Leaking feed wheel motor on Bandit chipper

[Treemuel]

I recently bought a used Bandit 150 and I've found that both feed wheel motors are leaking a bit of hydraulic fluid. It's not a huge amount, but both drip steadily from around the shaft seal when running. I've been using a rag or catch can underneath for now and trying to decide how to proceed. It looks like I can get new seal kits for a little over $100/ea or new motors are around $500/ea. I would guess that if I have someone else rebuild the motors, I'll be nearing the cost of new motors, but not really sure. Would appreciate any feedback on this. Anyone have experience rebuilding these with new seal kits? Is it pretty straightforward or enough of a headache to either live with the leak for now or pay the extra to replace them or have someone else rebuild them? I don't have any experience working on hydraulic systems, but have done plenty of small engine repair on chainsaws etc.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

If I had the luxury of time to take the chipper out of service for a day or so I'd look close at DIY.

Do you have a schematic or instructions? I can't imagine the seals are so exotic that they can't be done with common hand tools. Maybe having a few dental pics for removing an old o-ring.

Do the one that has the easiest access first. Sanitation is most important. Putting a bit of hydraulic fluid on each seal when rebuilding is important.

Wear high quality gloves.Hydraulic fluid is not healthy for skin contact.

 

[flushcut]

Personally I’d weigh my options. New motors will be quick and relatively easy to swap out = less down time. Pulling the motors apart and changing the seals = more time and possible cost depending if you need to replace any other seals along the way. My general rule is to replace all of the seals if you are taking it apart. If you are taking it apart make sure to add a witness mark on the outside case just to make sure it all goes back together the same way. It’s not rocket science.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

The Eternal Paradox of Preventive Maintenance

Replace
Overhaul
Repair

Easy when boot laces break. When laces are worn because the lace-eyes are worn and the soles will need replacing makes it a bigger decision.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Replace with new is my advice.

 

[evo]

It’s a time or money question. I’d likely swap parts to get back up and running. I’d still get the seal kits, and rebuild as to have backups on hand.
Had a bronze yoke snap on my old chippers clutch. Cheap part but it would require a total tear down, had some good advice from twindisk shop guys. Shipping time was the same for a new clutch. So it came down to time, 1-2 days vs half day.
I got back up and running, did a job which easily covered the cost of a new clutch and while not making much $ it covered most the overhead of the day.

 

[flushcut]

Time is money when running a biz.

 

[Bart_]

You have an opportunity to have spares onhand relatively soon. Put in new, rebuild and shelve the old at your leisure. Next downtime = swap.

 

[Treetopflyer]

You have an opportunity to have spares onhand relatively soon. Put in new, rebuild and shelve the old at your leisure. Next downtime = swap.

Ive done this and it works as a magic charm to never need attention again!

 

[Treetopflyer]

@Treemuel i may have a lot of chipper knives and some other miscellaneous parts for that unit I’d be happy to Give you!

 

[Treemuel]

@Treemuel i may have a lot of chipper knives and some other miscellaneous parts for that unit I’d be happy to Give you!

Generous offer! I’ll pm you

 

[Treemuel]

Update: finally fixed the leaks. Ended up rebuilding both motors with new seal kits and that was actually the easy part. Getting the motors off was a bit of an ordeal, however. The tapered pin on one of them only came out after finally bringing it to my local auto mechanic and putting it on his hydraulic press. The coupling eventually came off with a lot of tension from a come along in combination with using cold chisels to wedge behind it. Tried a bit of heat, but didn't want to go crazy with it and either fry the grease in the feed wheel bearing or end up heating the shaft as well and making it worse. Also, I must have mixed up the timing when I rebuilt the top motor because it was initially running backwards, but I just swapped the hoses and problem solved.