Took a hydraulic fluid shower this afternoon...

[J_J]

You said you were lifting heavy logs. You may have developed a hyd spike in the hyd pressure, and it caused the weakest point to blow out.

 

[93Mustang]

Interesting - I usually run the engine just over 2000 rpms but had just bumped it to 2500 rpms thinking maybe I needed a little more oomph. Could that have done it? I have no idea even what couses a spike in hydraulic pressure. The who thing seemed weird as I was surprised the loader struggled to even move the log and the next thing I knew the line blew.

 

[J_J]

You can get spikes different ways. If you pick up a heavy load, and let it drop and suddenly stop it, the weight of the load will push back on the cylinder, and exceed the pump pressure. If you drive your tractor forward into a dirt pile fast, and with great force, the mechanical linkage can force that cyl to generate force, and exceed the pump pressure. The hose could burst before the relief valve could catch it.

If you install a gage in your hyd system, you will be able to see those spikes, and the operating pressure.

 

[jenkinsph]

JJ,
Good point about the spikes, considering he was working the loader at max load a spike from abrupt movement of the loader valve could have generated well past 4000 psi loads on the hoses.

 

[jeffster]

I don't know, my philosophy is if you haven't taken a hydraulic bath at some point you aren't working hard enough.

Done it with the 550 dozer (twice), both times weak spots in the hoses when trying to push out stumps. Took a bath too with the 3520 last year when l was rolling the bucket back and a small rock rolled out and was pinched against the cylinder.

For the hoses, I just went to NAPA and had them make me new ones. Excellent prices (about 1/4 what Deere wanted) and I can get them in a few minutes as there is a NAPA about 4 miles from me.

 

[MBDiagMan]

I find it interesting how many people, mostly younger people, approach certain fluids as if they're deadly poison and you will die immediately upon contact.

Sure, it's not good for you to get hydraulic fluid or many other liquids on your body, but in today's world there seems to sometimes be a ridiculous amount of overkill caution.

As I said earlier, I've taken some SERIOUS hydraulic oil baths over the years. A couple of them were so drenching I don't think I could have been more soaked with the stuff if I had jumped into a huge vat of hydraulic oil and gone for a swim. One of those instances was when I was a teenager well over 40 years ago. I'm still alive, no cancer, perfect health, don't take any medicines at all except for an aspirin when I get a headache.

I am not saying that precautions should not be taken, but at the same time one should not panic themselves into cardiac arrest in such events either.

My $0.02,

 

[aczlan]

I find it interesting how many people, mostly younger people, approach certain fluids as if they're deadly poison and you will die immediately upon contact.

Sure, it's not good for you to get hydraulic fluid or many other liquids on your body, but in today's world there seems to sometimes be a ridiculous amount of overkill caution.

The danger is a HIGH PRESSURE jet of hydraulic fluid injecting fluid under your skin. Anything less is just an inconvenience.

Aaron Z

 

[MBDiagMan]

Yes, I think we are ALL very aware of the danger of a high pressure stream of liquid DIRECTLY injected onto the skin. My comments had to do with the soaking of the liquid on the skin. As many times as I've been hosed down with a stream of hydraulic oil, I have never been unlucky enough to have any body parts close enough to the leakage point for it to be injected into my skin.

 

[crashz]

Working around equipment (mostly older stuff) all my life, I would agree with almost everything said here. Except for one thing; In my experience, hoses fail about as often as properly cared for tires. They don't fail everyday, but they do fail. Add age, weather, direct UV light, and any manufacturing defect and eventually the hose will fail. Probably more prevelent on older equipment that sit outdoors. I see the OP's machine is nearly new and looks to be kept clean and indoors (probably). So age, weathering and UV damage are probably not the cause.

JJ brings up a good point with pressure spikes and would be my bet on the cause of failure in this case. Also working at max load capacity will bring out the weak spots or slight defects of the hose.

Bottom line is that while not an everday occurance, hydraulic do fail. Glad that nobody got hurt and the tractor only got a little shiny-er!

 

[soulasphil]

My 300cx loader has a black mesh over the lines. I think this is a safety net? I have heard this fluid is very dangerous if it get in you body as mentined above. I read the warnings one rainy afternoon.

The black mesh is only at the back, where the lines might rub against the body of the tractor.