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12th_Man_Fan's avatar
12th_Man_Fan
Explorer
Oct 14, 2016

Hydraulic questions

In trying to unwind the mess in my front compartment that houses the batteries and the hydraulic equip I need to disconnect some hydraulic lines so I can re route them to untangle the mess and protect the lines that are going through the wall.

DRV must have hired the third grade class in Elkhart the day my RV was assembled. I have never seen such shoddy work in my life.

There are two 2" holes through the wall in my battery compartment side by side and they brought all of the elec and hyd lines through one opening. They are so tight I can't even get any split tubing around them to keep the thin medal in the wall from rubbing a hole in them and there is a gas pipe riser 2" in front of the opening they chose to use.

I have found this throughout the RV on gas lines, brake lines, hyd. lines, elec lines you name it they are just run through the thin metal walls in most cases unprotected and laying on the sharp edges.

Now rant over my questions are 1) do the hydraulic lines have a metal lining? and 2)is there pressure on the lines when the jacks are down and 3) do you have to bleed this system like a brake system if you take a line loose?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Doug

By the way this is a Lippert level up system.

4 Replies

  • donn0128 wrote:
    Yes, hydraulic hoses generally have a steel brade between the inner and outer layers. Hydraulic pressure? Yes, they will be pressureized when the cylinder is extended. Depending on whether this is a one or two line system. a hose will always be pressureized on a two hose system. On a single hose system the hose will not have pressure when the cylinder is retracted.


    Very few RV Hydraulic lines(I know of NONE) have a metal or steel braid that would "protect" from slicing. They can be pinched and they can be cut by a razor type cutting tool. LCI slide systems ALWAYS have pressure on them, even the jacks. So, when you take the lines loose they will squirt about a cup of fluid or a little more. You can self bleed by just running the jacks and slide rooms in and out 7 or 8 times. Doug

    http://www.lci1.com/assets/content/support/technical-information-sheets/Leveling%20and%20Stabilization/TI___118_Basic_Purge_Procedure_For_Hydraulic_Pump_Units.pdf
  • As for a metal lining, that depends on the pressure in the hydraulic system. High pressure hoses have a woven metal cloth that is embedded in the polymer hose. Sometimes the woven SS is on the outside of the hose. The metal is often stainless steel. Low pressure hoses can just be polymer or sometimes polymer with a tougher plastic woven material inside. I'm not sure where the pressure cutoff is for the different types of hoses.

    I suspect that yes you have to get the air out of the system if you break a hose connector. As for pressure in the system, you just make sure that the pump is disconnected from the power source and then you always assume that the system is pressurized. Crack open a fitting just enough to let some pressurized fluid drain out. Have some rags or something to catch the fluid. Wear eye protection. That will bleed the pressure off.

    I have experience with industrial hydraulics but not with this type of system.

    I'd try to find a manual online if I were doing this.
  • Single hose system will not be fully pressurized, but will have some residual pressure

    You should cap the lines as soon as it is disconnected
    You want to minimize the amount of air getting into the system, keep the hose full of ATF FLUID and plug the jacks to prevent FLUID loss

    You need to hitch up or otherwise support the 5vr and retract the jacks
    Also give it a little time for the pressure to equalize , say 30 minutes

    Any way, that's what I would do, before cracking those lines loose
  • Yes, hydraulic hoses generally have a steel brade between the inner and outer layers. Hydraulic pressure? Yes, they will be pressureized when the cylinder is extended. Depending on whether this is a one or two line system. a hose will always be pressureized on a two hose system. On a single hose system the hose will not have pressure when the cylinder is retracted.

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