JCB 8014 2017 leaking hydralic fluid from the breather

[ianh100]

Hi, I have an 8014 I am using on a self build. Its got 1200 hours and has been super reliable and always starts on the button. It has recently started to leak a lot of hydralic fluid from the breather on the top of the tank. We thought it was a faulty breather (it was a pattern part not JCB) so fitted a new one but this has not made any difference. The machine still works perfectly well, drives and digs just as well as it always has. What should I look for as the cause of this? I am assuming this is a symptom of something causing the tank to become pressurised.

 

[V8Druid]

Hi, I have an 8014 I am using on a self build. Its got 1200 hours and has been super reliable and always starts on the button. It has recently started to leak a lot of hydralic fluid from the breather on the top of the tank. We thought it was a faulty breather (it was a pattern part not JCB) so fitted a new one but this has not made any difference. The machine still works perfectly well, drives and digs just as well as it always has. What should I look for as the cause of this? I am assuming this is a symptom of something causing the tank to become pressurised.

have you recently added any hydraulic oil to the tank ?
there is a process for checking the sight level gauge to ensure it is not overfilled
most tanks will pressurise to a degree
assume you have either had it from new or found a bargain with so few hours on it for an 8 yr old machine

 

[ianh100]

have you recently added any hydraulic oil to the tank ?
there is a process for checking the sight level gauge to ensure it is not overfilled
most tanks will pressurise to a degree
assume you have either had it from new or found a bargain with so few hours on it for an 8 yr old machine

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I bought it 2 years ago and have probbaly only added 150 hours. It has been 100% reliable over that time with no leaks. I leant it to a relative who has added fluid as he found it was leaking ( it was not before we handed over). It is pissing fluid now and was not before. He can't have done more than a few tens of hours. I am prety sure it is not over filled.

 

[V8Druid]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I bought it 2 years ago and have probbaly only added 150 hours. It has been 100% reliable over that time with no leaks. I leant it to a relative who has added fluid as he found it was leaking ( it was not before we handed over). It is pissing fluid now and was not before. He can't have done more than a few tens of hours. I am prety sure it is not over filled.

Ah!! .. stretch it out ... bucket ram fully closed, dipper ram fully closed and sit the boom on the floor and see what the sight level window says -- they've probably filled the tank to the top

 

[craig]

Have a good sniff of the oil for diesel smell, its not uncommon for someone who borrows a machine to fill up with fuel in the wrong place.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Also check there isn’t a loose hose/fitting before the pump(s) - it could be drawing air in which subsequently bubbles out in the tank and can cause oil to come out of the breather.

 

[Bri963]

Generally it’s the most obvious answer. He’s topped it up. It‘s coming out of the breather.

 

[Bri963]

Where‘s he gone?

 

[ianh100]

Where‘s he gone?

I am still here but have not had time to investigate. I used the machine on low revs for a bit of work and had no leaks. I could not see any loose connections but need more time to check it out. I will report back when I find the issue as I find these threads without resolution a bit frustrating.

 

[Bri963]

I am still here but have not had time to investigate. I used the machine on low revs for a bit of work and had no leaks. I could not see any loose connections but need more time to check it out. I will report back when I find the issue as I find these threads without resolution a bit frustrating.

Seriously mate, just check the oil level. Do the easy stuff first.

 

[Canal Navvy]

I am still here but have not had time to investigate. I used the machine on low revs for a bit of work and had no leaks. I could not see any loose connections but need more time to check it out. I will report back when I find the issue as I find these threads without resolution a bit frustrating.

It is all to easy to look at the sight gauge and see it is near the bottom and assume a big fluid loss, the range of the gauge is a small proportion of the capacity of the machine.

 

[ianh100]

Hi All, Sorry for the delay I have been doing inside work and not used the machine much other than the odd very light job where the issue did not occur. I have used it again today and its pissing oil out again. If i take the hydraulic filler cap off just after it has run (within 30 seconds) the filter is full to the top, there are the odd small bubbles but I would not describe it as foaming. If I remove the filter the tank below is quite empty, perhaps not up to the sight glass. so while the system may be under pressure it does not look to be over filled. if anything under filled. I have no service history for the machine so while its hours are not high I have no idea what servicing has been done. Could it be the hydraulic return filter in the neck of the tank causing the problem? If they were blocked I can see that the oil would just blow past the breather.

