I almost went swimming. Lost all control. If you would clean off all the oil from every thing, and put that dye in the hydraulic tank, you will find the leaks. There may be a lot of hoses that need replacing. Only take off one hose at a time.

woodlandfarms · Jul 24, 2007

Hmmm. t connection. Don't think I have one. Just got a hose coming out of the pump (actually, that is a T connection I guess cause it powers another hose). The abbrasion is in the bottom of the well. Middle of the hose. Glad to hear this is not that uncommon...

My question is what kind of wrenches to use, any tricks, and that sort of stuff. I tried to get a standard wrench into that space by the wheel motor and no joy.

So bummed. Sent the wife back to LA and was looking forward to having a week to myself...

NAPA in town will make me a new hose...

Just so bummed...

J_J · Jul 24, 2007

Car, running a hose through the tunnel is not that hard. The problem is finding which hose is leaking in the tunnel. The trick is to pull the new hose in as you are pulling the old hose out using a nipple to join the two hoses together.

J_J · Jul 24, 2007

woodlandfarms said:
Hmmm. t connection. Don't think I have one. Just got a hose coming out of the pump (actually, that is a T connection I guess cause it powers another hose). The abbrasion is in the bottom of the well. Middle of the hose. Glad to hear this is not that uncommon...

My question is what kind of wrenches to use, any tricks, and that sort of stuff. I tried to get a standard wrench into that space by the wheel motor and no joy.

So bummed. Sent the wife back to LA and was looking forward to having a week to myself...

NAPA in town will make me a new hose...

Just so bummed...

I use a set of those stubby wrenches. Sometimes you have to have two wrenches on a fitting. Yes you will get dirty under that engine, and you will swear a lot, but it can be done.

Rip · Jul 24, 2007

By the way, if you have not discovered them yet, Harbor Freight is a good source of very inexpensive, and usually OK for most tasks, wrenches from stubby to jumbo. You can often get a whole set for 1/4 to 1/3 what you would pay elsewhere. Makes it easy to justify a range of types and sizes you may not otherwise.

Good luck on the hoses.... I've been lucky so far...... only one broke was out in the open...so far!

Rip

J_J · Jul 28, 2007

woodlandfarms said:
Hmmm. t connection. Don't think I have one. Just got a hose coming out of the pump (actually, that is a T connection I guess cause it powers another hose). The abbrasion is in the bottom of the well. Middle of the hose. Glad to hear this is not that uncommon...

My question is what kind of wrenches to use, any tricks, and that sort of stuff. I tried to get a standard wrench into that space by the wheel motor and no joy.

So bummed. Sent the wife back to LA and was looking forward to having a week to myself...

NAPA in town will make me a new hose...

Just so bummed...

Carl,
You mentioned that the leak was coming from an abrasion in the middle of the hose, that was laying on the floor of the tub. This problem can be prevented by supporting the hose on a flexible pad, or hangers, so the two components do not rub together. That is the same situation that caused my wheel motor hose to burst. It wore through the rubber, the steel, and then exploded, loosing several gallons of oil in short order. I didn't have the emergency brake like your machine. It was a runaway, scared me real good. I was going backward toward a creek. A tree saved me from getting wet.

woodlandfarms · Jul 28, 2007

Wow! I keep forgetting that only a few of these tractors have brakes...

Well, the abbrassion was not on the part facing the metal, but the part facing up. Made no sense whatsover (maybe it got twisted around with me playing with it as no other hoses had abbrassions.

But, I have got a lot of the leaking stopped, or stifled. I still have a tunnel leak, but it is minor and may be related to other things. I still have a slight leak on the tram... but that is fixable with new washers from PT, And I have my crack in the oil tank. Just have to take it down or get my cousin in law to come on by. After my welding experience with the shrub bucket I am not going to do the tank myself...

sandman2234 · Aug 3, 2007

My Steiner 525 is a lot like your PT in a lot of ways. It also doesn't have operational brakes, but is supposed to. During everyday operation they aren't needed. They were kind of micky mouse and weren't working when I got it. I never thought about it rolling into a pond or such. Good point, have to keep that in mind next time I refinance my mortgage for Steiner parts.
David from jax

ponytug · Aug 30, 2007

I buy some stuff from Harbor Freight, but I have to say that their 90 degree offset open end wrenches suck.

Three of the wrenches aren't actually the size stamped on them. One is punched so badly that the parallel faces of the jaws actually angle toward each other.

As they say, Caveat Emptor!

I'll mill mine out, but then you loose the chrome coating.

All the best,

Peter

Rip said:
By the way, if you have not discovered them yet, Harbor Freight is a good source of very inexpensive, and usually OK for most tasks, wrenches from stubby to jumbo. You can often get a whole set for 1/4 to 1/3 what you would pay elsewhere. Makes it easy to justify a range of types and sizes you may not otherwise.

Good luck on the hoses.... I've been lucky so far...... only one broke was out in the open...so far!

Rip