REFLECTOR: Hydraulic Pump Leak..fluid levels

[Jeff Clough]

Yep, that is where mine was leaking.....sounds like someone may have 
just added silicone sealant from the OUTSIDE to try to prevent the leak 
rahter than disassembling the pump/reservoir and applying to the mating 
surfaces......I d o not know the best material to use , but silicone 
rubber seems to be pretty inert...anyone else?   Jeff C

Scott Derrick wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> Your completely right.  The change in fluid level is negligible 
> between up and down.  I tested that before I ever flew the plane.
>
> My fluid level is at about 2/3 's and in moderate turbulence it leaks 
> like a sieve.  Its leaking from the reservoir to pump seal, not the cap.
>
> Or it was leaking,  I'm going to replace the sillycone that somebody 
> added(I've been told by three people this is the fix) to stop the leak.
>
> My question is,  is there a "best" sealer for hydraulic systems?  RTV, 
> the black sticky stuff?
>
> Scott
>
> At 06:19 PM 12/13/2004, you wrote:
>
>> Does the hydraulic fluid level change THAT much between 'up' and 
>> 'down' cycles?  I would think that the amount of driving (extending) 
>> fluid would nearly equal the fluid driven out of the cyclinders and 
>> returned back to the reservoir and same for the retraction cycle(once 
>> all the air bubbles are out of the system and it is in 'steady 
>> state') .. JEFF C.
>>
>> johnward wrote:
>>
>>> Also shouldn't the fluid level be determined during the drop check 
>>> when the
>>> gear is retracted?  I believe the reservoir might be overfilled when 
>>> the
>>> hydraulic piston is retracted in the cylinder if it's filled on the 
>>> extend
>>> cycle.
>>>
>>> John Ward
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat Shea" <xl340hp at yahoo.com>
>>> To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 5:42 PM
>>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Hydraulic Pump Leak
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Okay, I obviously should have thought that thru before
>>>> posting...
>>>>
>>>> I recall someone dealing with leaking cap in the past
>>>> & was curious how they dealt with it since mine is
>>>> leaking some from just ground ops. Agreed, if the cap
>>>> is the only vent source, you're gonna need it! One
>>>> thought was to raise the vent opening further from the
>>>> fluid level (i.e. seal the cap slots and use a vent
>>>> tube stemming from the cap). Ronnie, since you're
>>>> flying and don't seem to have any problems, maybe
>>>> running with the reservoir only 1/2 full is the
>>>> ticket! I'll try that first...
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, Pat
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The vents really need to be left open.  You can see
>>>>> the fluid go up and down in the reservoir as the gear
>>>>> is retracted and extended.  The difference is the
>>>>> piston rods that displace fluid as they go into the
>>>>> cylinders. I agree, seal the vents and you could have
>>>>> a real mess!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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