What would actually happen if teflon tape flaked off into the hydraulic system?

[dannoGT]

For a piece of teflon tape to get into a .0003 space...it would have to be <.0003 itself...

That would be true if the Teflon was a hard piece of material but in a hydraulic oil system that is running and heated up think of it more like an ugly piece of play dough being pushed by 2000+ psi into whatever crevice available.

 

[/pine]

That would be true if the Teflon was a hard piece of material but in a hydraulic oil system that is running and heated up think of it more like an ugly piece of play dough being pushed by 2000+ psi into whatever crevice available.

Does not make any difference...any particles would still have to be smaller...

 

[HarryVanderpool]

"Just say NO" to teflon tape in hydraulic applications.
See! Wasn't that easy?

 

[/pine]

Not sure why this topic comes up all the time...it is hardly a big issue...I don't recall it ever being found to be a problem by TBN'ers other than for a moot arguing point...

All the do/don't points have been made hundreds of times...everyone wants to think they only use ideal methods and sealants...

IMO hardened crystals of liquid sealants introduced from the reuse of fittings are no different than bits of tape...
prudence rules...

IMO a much more likely scenario for foreign matter getting into typical non professional tractor hydraulic systems is via quick disconnects...they often have oil residue on them...tractors operate in dusty, dirty, gritty conditions...wind blown grit easily sticks to greasy QD surfaces...wiping them off with a gritty rag does no good at all and particles (granite dust for instance) that can't be seen can cause real issues...Every time a QD is disengaged/reengaged the system is open and vulnerable to foreign material...

Teflon tape is proven to work for most intended applications...any real or imagined issues can be 100% avoided...as long as one is aware it's a non issue...

 

[LD1]

For a piece of teflon tape to get into a .0003 space...it would have to be <.0003 itself...

Because the .0003" clearance passage is much much larger with the valve being actuated.

You can't fit a 2x4 through the crack in your door. But open the door and it fits fine right.....

Now with the 2x4 half in and half out....try closing the door....

Do you get a good seal?

Same problem

 

[/pine]

Because the .0003" clearance passage is much much larger with the valve being actuated.

You can't fit a 2x4 through the crack in your door. But open the door and it fits fine right.....

Now with the 2x4 half in and half out....try closing the door....

Do you get a good seal?

Same problem

the same scenario can happen with hardened chunks of locktite or other sealants...

 

[LD1]

the same scenario can happen with hardened chunks of locktite or other sealants...

Keep using tape then.

Tape has been proven to cause problems.

Never heard of a single case where Loctite 545 caused a problem.

 

[/pine]

Keep using tape then.

Tape has been proven to cause problems.

Never heard of a single case where Loctite 545 caused a problem.

Any contaminate can cause problems...a microscopic flake of hardened sealant is the likely cause of many o-ring failures that simply don't get associated with sealant crystal chips etc...

 

[GLyford]

I had someone recommend as an alternative to using tape, to simply oil an NPT fitting before making it up, to keep the threads from galling before fully seated. I started doing that, and in my very limited experience, so far it seems to work. Especially on NPT "swivel" fittings.

 

[LD1]

I had someone recommend as an alternative to using tape, to simply oil an NPT fitting before making it up, to keep the threads from galling before fully seated. I started doing that, and in my very limited experience, so far it seems to work. Especially on NPT "swivel" fittings.

If by NPT swivel you mean NPSM fittnigs (look kinda like JIC only the seating cone is inverted)....then those dont need anything. ITs a mechanical seal just like JIC