hydraulic tank is leaking

[farmer]

Hey I need some help probelm solving around this one:

I have a hydraulic tank that has a leak along the factory weld. This tank is part of the frame on a New Holland skid steer loader which is almost new (200 hrs) and replacement is impossible.

I've never welded on a tank that has had oil or fuel in it before. I know that I should steam and purge the tank. Is that enough? Can I purge with diesel exhaust?

Any feedback would be appriciated.

Thanks, Farmer

 

[Archie]

Sounds like a manufacturing defect. Surely if that's the case and it only having done a couple of hundred hours you can just hand it over to the dealer?

As far as welding goes I'd have thought you'd be OK so long as you're careful and give it a thorough clean. Hydraulic oil doesn't form any vapours so it's not going to explode on you!

 

[Hitch]

200 hours, id get onto your NH dealer first.... unless you've hit it, id say that was a manufacturing fault....

 

[weldingscotty803]

post some pictures up mate
you would have to empty all hydraulic oil out, try and get as much out as possible. any inert gas will be ok for reducing the risk of fires etc. what method of welding will you be using? tig stick mig
hth scott

 

[wyn]

Hydraulic oil will be in the cracks and may need some solvent to get it out.

 

[snowcat]

I'm guessing by your location that a replacement may be some distance and time away??

the problem with oil is not so much the fire risk, its the expansion, this means that everything has to be spotless before welding can take place as the oil will swell in the joint and be impossible to get a tight weld, the other problem is the production of hydrocarbons when the residue gets hot, this in turn can cause future defects through HAZ cracking (hydrogen).....

I'm assuming its a tank that hold a foil 32 hydraulic or something similar, this pretty nonreactive, residue in the tank will not explode if vented, If your worried, a clean method to purge the tank is to use the exhaust venturi (air filter vacuum) this will draw the air from the tank nicely and not fill it with crap like the exaust......remember hydraulic pumps/motors lifes are reduced to days by dirt in the system

the biggest trouble around these machines is not the tanks but the crevices that harbor a combo, of hay/straw/dust/oil/diesel, I speak from experience, damp the whole machine first, and have a powder fire extinguisher by your side.....

with that said it should be a relatively easy repair......

 

[farmer]

hydraulic tank leak

Big thanks to everyone that replied. Im going to use all of your advice
and get this job done! I will let you know how it went.
Thanks again, Farmer.