Took my rig to a shop in Detroit and spotted something weird on their hangar floor

They had this old hydraulic mule parked next to a 737 and oil was pooling under it like crazy. Has anyone else dealt with those old mules leaking way worse than the newer electric ones?

4 comments

4 Comments

bailey.jennifer1mo ago

Wait, are those old mules really that bad? I used to think they were just fine, like reliable tanks or something. But then my buddy had one dump hydraulic fluid all over his shop floor during a tire change and it took forever to clean up. The new electric ones are way cleaner, no mess, no stink. Idk, maybe the old ones just get leaky after a while, but that experience changed my mind for sure.

fiona_kim971mo ago

Wouldn't you know it, that's exactly the kind of mess that makes you rethink everything, huh? I totally get why that experience would change your mind, because a leak that big is just a nightmare to deal with no matter how reliable the machine used to be. It's hard to argue with something that doesn't leave a puddle the size of a kiddie pool on your floor.

lewis.brian1mo agoTop Commenter

Yeah, "reliable tanks" is a good way to put it. But here's the thing, those old mules weren't exactly leak-free from the factory. The hydraulic fluid dump during a tire change isn't really a getting-old issue. It's more about the design. They had a bad habit of letting fluid flow back into the lines when you cracked a fitting. Newer electric ones are sealed systems, so you don't get that sudden gusher. Still, for basic hauling, the old ones will outwork a lot of stuff.

theajohnson9d ago

Man, that's the thing I keep wondering about with those old mules. You see a puddle that size and you gotta ask - is it just the age or was there a specific part that always let go first? I've heard guys say the main seal on the hydraulic pump is the usual suspect, but other times it's the return line fittings threading out after a few thousand cycles. Did anyone ever figure out which part was the real weak spot, or did everyone just accept it was gonna leak and dealt with it?