More Newbie questions

[cqaigy2]

I tightened the filter by hand as far as I could get it - maybe I'll take a strap wrench to it, getting it extra snug. Now that I think of it, the old filter was on very tight. How could I tell if I was leaking air around the filter? Will the hydraulics become weaker? I definitely don't want to burn up a pump . . .

You'll see air bubbles when bleeding the system. Tighten the filter until that stops.

 

[ponytug]

If you have air in a hydraulic circuit, movement will be spongey. In the drive circuit, you can see/feel it as lag in starting and stopping.

You can also see foamy bubbles in the hydraulic tank if you run it for awhile and then look in the tank. If you have water in your tank and the oil heats up, you will also see some bubbles as the water comes out of the oil as vapor (steam).

When bleeding the filter, you want to make sure that the oil coming out of the bleed line into the hydraulic tank really is free of bubbles.

Hope this helps.

All the best,

Peter

 

[SpringHollow]

I stick the end of the bleed hose into a jar with oil in it, immersing end in the oil to make the air bubbles easier to see. The jar is inside a large coffee can to collect any overflows. Others stick the hose into the tank and do the same thing but I find that hard to see. If I stop the bubbles by tightening the filter, I have never subsequently seen any evidence that I later got air in my lines.

Ken

 

[BobRip]

My Robin engine has about 1100 hours on it and is using a cup of oil or more every hour of run time. I am using Mobil 1 10W30 and now will be using 10W40. Has anyone tried this and did it help with consumption? Oh, the PT422 is kept and a heated garage which never gets below 60, so it starts pretty well even when cold outside.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd be surprised if changing the grade of oil did anything for that much consumption. Sounds like rings are in your future. On that note, has anyone rebuilt one of these Robin engines? Any notes on parts availability, tech manuals, rebuildability, etc....? Just asking. I've never rebuilt a Kohler either. Just Chevy small block V8s and straight 6s.

 

[BobRip]

Terry agrees with you. I am going to run it till it gets much worse and the put in a new 25 hp engine.

 

[MossRoad]

Any plans for the old engine if you go with a new one? Rebuild it and put it on the shelf for the year 2030 perhaps?

 

[BobRip]

I have never rebuild an engine , so that would give the opportunity with little to loose. Good idea. Are parts available.

 

[MossRoad]

Parts availability was another one of the reasons I wanted a Kohler engine and went with the 425 instead of the 422 back in 2001. I looked around and there were NO Robin parts places or dealers in town back then. I think they are more common now, but haven't looked.

 

[SpringHollow]

Starts muttering expletives along with MossRoad's name as I add "rebuild an old engine for yucks" to page 203 of my list of projects that I need to do.

Ken