Hydraulic Irrigation Cancel The title field is required!

1. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   11/7/2011 1:11 PM

   We have been trying to trace down a leak in our 1/2'' hydraulic supply line. The line tees coming out of the pump room and we installed valves today to determine which side its is loosing pressure on. Like I suspected it is on holes 1-5. I suspect it is leaking on hole 5 but see no signs of the leak. It should be substantial due to the repeated cycling of the pump from the pressure loss. Hole 5 has a 1 head that cycles on and off with the pressure loss. This head is the furthest away from the control box so it has greater pressure loss.
   
   We are exploring some areas trying to find the leak but so far have come up empty handed. Anyone have ideas in tracking it down?

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   11/7/2011 4:11 PM

   Justin,
   
   This is a must for any course with a hydraulic irrigation system. We have an older model and use it to sniff out all leaks. Hook a propane tank to one end of the pipe/tube, and start sniffing in the general area you think the pipe may run. Saved out butt a multiple times from having to run new tubes.
   
   http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BACHARACH-Miniature-Gas-Leak-Detector-4LU63?Pid=search
   
   My irrigation tech also will bump up the pressure in the lines when he has a leak on his hydraulic main. This typically makes the leaks worse, but will make it appear quicker.

   
   
   
   
3. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   11/8/2011 9:11 AM

   Thanks Andy, when you run the propane through do you shut off the supply going into the tubing or does it matter?

   
   
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   11/8/2011 12:11 PM

   Yep. Disconnect it from the box, hook to the tank, then let it run free. We've had some tough ones that were minor leaks and hooked tanks coming from either direction. Typically, without wind, we can find a leak in a couple of minutes to a few hours.

   
   
   
   
5. Wise John H

   
   11/9/2011 6:11 AM

   Had the same problem just a few months back on our hyd supply line, could not find it anywhere, I cheated though and called a leak detection company, who uses a gas like what was said and low and behold the leak was right by a drain tile which we would still be looking for if we did not call for help.
   
   John Wise
   Oakbourne CC
   Lafayette, La

   
   
   
   
6. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   11/9/2011 6:11 AM

   Any ideas on finding leaking tubes when you have no idea were they run?

   
   
   
   
7. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   11/9/2011 8:11 AM

   alohakane said: Any ideas on finding leaking tubes when you have no idea were they run?

   
   
   Walk around aimlessly with sniffer in hand.

   
   
   
   
8. Nicholas Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   11/9/2011 3:11 PM

   When I worked on an old hydraulic sytem in Florida, we came up with a pretty good way to find leaks in hydraulic tubings.
   
   We had an old spray rig, (which was basically used as a water cart), and put an adapter on the end of the hose so we were able to hook it directly to the end of the tubing. We would disconnect the bad tubing at the satellite, hook it up to the hose on the spray rig and then also dig up the tubing at the head, disconnect it and put a closed loop on it.
   
   Then we would just put some water, dish soap or foam liquid, and some blue dye in the tank and turn on the pump and send the mixture through the tubing. Eventually, blue foam would come to the surface and there is your leak! Don't set the pressure too high though, or you may create additional leaks if you have brittle tubing.
   
   Give it a try, it worked great for us.
   
   Nick

   
   
   
   
9. Daniel Mausolf

   

   0 posts
   
   11/11/2011 2:11 PM

   When the system was hyrdaulic here, we'd use blue tracker dye in the tube itself. Problem is it'd take a while to surface.

   
   
   
   
10. Justin Murray

    

    0 posts
    
    11/14/2011 11:11 AM

    Never found the leak but we capped the line at a tee and now holding pressure. Thanks for the help