questions about valves leaking

Desert Bred · Oct 13, 2013

ok tractor heads- here goes. on my backhoe, a few of the valves seem to be leaking or because there is alot of dirt on the underside i can tell that two of the valves are wet..

now, i'm calling the valves the underside of the joystick levers that control up down side to side etc...

1) the valve leaking doesn't seem to be a bad leak, just moist dirt.. Is that problematic? Will that affect the power of the backhoe?

2) the main hose that comes from the sump- into the valve assembly also is leaking slightly yet moreso- - the question is, Will this affect the power of the bh?

3) Can a cylinder (rotating boom cylinder) that is leaking quite noticeably leaving a puddle after work - affect the Overall output power of the bh?

Guys, thanks for all the advice past, present and future..
db

oldnslo · Oct 13, 2013

Small leaks should not effect the BH performance. The leaking cylinder could effect performance of that function.

Desert Bred · Oct 14, 2013

thanks oldnslo:thumbsup:

J_J · Oct 14, 2013

Why not install a 3000 psi hyd gage and check the relief pressure and see if it is close to factory specs.

If not, reset the pressure.

Wet spots and up to 10 CC per minute are acceptable according to Prince for their valves.

Internal leaks will cause you to lose power, and you can expect it to occur over time as seals harden and start breaking down.

A loss of power can be caused by worn valve spools, leaking seals, or tractor pump wear.

So a hyd gage is a good thing anyway you look at it. Just use it to monitor and troubleshoot the hyd system.

Desert Bred · Oct 14, 2013

I just read a thread on that .. seems like the simple way to know whats going on. thanks for the confirmation and tips j_j.
db

Oliver1655 · Oct 14, 2013

Just as importantly with the leaking cylinder it to keep a close eye on the hydraulic fluid level in the reservoir. If it is leaving a puddle on the ground, it is significant & you should plan on repacking the cylinder. There are several threads on repacking/redoing the seals on hydraulic cylinders. Kits are fairly reasonable considering the cost of hydraulic fluid & ground contamination cleanup if you get hit by OSHA or an environmentally conscious home owner.

bvahjen · Oct 14, 2013

Oliver1655 said:
Just as importantly with the leaking cylinder it to keep a close eye on the hydraulic fluid level in the reservoir. If it is leaving a puddle on the ground, it is significant & you should plan on repacking the cylinder. There are several threads on repacking/redoing the seals on hydraulic cylinders. Kits are fairly reasonable considering the cost of hydraulic fluid & ground contamination cleanup if you get hit by OSHA or an environmentally conscious home owner.

Drips are nothing, spraying is something else!