Thread Sealing Tape?

[hube2]

Massey GC1725M, but I don't think that matters. Was doing my first yearly maintenance, oils, filters, etc. I was getting ready to do the front axle hydro fluid and it says I need thread sealing tape for the drain plugs. I thought I read something about this here but my searching turned up nothing.

I'm assuming something that works with hydraulic oil.


What type of tape do I need for this? What am I looking for?

 

[ptsg]

Teflon tape will work just fine.

 

[jaydee325]

A.K.A Teflon Tape

Thread seal tape - Wikipedia

Do some research on proper application. If you wrap the tape over the first thread, you risk getting a strand or piece of the tape cut off when the fitting is threaded together and now it is foreign material in your system. That is especially bad in a hydraulic system with tight clearances in valves etc.

 

[Thomas]

Try and not wrap tape around first thread.

 

[Rebeldad1]

if your front axle were running gear oil you wouldnt have to be too careful about wrapping the drain plug's first thread.

 

[hube2]

ok, I didn't realize they were talking about teflon tape, I know what that is, have rolls of it lying around the house. My first time dealing with hydraulic oil fittings and I was thinking there was something special. I also could have swore I read something here about not using teflon tape, but I've read so much here that I probably misremembered.

Noted, I don't want it on any treads that might protrude into the housing.

Thank you for waking me up.

 

[hube2]

So I did some more searching and figured out what threw me off. Found some old topics here and elsewhere.

Teflon tape on a hydraulic system can be a problem if you are not careful. Pieces of the tape can break off and possibly block valves and using pipe dope is probably a better choice.

This type of information is likely why the reference to "sealing tape" confused me.

While on my tractor the front axle uses the same fluid as my HST, there are no valves that can blocked by bits of tape.

I still don't want bits of tape in there so still going to tape them neatly as has been suggested.

 

[Williy]

Here is some info on tape: thread sealing tape sale at DuckDuckGo

willy

 

[grsthegreat]

Very odd, I’ve never used thread seal on any drain plugs. Never knew it was required. Never had a leak either.

now I’ll have to check my manuals

 

[ArlyA]

A.K.A Teflon Tape

Thread seal tape - Wikipedia

Do some research on proper application. If you wrap the tape over the first thread, you risk getting a strand or piece of the tape cut off when the fitting is threaded together and now it is foreign material in your system. That is especially bad in a hydraulic system with tight clearances in valves etc.

jaydee is correct. Many manufacturers quite using tape for that very reason. Teflon sealing dope is the way to go.