Pin hole leak in cylinder. Now what.

[SPhill]

I would never trust the repaired cylinder. In the Air Force I saw people "lasered" by 3000 psi, pin-hole hydraulic leaks -- cuts to the bone in a second -- stay there and it'll cut though the bone.

The safety of anyone standing near the unit is worth the cost of a new cylinder.

 

[HeatsTwice]

I got the cylinder back today. $50 for the weld job. The machinist said the pin hole was only about 1/4 long but he welded over 2 1/2 inches around it.

More pictures in the last 5 of this sequence:

(broken link removed to https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=nutfool&target=ALBUM&id=5511076935753774049&authkey=Gv1sRgCIjZ1bCg98O9Gg&invite=CNWhtZgK&feat=email)

Btw, since I expected to have to refill the hydraulic fluid tank, I shopped around for fluid. The best deal I found was 5 gallons of AW32 for $40 at Friedmans hardware.

So now I have $525 invested in this thing. Of course the neighbors have chipped in some.

 

[Dune]

Looks like it was rubbing on the I-beam. Any way you can prevent that from continuing to happen?

 

[WhitePine]

I hope the piston was not at that end when he welded that.

 

[HeatsTwice]

Hi,

No the piston was not rubbing on the I beam.

While he said he was going to pull the piston befor welding it, when I got there to pick it up, I asked him if he did. He said there was no real reason since it was 4 inches from the weld zone. But you are correct. He should have done that. Now, of course, I have to put the whole thing back together to see if the seals are melted and then, if they are trash the cylinder and buy a new one. Doohhh!

 

[HeatsTwice]

"Fixed" cylinder re-installed. Still got the leak. Dang machinist did not fix it. See last pictures of:

(broken link removed to https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=nutfool&target=ALBUM&id=5511076935753774049&authkey=Gv1sRgCIjZ1bCg98O9Gg&invite=CNWhtZgK&feat=email)

Time to tear it down again. Oh joy.

 

[WhitePine]

Good grief, that looks bad. I hope you are going for a new cylinder this time.

And what's with that hydraulic fluid? The pics look like it has entrained air or something.

 

[HeatsTwice]

Yup. New cylinder time. Neighbors are kicking in $250. Don't know what to say about the fluid. Since the cylinder was empty when I started, the air could be from the priming process. What a PITA. I can say this about hydraulic fluid, it makes a great skin softener.

 

[HeatsTwice]

Ok, so I ordered a new cylinder for $288. But now its on back order with an unknown delivery date.

I took the old cylinder back to the machinist who apologized and re-welded the crack. I put it back on the splitter and after an hour of splitting tough wood there is no leakage.

Once the new cylinder arrives I will replace it. In the mean time, I won't lend it out to the neighbors and have put a feeble protective shroud around the top which should deflect any further leaks. Its made from a plastic paint pale.

 

[Dune]

I'd just wait and do your splitting later or source the piston elsewhere if you need to work now. Why keep pushing your luck?

 

[HeatsTwice]

The arborists keep making drops and I have to clear out space for new ones. I've had 4 drops this week alone. If I wait till I get the new cylinder (who knows how long that will be) they might start to pass me by as being "full".

Point well taken though. Better safe that sorry. I appreciate your advise.

 

[HeatsTwice]

Well, I've put about 10 hours on the welded cylinder and split about 3 cords of arborist dump: oak, pine, and magnolia. Five dumps in all. So far no leaks. The new cylinder is comming in on Saturday.

 

[bogydave]

I agree with White pine. Hydraulic leaks, ESPECIALY PINHOLES can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. For $140, buy a new cylinder.

Yes I am beginning to agree. I took the cylinder off today and the spot where the leak is, not previously viewable since it pointed directly at the I beam, looks like the begining of a full fledge failure of the metal - the pin hole was just the beginning.

I will take it down to the hydrolic shop soon and get their recomendations.

+1
Smart move. They may fix it cheaper than you think.
At least then "you know what the best solution is"