Tape on hydraulic connections?

[J_J]

Yes, I agree, and most people keep using them until they leak to much.

 

[moose13]

I have never had much luck with the paste. Maybe its me but i recently built a splitter and tried paste only from what i have read here. I had three leaks. I removed them cleaned the piece and taped. Fixed the leak and good to go. I think people use too much tape. Clockwise and about two wraps. Any more and the threads will just push the tape out of the way and not seal a thing.

We are talking NPT

 

[J_J]

How many times have you used that NPT fitting?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

When I added 2 rear remotes to my Mahindra 3215, I had all new hose and pipe fittings from Discount Hydraulic Hose. I used Teflon paste from DHH. I had 3 leaks at the various pipe thread fittings. I took stuff that needed to be taken apart and resealed with 3 wraps of Teflon tape, NO more leaks. :thumbsup: A lot of people say how careful you need to be with Teflon tape and how it can get into the hydraulic system one way or another. No one has ever said anything about what happens when you take apart a fitting that has had Teflon paste put on it, and how hard it can be to even get it apart. What a nightmare. Little chunks of hard paste to deal with and to be very careful not to get into the system. Give me Teflon tape any day. As long as you are careful as to where and how the tape is put on, there should be zero problems using tape. For me, it is waaaaay easier to clean old tape off of and out of a fitting than it is to clean the old Teflon paste.

Maybe it is just me, but that has been my past experience.

 

[mmurphy]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:


I have to add to what JJ is getting at about how many times NPT fitting used. It is not as much as threads worn, as how the fitting gets distorted and out of round. At that point, then no tape, or paste will prevent leaks.:2cents:

 

[RickB]

Finally a concise thread (no pun intended) about the use of different sealants that provides accurate information AND the different trains of thought on the topic.

We all agree that tapered threads require sealant, flare, ORF and ORB styles do not.

 

[MHarryE]

For a period of time we had a problem with leaking HMU (hand metering units, the hydrualic steering control). After replacing over a dozen units, we had some disassembled and found small pieces of foreign material between the seal and shaft. Using a mass spectrometer, we determined the material was Teflon based. We used only ORB, ORFS, and split flange flittings - where could Teflon come from? We discovered we did have NPT threads - the strainers on the outlets of the reservoir where the 2 pump inlets attach. Somebody had changed from Loctite Hydraulic Sealant to Teflon tape (Lotite sealant is $$$) and the bits of Teflon tape were making their way to the shaft seal. Just another reason I always have a small bottle of blue Loctite sitting around.

 

[whistlepig]

I use Loctite 567. Threadlockers, Thread Sealers, Gasketing, Retaining. Loctiteｮ Anaerobic Adhesives For Professionals.

 

[pat32rf]

I've NEVER had Teflon paste (Loctite) harden the way regular plumbers "dope" does.
Unless its NPT most of my joints just get a bit of hydraulic fluid on them as they are being assembled....

 

[J_J]

You guys that use Loctite 567, did you realize that a cure time of 72 hrs was required for 50% strength, and if you applied an activator, the cure time was 100 % in 24 hrs. Do you go ahead and apply pressure to the fittings before that time.