UDT covered dirt on the backhoe/diagnosis help

[jhb]

I was looking at my tractor and noticed thick black dirt under the backhoe foot tray. Definitely Hydraulic fluid. Checked the level, and its down.

I have removed the hoe to track the problem. The cloth covers over the hoe feed and return hoses, and the left stabilizer hoses are saturated. It MAY be the coupler, or I may have a burst hose. Not sure how it would have burst other than on its own, no pinching occurred that I can remember. Any one have insight on where this might be and an easy way to diagnose?

Also, the split ring connector cannot fit through support bracket, does anyone see a problem if I enlarge it slightly to get these connectors through?

 

[DK35vince]

I recommend putting the hoe back on to track down the problem. Very difficult to track down a leak without working the hoe to see where the oil is coming from.
It sounds like it may be a line or fitting on the left stabilizer arm.
Reattach the backhoe and run the controls till you can track down which line or fitting is leaking and replace it.

 

[David_G]

Wash down the area so it is clean and dry.
Reassemble back hoe and run tractor and backhoe.

DO NOT CHECK FOR LEAKS WITH YOUR HANDS or any other part of your body. High pressure hydro can cut straight into you causing serious problems.
Use some paper around the suspect areas and look for oil drips, patches when you turn the machine off.

I would suspect the couplers as they, sometimes, just seem to leak.

 

[jhb]

Turns out one of the slip fittings was threaded onto the hydraulic hose with no pipe seal. Used some teflon tape on the threads, reassembled, no more leak.