bobcat 843 leak under front pump?

[streetbob325]

wondering if anyone can help me... I have a real bad hyd fluid leak on my machine. I found two other minor leaks, one from the tilt cylinder and one from the shaft that comes out of the top of the pump and connects to the steering levers. However, it was covering up another leak which was coming from underneath the pump. It appears to be coming from a small hose that comes from under the pumps (the front pump) and runs down to the left hand drive motor (as you stand in the bucket facing the machine.) I don't want to tear all the pumps and stuff out of the machine without knowing what's down there, but with a mirror and what not it's tough to see what's going on down there. I can run the machine for about 2 hours after filling her up with about 4 gals of hyd fluid, after that it starts to get angry and I shut it down. Any help would be appreciated. I have to use the machine at my shop doing odds and ends and moving snow, so I can't really have it out of commission for too long. I have a service manual I bought online, but the pictures are so crappy I can't see anything in the manual as to what (if anything) is/connects under the pump. I'm wondering if that hose is just leaking, or if that hose goes to a fitting that goes into the pump? thanks guys.

 

[SkidRoe]

If it is a small diameter hose, that sounds like a case drain from the motor. There should also be two large diameter hoses running to that same motor, which are the main hydro hoses. The small hose should be connect to the hydraulic tank via a tee (the third side of the tee connecting to the case drain on the opposite side motor). I don't know what to tell you, those hoses can be hard to access, especially if it has a connection under the pump. The end that connects to the motor should not be that bad, if you remove the motor covers from the lower side of the machine, between the wheels. HTH

 

[craigb93]

If it is a small diameter hose, that sounds like a case drain from the motor. There should also be two large diameter hoses running to that same motor, which are the main hydro hoses. The small hose should be connect to the hydraulic tank via a tee (the third side of the tee connecting to the case drain on the opposite side motor). I don't know what to tell you, those hoses can be hard to access, especially if it has a connection under the pump. The end that connects to the motor should not be that bad, if you remove the motor covers from the lower side of the machine, between the wheels. HTH

The Case Drain on each motor has a 45-deg steel fitting at the bottom end. Corrosion from dirt rusted mine until it leaked. With the motor covers off you can access them easily. I made up new lines as the end of the fitting was too corroded as well. The trick is on the pump end. As I remember you can take off one of the big lines to get to it. The steel tubing on the pump end of the case drain line is several inches long and then a 90 on the end. I taped a stick to it as a handle to guide it back in place. The stick needs to extend ~ a foot beyond the end of the 90 as you can't touch it with your hand. You can then start it w/ a fairly long open end wrench. HTH -Dick

 

[streetbob325]

If it is a small diameter hose, that sounds like a case drain from the motor. There should also be two large diameter hoses running to that same motor, which are the main hydro hoses. The small hose should be connect to the hydraulic tank via a tee (the third side of the tee connecting to the case drain on the opposite side motor). I don't know what to tell you, those hoses can be hard to access, especially if it has a connection under the pump. The end that connects to the motor should not be that bad, if you remove the motor covers from the lower side of the machine, between the wheels. HTH

Thanks guys. At least now I have an idea what I'm dealing with. It is the smaller diameter hose. I didn't know I could access it from the underside. The leaking fluid plus all the dirt/dust I run it in has made the belly so damn dirty I didn't have a clue I could do so. I'll check it out here in the next few days and see if I can fix that. It's kind of funny though, when you say "case drain" it almost seems to me like it shouldn't be very pressurized...but for 5 gallons to go bye bye in a few hours it's gotta have SOME pressure behind it...

 

[SkidRoe]

Thanks guys. At least now I have an idea what I'm dealing with. It is the smaller diameter hose. I didn't know I could access it from the underside. The leaking fluid plus all the dirt/dust I run it in has made the belly so damn dirty I didn't have a clue I could do so. I'll check it out here in the next few days and see if I can fix that. It's kind of funny though, when you say "case drain" it almost seems to me like it shouldn't be very pressurized...but for 5 gallons to go bye bye in a few hours it's gotta have SOME pressure behind it...

I usually use engine shampoo and a high pressure washer connected to hot water to get as much crud off as I can before starting into such a job. Takes some of the misery out of it.