Venting hydraulic tank

[liberty]

I have a Swisher log splitter that has a plastic vented fill cap on the hydraulic tank. Since it is plastic it broke when a log hit it. Does it need to be vented or can i just put a solid fill plug in there? I looked at other splitters and never noticed a vent. Thanks

 

[gink595]

I don't have a vent on mine, it's a home made one, I have 12 gal. tank and about 8 gallons in it. So I have some room for expansion, I don't know if it makes a difference. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Buckethead]

Vent it!

The fluid level changes in the tank as the cylinder cycles back and forth. The vent will prevent creating a vacuum or over-pressure situation. The vent also provides the same protection from environmental changes (temp. and atmos. press.).

 

[liberty]

My concern is that maybe its design allows moisture to escape when the unit heats up. If I plug it then it could build up.

 

[jer427]

I would put some kind of a vent on it. As others said with the cycling of the cylinder and as the fluid heats up it will expand and will build pressure if not vented.

 

[BIG JAKE]

My splitter had plastic fittings. After a plastic elbow broke from a log I replaced everything with brass fittings from fittings specialty house. Don't recall whether the cap was vented or not but the cap became metal also-no further issues.

 

[liberty]

The only plastic was the fill/vent cap. Everything else is well built

 

[Rookie1]

If the threads are pipe thread buy a steel pipe plug and drill a tiny hole in it ,If you get one with the square head you should be able to drill through the side of one of the flats.