Whats the trick to hooking up hydraulics and not having leaks

[otlski]

I worked in a cannery with hundreds of hydraulic fittings. When we absolutely, positively HAD to seal a connection, we used LocTite 545.

The price will take your breath away, but it works every time under any conditions I've come across.

Ditto on the loctite 545. Expensive yes, frustration no more.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I worked in a cannery with hundreds of hydraulic fittings. When we absolutely, positively HAD to seal a connection, we used LocTite 545.

The price will take your breath away, but it works every time under any conditions I've come across.

I use Loctite 545 too. It is costly but in the small quantities I use, doesn't matter. Never had a leak with it. That is the real bottom line.

 

[DT86]

The real trick is in the hydraulic fluid.

DON'T put any fluid in and you'll never see a leak.

I'm going to try that next time. I'll report back with my findings.

 

[woodlandfarms]

How long does a can of the 545 last? Meaning how long before it goes bad?

 

[downsizingnow48]

I don't know if it does go bad. I buy the 2 oz plastic bottle with screw top. Use two or three drops per fitting. Pipe fittings hydraulic or air this what I use. Not that many though. A year maybe 18 months to use it up.

 

[Gary Fowler]

How long does a can of the 545 last? Meaning how long before it goes bad?

That is another reason I like Teflon tape, it last forever. I have some that I know is at least 30 years old and still works just like new. I have 1" wide and 1/2" wide and mostly I use the 1/2" wide stuff.
It really doesn't matter if you use 1 wrap or 3 wraps as long as you don't put so much on that you cant get the threads started. Too many wraps just wastes the tape.

I use double wrap so the starter end is overlapped and then the finish end is at the end of the threads. I find it stays on better that way. I usually start at the last thread on the male end, wrap to the end careful not to allow the tape to cover the open end then wrap back to the top of the threads overlapping the beginning of the tape then break it off. That way you have no tag end at the beginning of the threads to come loose when starting your connection.
I do the same with electrical taping, I always overlap the starter end of the tape so no tag end is left other than the top layer at the end.

Teflon tape is cheap, works well and easy to apply with no wait for cure time. You really don't need a $25-50 bottle of speciality goop to get a good seal on threaded connections. The biggest mistake folks make is overtightening.

 

[PILOON]

I have noticed that many 'offshore' products use epoxy to assemble fittings, I personally like to use a polyurethane caulking that we commonly use around windows etc, a ting dab creates a great seal and can easily unseal when needed.