Purging Hydraulic Implements

[odleefs]

Hello to all,
I often find posts here on TBN that the hydraulic fluid in borrowed or rented hydraulically actuated implements can be quite detrimental. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Is there any way to purge this old/tainted fluid out before using?
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Thanks,
Steve

 

[beenthere]

I suspect there is a risk, but the volume is likely low, and the filters in the system should clean up the 'debris'. I don't worry about it. I wonder how 'detrimental' it can really be. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Removing the hoses and draining them before hooking up rental equipment should remove most of the oil. Not sure it will remove the dirt, which may be in there.

Or one could make up a couple in-line filters (maybe) to feed the fluid through so it cannot get into your tractor system. I'd have to look for the availability of such filters or maybe screens that would handle the pressure and flow.

 

[Soundguy]

What about pop an open couple on the 'return' line and activate the hyds and let the oil in the implement drain into a bucket? This would work for things that had flow thru.. not sure what you would do with plain sa cyl ? pop connections and drain.. then bleed?

Inline filter sounds like a great idea.

Soundguy

 

[slowrev]

I have a quick coupler with open end that I hook to ne hose on the implement and then put it in a bucket. I then hook up the other hose and force fluid into that line, This pushes bad stuff out the other line. I then reverse the procedure. Do this a couple of times and the implement is pretty clean inside. It winds up costing me about 1 gal of fluid, but that is better than contaminating the $150 or so of hydraulic fluid in my tractor.
Ben

 

[bam747]

Forgive me in advance if I don't understand exactly what you're doing, but it seems to me that squirting out hydraulic oil at 1000 to 2000+ PSI into a bucket is a pretty scary, if not down right dangerous proposition.

I do know there are usually dire warnings about injecting hydraulic fluid through skin in most tractor operating manuals. I also know most modern tractors have warning stickers all over the place about this very issue.

Am I missing something with your technique that lets you purge the hydraulic oil safely? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[greg_g]

Hydraulic fluid only "pressurizes" in a closed loop. The purging technique described is an open loop. No working pressure can be built up when one end of the hose is open (has no connector).

//greg//

 

[schrand]

just out of curiousity, how does the purged oil look?

 

[slowrev]

How does the purged oil look ?

Well sometimes it looks fine, but other times it is very milky or dirty. It just depends on who had it last and if they kept their fluid changed properly in their tractor. About a 50/50 chance of getting clean or dirty fluid out of the implement. One relative that I sometimes borrow a pull behind hog from apparently never changes his fluid, it is black as dirty motor oil. But he won't listen to me and does loan me the hog so I don't complain.
And he always gets his hog back lubed and sharpened, etc. I suppose I am gradually changing his fluid for him, as he gets a clean shot of fluid when I take the hog back /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The couple time I have rented attachments, both had milky (water) fluid in them.
Ben

 

[odleefs]

Thanks to all for good reading, thought provokin' posts and assistance!
Steve

 

[FL_Cracker]

When the system is open ended as he described you can feather the valve and it comes out like a slow garden hose. Open the valve all the way and it's like a full flow garden hose. You just don't get pressure when you have open flow.

Charles