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.

 

[Egon]

A brush on thread sealer instead of Teflon Tape.

 

[jjeff]

Important to note to apply teflon tape clockwise with most connections around the threads so it doesn't back-off. Most probably already know this but for those that don't, my 2¢.

 

[hube2]

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

To clarify, the only place that my manual mentions sealing tape is on the drain plugs for my front axle.

But looking at the front end I don't see any tape on these. I would expect that if it was there I might see tape on the treads I can still see.

More than likely when I take the plugs out if I don't see any remnants or tape of sealing compound I'm not going to put any on when I put them back in. Worst that happens is that they leak a bit and I'll know better for next year. Or if the it leaks too badly I'll need to redo the oil change and seal them up. I just want to make sure I have everything I might need on hand.

 

[Sonny580]

I never tape or coat drain plugs on anything. never had any leaks either. IF your plugs require sealant---then I would assume they were poorly made and the casting threads dont match the plug threads correctly. ---- a few thousands off could allow a drip and plugs would still screw in without a problem but would be loose fitting.

 

[Rebeldad1]

The good stuff. Gas, diesel, hydraulics etc.
Mill Rose Blue Monster Blue 1429 in. L x 1/2 in. W Thread Seal Tape
$4.99
Ace Hardware

Mill Rose Blue Monster Blue 1429 in. L x 1/2 in. W Thread Seal Tape​

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...=2ahUKEwiZ6cur1JnwAhVLHTQIHZayDegQ4jV6BAgBEGM

 

[/pine]

Most drain plugs and the threaded bosses are NPT...meaning the threads seal via the taper...when torque is applied the tapers are slightly deformed so the male threads mate smoothly with the F/M...

Drain plugs are meant to be removed periodically...using tape (which actually just lubricates) minimizes the required torque to re-seat the plug...

Many drain plugs on old machines leak because over the years the plug has been over tightened and threaded all the way through the F/M threads on the boss and it can be hard to get even a new plug to seat against the old F/M tapers...

 

[ctgoldwing]

I work at wholesale plumbing / heating / AC / Industrial products distributor. We sell every brand of teflon tape and pipe dope mentioned above. We also sell one not mentioned, Chesterton Tape. The largest mechanical contractors we deal with use it. They are not usually prone to throwing $$$ away. It's the most expensive brand by far we sell.

 

[5030]

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

neither have I in 30 years.

 

[hube2]

Found an image of the replacement drain plug. I assume that the green stuff is some kind of sealing compound. Surprised that it appears to come with sealant already applied.

 

[LouNY]

I work at wholesale plumbing / heating / AC / Industrial products distributor. We sell every brand of teflon tape and pipe dope mentioned above. We also sell one not mentioned, Chesterton Tape. The largest mechanical contractors we deal with use it. They are not usually prone to throwing $$$ away. It's the most expensive brand by far we sell.

Most of the Chesterton products are very good.
I used to work with a lot of stainless steel threaded fittings for pipe and tubing work.
With just the slightest shot of Chesterton spray nickel and three wraps of tape,
SS threaded fittings could be over tighten with out seizing or galling and then removed and reinstalled
with no leaks.
SS to SS will gall and seize just from hand spinning fittings together.