A lot of things laying around an average farm shop have multiple uses. For example:
Go-Jo Hand Cleaner and other gel-type hand cleaners work well as lubricant for installing rubber hoses over hose barbs.
Plain old RTV silicone sealant is used by several self-propelled sprayer manufacturers to seal the plastic fittings on their wet booms. Factory reps prefer silicone to Teflon tape and Teflon “pipe dope” because Teflon is such a good lubricant that it’s easy to over-tighten and strip-out plastic fittings.
Planter talc is great for locating pinhole or slow leaks in hydraulic hoses, fittings and valve blocks. Thoroughly clean the area around the leak, hyper-clean and dry it with contact cleaner, then lightly coat the area with planter talc. Run the machine, engage all hydraulic systems associated with the leaky area, then examine the talc-treated area for slight discolorations that identify even those slowest, smallest oil leaks.
Your shop vacuum can save time during hydraulic repairs. Rather than drain a hydraulic reservoir, duct tape the suction hose from the vacuum to the reservoir’s fill cap. Make sure any reservoir vents are temporarily plugged. Pulling even a slight vacuum on the reservoir will allow you to open and work on hydraulic fittings without drowning in a gush of hydraulic oil.
Caution: make sure you trust anybody else present in the shop while you’re using a vacuum to work on hydraulics. Pranksters have been known to unplug the vacuum.
Read more from Dan Anderson:
Dan Anderson: MIG Welding Tips
