I have a 55' Altec bucket which I probably only use a few times a year. I prefer climbing most of the jobs. However, with a few of the big removals near street, the bucket is sweet. Last time I used it, there was a pretty bad leak in the tower under the boom (most likely somewhere on the turn table). I'd like to find some time to fixt the leak before next time I need it. Any idea where to start? I'm very good in hand-on fixing and maintaining all my equipment. Thx. for any input. Erwin
seeking knowlege and experience fixing oil leak on my bucket truck
- Thread starter erwin
- Start date
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Start with soaking it with degreaser. Then pressure washing.
first find out if there are components that shouldn’t be pressure washed. Controls can be damaged with high pressure washing
first find out if there are components that shouldn’t be pressure washed. Controls can be damaged with high pressure washing
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
Call altec, they should be able to get that info for you. On the bucket truck that I had (Hi-ranger) it was a gear box driven by a hydraulic motor that sat inside a ring gear. The gear box rotated and in turn rotated the boom.
The only other component for that function was a hydraulic stop switch (my name for it, unsure of the actual name) it was an aluminum block with a lever and as the boom rotated past the 360° mark it would stop the function to avoid twisting the hoses.
I have a 55ft Altec. There is a collector at the turn table that the lower hoses connect to and supply pressure to the tower. The collector allows the boom to rotate 360 continuously without twisting the hoses. The lower hoses connect underneath the platform accessible by inspection covers at the mount. The upperhoses connect from the top side. Mine has about 5 hoses. First I would check that all the fittings are tight and the hoses haven't rubbed and leaking. As Tom said, wash it first and let it dry then run it to find the leak.
I rebuilt my collector a few years back as recommended by Altec. It started leaking again in about 6 months. I called and this time they recommended replacing the collector since a rebuild wouldn't last very long. Wish they had recommended that first.
So if it's leaking just order a new one. It's not too hard to replace. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a tub of the neon colored zip ties. Large and small. I used the small ones and tied matching colors on both the hose and the fitting in the collector before I ever took anything loose. If you put them back together wrong you'll be chasing your tail for hours trying to get them right.
I had to take the rotation gear box off and set it aside then the collector was easily accessed from the top. Three bolts hold it on I think. Mine pulled out from the top.
I rebuilt my collector a few years back as recommended by Altec. It started leaking again in about 6 months. I called and this time they recommended replacing the collector since a rebuild wouldn't last very long. Wish they had recommended that first.
So if it's leaking just order a new one. It's not too hard to replace. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a tub of the neon colored zip ties. Large and small. I used the small ones and tied matching colors on both the hose and the fitting in the collector before I ever took anything loose. If you put them back together wrong you'll be chasing your tail for hours trying to get them right.
I had to take the rotation gear box off and set it aside then the collector was easily accessed from the top. Three bolts hold it on I think. Mine pulled out from the top.
You can see there are plenty of fittings to be checked and tightened. You can also see the 3 bolts that holds the collector on. The second pic shows the rotation gear box. Once it is off and the lines are disconnected the collector will come out through where the gear box is sitting. Assuming your truck is like mine. Hopefully it's just a loose fitting.
Attachments
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
I saw a reminder somewhere that said to check hyd leaks with a piece of cardboard not your hand. Some spraying leaks can be under enough pressure to inject hyd fluid through skin.
(Which sometimes equals removal of injected body part.)
(Which sometimes equals removal of injected body part.)
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
When I worked at the Tech College I got to know the fluid power instructor.
if anyone used an air nozzle, even one with nozzle vents, to dust themselves off or horseplay they were terminated from the program. Serious stuff. There’s still enough pressure to push a bubble through the skin which can become a clot...amputation and death
if anyone used an air nozzle, even one with nozzle vents, to dust themselves off or horseplay they were terminated from the program. Serious stuff. There’s still enough pressure to push a bubble through the skin which can become a clot...amputation and death
cleaned well upper n under the turn table, took the first look. It looks like it's leaking on the top of what appears to be a ~2'diameter cylinder shaped device with 3 lines feeding from under the table and 3 above the table. this must be what enables the table to turn 360 degree. all connections are tight so it must be leaking from the seals of that thing. Looks like pretty straight forward job to replace.
I might just want to get a new one.
it looks like that after I take out the 3 mounting bolts from the top (easy access), the collector along with the 3 input hoses can be pulled up, out of the hole to give clearance for undoing the 3 connectors. of course, I need to make sure all hoses and connectors are labeled clearly.
it looks like that after I take out the 3 mounting bolts from the top (easy access), the collector along with the 3 input hoses can be pulled up, out of the hole to give clearance for undoing the 3 connectors. of course, I need to make sure all hoses and connectors are labeled clearly.
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Take lots of pictures before you even touch a wrench.
a spritz of different color paint is an easy way to keep track of connections
I started using fiber tip paint pencils too. A dot,-,:,+= etc work too
Maybe you can get that unit rebuilt
a spritz of different color paint is an easy way to keep track of connections
I started using fiber tip paint pencils too. A dot,-,:,+= etc work too
Maybe you can get that unit rebuilt
Thx for all the advices. Without that I’d have to spend much more time in this. Took on it this morning. Took about 3 hours to remove the “collector”. The key is to undo the bottom 3 lines, one supply line from one of the two outrigger switch and 2 returns from the hydraulic tank. Once that’s done, you will have enough slack to pull the whole thing up the hole and lay on top of the turn table. From there on it’s very easy to undo the bottom 3 lines and a small top line and being it to she shop. I’d imagine an hour for the instal once it’s rebuilt or a new one is received. 
I need ur help again. It looks like there used to be a sticky tag on it probably with model number and manufacture name etc. it’s almost all gone and I can’t read anything from it. Any of you happened be have the same model and maybe point me to the right direction as to where to get rebuild kit? Of course I can always go to the Altec dealer on Monday. Just can’t wait to find the information. Thx. Erwin
