Leaky Hydro

[Bucky33]

I first want to say that I have been a reader of the board for a while, but this is my first time posting. You guys really know your stuff and I enjoy your insight. I inherited a Baron 3414H that has a Vickers Hydro. I am assuming anyway. It has been leaking hydro fluid since I got it. I runs great and everything else seems to work fine, but I can’t seem to locate the leak. I have to add about a ½ quart of hydro fluid every few months. As far as I know the leak isn’t hurting anything, other than it is just a pain. Any suggestions as to what seal it might be? Thanks ahead of time for you help.

[maxtorman1234]

If its a vickers, its most likely the pintle leaking. There is an oring, no seal ir bearings. You must have it re-bushed to fix it. Search the archives for vickers and you will find losts more info.

[tractormike]

Welcome to the club! I am sorry that I can not help you with your hydro problem. All my tractors are older and have gear type trannies. I have read posts about vickers leaking oil but someone else will have to chime in with the problems and their fixes. Maybe if you use the search feature and type in vickers you may come across some of the old posts. Once again welcome to the best garden tractor site around!

[D-17_Dave]

Bucky, the leaking pintle refers to the input shaft from the linkage control. This wears over time and has been the sore spot on these trans. since they were old enough to get serious wear. If yours is leaking that small of an amount, I wouldn't worry much right now. However, with much continued use it will only get worse. The only way to fix it is to dissasemble the trans. pump and remove the guts to gain access to rebiuld it. I wish I had better news but I dought anyone figured these little jewels would last this long. Good luck and welcome to the club. Dave.

[RayS]

Bucky, I have one also that leaks. Mine is leaking at the gasket between the pump and motor housings. The pintleshaft on mine doesn`t appear to be leaking and also looks like it has had a bushing put in it at one time or another. You can download a repair manual of the pump at Simplicitiy`s website http://www.simplicitytechpubs.com/6767PRINT/PDF_files/TP_400_2926_00_SK_S.pdf or http://www.simplicitytechpubs.com/techpubsearch.php and type in the number of the pump which is 166097. Here is also a website that you can get an exchange for your old pump and motor http://www.ahx1.com/ . Hope this is of some help to you.

[richp]

If it is leaking in the back you could put a coller that clamps on the shaft with a well greased o-ring in between. Kept mine from leaking for years. Won't help on the front side though.

[callwill]

I was able to stem the leaking tide similarly on the front side. I took off the control arm & chamfered it a bit, slid a snug oring up to the case greased w/silicone grease & made a thin plastic bushing to slide up next to the oring. I put the control arm in place(it required a little pressure to line it up-& it didn't leak for almost 2yrs. I've got a really good leak going now & i'm not sure what is leaking, i'm guessing it's the pintle again as there is a trail of blood in the snow wherever i go! I'm wondering what those rebuilt/exchange units run.

[RayS]

I checked on one a couple of years ago and I think that they wanted around $750.00 for one.

[RedbarnRick]

Here's a number for Central Hydrualics in Illinois I got this number off this site some time back and he rebushes the units. Central Hydrualics 1-800-694-9376 ask for Dave

[Bucky33]

Thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated. From it I gather that it really isn't a big deal right now. So, it looks like I will have one more thing to look into when spring rolls around. In the meantime I will just keep the piece of cardboard under it for now. I just got done blowing the driveway and she didn't miss a lick. Gotta love these older machines. I was also wondering where I could get a replacement/rebuild hydro if needed down the road. Low and behold and you guys provided that as well. Thanks again.

[callwill]

At $750 for the hydro unit i think i would more likely sell/part out mine & buy something else.

[maxtorman1234]

Sandy Lake should have some rebushed units. They are just the housing, and i think they wanted 150$ with your old housing.

[JJ MARSHALL]

[img]/club2/attach/jj marshall/vicker.jpg[/img] BUCKY this is part of the vicker hydro where most leak are at . they leak from around the pintle shalfs that come out each side of this housing.