2203 hydraulic leak - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

Trblandy · 12-02-2022, 08:53 PM

Hydraulics struggled this morning, would not rise all the way and I found fluid shooting out of this fitting.
Outside temp went to 23 F last night, outdoor temp was just under 40 when this happened.
Was it just too cold? Probably not, my limited knowledge tells me that fluid should not easily freeze.
I look forward to some pointers on this.
Tom

JackandJanet · 12-02-2022, 10:29 PM

Tom, I don't believe hydraulic fluid will "freeze" easily and certainly not at the temperatures you had. Sadly though, colder temperatures will cause the tubing and fittings to shrink a bit and this contraction can be unequal between dissimilar materials, opening a path for the fluid to move through.

It appears to me that the fitting you show is the return line to the reservoir, which is not under any significant pressure. It should only have fluid in it when you lower the top. Is that when the leakage occurred? If it was losing fluid with the top up, that signals a likely leak at the hydraulic ram. The seals there can also shrink in the cold and through disuse. If this is the case, you will probably eventually reach a leakage rate where the top will no longer raise fully and the seals will have to be repaired. Any hydraulic shop can do this, I think. Others in the forum have had to make this repair.

As far as the leak you observed, possibly you could tighten that fitting just a wee bit? Or, the transparent tubing might have to be replaced, and either job is DIY, I believe.

- Jack

Trblandy · 12-07-2022, 02:40 AM

Thanks Jack. It is probably the return line as you suggest. I believe my problem could be the black plastic compression nut, that is my leak point as I push the up button. I twisted it off finding a small o ring and a metal washer that was dimpled or bent in one one edge.
Reattached the plastic tube and still get leaks, maybe I installed the o ring incorrectly?
The top was only going part way up, then stopping. I added more fluid and it went up higher, but fluid continues to leak out.
I’m guessing if the all the fluid leaks out, the only way to raise it would be jacking the front and rear sections?

Trblandy · 12-07-2022, 02:42 AM

Also, where might I find a new replacement for the plastic nut and o ring parts?

JackandJanet · 12-07-2022, 10:59 AM

Tom, I've never had problems with my hydraulic system, so I don't know where you would find the plastic nut and o-ring, but I do know that o-rings are in all hardware stores, as are washers.

I suspect though, that since you can't get the top all the way up, that you have a leak in the seal at the hydraulic ram, allowing fluid to flow back through the return line. That will have to be rebuilt, if true, and can be done in a hydraulic repair shop. There are some other threads that talk about this in the forum. A search should find them.

- Jack