 

[V8Druid]

Hi All, Sorry for the delay I have been doing inside work and not used the machine much other than the odd very light job where the issue did not occur. I have used it again today and its pissing oil out again. If i take the hydraulic filler cap off just after it has run (within 30 seconds) the filter is full to the top, there are the odd small bubbles but I would not describe it as foaming. If I remove the filter the tank below is quite empty, perhaps not up to the sight glass. so while the system may be under pressure it does not look to be over filled. if anything under filled. I have no service history for the machine so while its hours are not high I have no idea what servicing has been done. Could it be the hydraulic return filter in the neck of the tank causing the problem? If they were blocked I can see that the oil would just blow past the breather.

if the return filter is blocked there should be a relief / bypass valve to the filter to allow oil flow to bypass a blocked unit - worth checking that is functional - if your tank level is below the sight glass it needs topping to the appropriate level or you run the risk of cavitating the pump(s)
as a temporary measure remove the return filter and see if the issue persists - if it doesn't you have your answer -- it's not unknown these days of non existent quality control to have faulty new parts straight out the box

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

have you recently added any hydraulic oil to the tank ?
there is a process for checking the sight level gauge to ensure it is not overfilled
most tanks will pressurise to a degree
assume you have either had it from new or found a bargain with so few hours on it for an 8 yr old machine

New clock probably!

 

[Gecko]

I have no service history for the machine so while its hours are not high I have no idea what servicing has been done.

Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, assume everything is over due.
At least then you can start a meaningful log

 

[ianh100]

Hi All, The new hydraulic return filter arrived today and I fitted it. Previously when i took the top off the filler cap for the hydraulic just after it had been running it was full to the top. Now it is pretty clear. I have only used it for a short while today but it has not blown out oil so far. I think the oil is actually still too low as I can't see much in the viewing glass and looking inside the tank it looks to be just below that height despite me adding more. I will get some more oil tomorrow. Interesting that people think the machine has had a new clock, is that common? It had just over 1000 hours when I got it 3 years ago. Its generally in good condition but the rear at the bottom is badly scraped which makes me think it could have been ex rental at some point. I also only have a black key and not the red master key. JCB said I could get a new one but need to take the machine to them for that.

 

[V8Druid]

Hi All, The new hydraulic return filter arrived today and I fitted it. Previously when i took the top off the filler cap for the hydraulic just after it had been running it was full to the top. Now it is pretty clear. I have only used it for a short while today but it has not blown out oil so far. I think the oil is actually still too low as I can't see much in the viewing glass and looking inside the tank it looks to be just below that height despite me adding more. I will get some more oil tomorrow. Interesting that people think the machine has had a new clock, is that common? It had just over 1000 hours when I got it 3 years ago. Its generally in good condition but the rear at the bottom is badly scraped which makes me think it could have been ex rental at some point. I also only have a black key and not the red master key. JCB said I could get a new one but need to take the machine to them for that.

if the return filter is blocked there should be a relief / bypass valve to the filter to allow oil flow to bypass a blocked unit - worth checking that is functional - if your tank level is below the sight glass it needs topping to the appropriate level or you run the risk of cavitating the pump(s)
as a temporary measure remove the return filter and see if the issue persists - if it doesn't you have your answer -- it's not unknown these days of non existent quality control to have faulty new parts straight out the box

filter blocked then ... the relief will only work under pressure - once the machine is stopped and there is no pressure the filter would remain full as it's unable to pass oil and the relief can't without pressure -- it's a pressure relief valve

 

[Gecko]

. I will get some more oil tomorrow.

"The Book" says the change period for the hydraulic oil is 2000h, but if there has been enough crud going around to block the filter, I'd be changing the oil and checking the bottom of the tank to see what stories it can tell. If there is any hint the hour meter is just a political promise, then doubly so - no point adding good oil to bad.

The Book also shows a 125 micron pickup strainer. I'd be replacing that too (it'll be a lot cheaper than rebuilding that triple pump if it starts cavitating inside).

 

[V8Druid]

hence the filter remaining full when inspected if blocked