[MadMax]

I've noticed a puddle developing at the bottom of my lathe and I realized it was hydraulic fluid. I found three leaks coming out the bottom of my drawbar actuator. The big obvious one was caused by a heavy leak around the threaded outlet elbow. That was an easy fix, but I've noticed two other leaks. One is out a side hole near the rear of the actuator. This one is a steady light flow. The other is a drip (1 drop every second @ 200psi) accumulating at the bottom of the fan cover at the front of the actuator.

I don't see any thread in the two holes drilled at the back of the actuator so I don't think I'm missing a plug.

I've stopped running the spindle because I'm worried about something flying out of the chuck. Has anyone seen this kind of leak before?

I'm running a Daewoo MSA200 Puma with a 6" main spindle.

[BAD DOG]

Sounds like your actuator is leaking and needs new seals or bearings.

I just had mine rebuilt for $1800.00 but that included new bearings also.
I couldn't take the leaking anymore. After I reinstalled it you wouldn't believe how much smoother the spindle ran.

Bad Dog

[PMT]

Sounds like the hose going back to the hyd. tank (where the heavy leak is) may be plugged.

There are no contact seals on the revolving part of the actuator therefore some oil will bypass.

[MadMax]

Yeah, it was a mess. Turns out that one of the orings in it was damaged. Looks like a previous owner attempted service which damaged the oring during reassembly. Reassembling the actuator was very difficult. Alignment is a bugger and in the end the entire dingus had to be replaced altogether due to a flange damaged during reassembly.