Discussion:
Leaking Hyd fluid out of the starter motor

We have a Hyster c187 S50xl forklift at one of our high schools that is used to unload metal for the metal shop. The problem is it is leaking HYD fluid out of the starter after it is shut off. It does not seam to leak while it is running but once shut off the next morning it will have a good puddle under it. I know it has a wet bell housing as the Hyd pump is chain driven and is lubricated off of the steering return line. That line also supplies the jet pump to return Hyd oil back to the tank. The pump seam to be working ok as we have good flow on that line. The starter has been replaced 4 times now by a shop and they have given up on the lift. Any ideas? I have read a few posts on here about this subject but can not see where it was ever solved?? Thank you for any help or even ideas what it might be.
  • Posted 7 Nov 2017 06:11
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
Showing items 1 - 20 of 22 results.
The starter motor continued to leak after the fluid was at the proper level and so last week we raised the forklift and removed the starter. I disassembled the starter and found it has rubber seals. It appears that the seal preventing fluid from entering the solenoid and into the nose cone was leaking and the seal that separates the nose from the motor section was leaking. There are 5 seals in the kit. 2 for the solenoid bolt, 1 for the solenoid, one for the plate between the nose cone and motor section and, 1 that seals the armature shaft.
I polished the armature and cleaned the starter. It's a 10MT with a 3 bolt nose and high torque model. I considered replacing the brushes, but they were fine and if I have issues later I'll build one with new parts.
I sealed the back cover with a thin bead of the Right Stuff to prevent only other fluids from entering the starter in case a hose fails.
I reinstalled the starter yesterday and when testing found a hose seeing on the other side of the engine. It was the hose from the pump to the steering. I made another hose and installed that this morning.
This afternoon I have run and extensively tested the forklift raising the forks many times and driving it under a load and am GLAD to Report that there are no leaks.
So, instead of cobbling the forklift with a valve it is fixed properly. I hope this helps someone else.
  • Posted 4 Apr 2024 10:00
  • By WILLIAM_STEELEY
  • joined 8 Sep'23 - 4 messages
  • Washington, United States
Thank you,
Bill
Update: The kit arrived over the Thanksgiving weekend and my plan was to remove the starter motor and reseal it today. I have the full service manual, but there's no instructions on how to access the starter motor. It's buried and will require jacking up the lift and removing items from both underneath and from the top side. Before jacking up the lift I remove my drip tray from underneath and it was almost dry (just a couple of drops). So, I checked the hydraulic oil reservoir and found it just over full my 1/4 inch. That made we wonder if I had checked it improperly before. I referenced the manual and it said that it should be checked with the fluid hot the forks lowered and the engine off. This makes me wonder if I had checked it with the engine running and overfilled it. Granted the forklift leaked when I bought it, but nothing to say the previous owner wasn't checking it running and overfilling it too.
So now I am going to run it a few times and see if I get any leaks. I do lower the forks and let it run a couple of minutes before turning the engine off. The manual did say that the forklift will spew out the extra fluid if it is overfilled.
On another note the fellow that sold me the starter reseal kit said my S60XL with GM motor has the 10MT GM Starter. In the manual it doesn't show or talk about the starter reseal kit in the starter section. I did find information on the 10MT and a photo of the seal kit and where the parts are installed. With so many people complaining about the hydraulic oil leak maybe this will shed some light on correct fluid level or that there is a seal kit available.
  • Posted 28 Nov 2023 09:40
  • By WILLIAM_STEELEY
  • joined 8 Sep'23 - 4 messages
  • Washington, United States
Thank you,
Bill
The starter motor is supposed to be sealed. I read that the seals aren't available anymore. Then I searched eBay and found a kit. I am waiting for an answer that it will specifically fit my S60XL. I have the full service manual and it has an exploded view of the starter and I don't see enough seal in the image to totally keep the fluid out. I'll report back if this turns out to be the fix.
  • Posted 18 Nov 2023 09:15
  • By WILLIAM_STEELEY
  • joined 8 Sep'23 - 4 messages
  • Washington, United States
Thank you,
Bill
to the return line back to the reservoir
  • Posted 28 Oct 2023 02:39
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
Did you add the valve to line going to the filter or is it the line coming from the reservoir?
  • Posted 21 Oct 2023 07:20
  • By CoryP
  • joined 30 Sep'23 - 2 messages
  • Ohio, United States
it was just a standard ball valve off of the shelf. Hope it works for you to.
  • Posted 13 Oct 2023 08:37
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
What valve did you use on the return line? Do you have a part number? Thank you.
  • Posted 30 Sep 2023 12:30
  • By CoryP
  • joined 30 Sep'23 - 2 messages
  • Ohio, United States
We put the valve under the dash so to speak, where it is easy to get to. It is the return line that also powers the jet pump. I am not sure what the full fix would be. This solved our problem and it is an old forklift that I already had put to much money into. As for the sensor I have no idea, not even sure if it has one. You can access part schematic's on line that should help you find it if there is one. Good luck!
  • Posted 31 Jan 2023 03:03
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
Hey man can I get some more info on this, I'm having the same issue and wondering which line to put the ball valve in and what the full fix would be and where the sensor for the oil level because now I can't get the truck to start after replacing the starter
  • Posted 22 Oct 2022 06:51
  • By David_Justice
  • joined 22 Oct'22 - 1 message
  • Idaho, United States
No we just installed the one. And yes a check valve would probably work. And yes this fix is still working! As long as the ball valve is turned off after use
  • Posted 29 Jun 2021 05:13
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
Hi, I know your post is a little old but I'm just curious if you put a ballvalve on the return line by the hydraulic tank fill? Also, do you think a check valve would work? Then you wouldn't have to ever shut anything off but this way it wouldn't drain back.
  • Posted 4 Jan 2021 02:40
  • By Adam_Wood
  • joined 4 Jan'21 - 1 message
  • Montana, United States
Well I don't know if anyone cares, but we have fixed the problem! I know it has been quite awhile since the last post here. Please keep in mind the repair of this forklift is not my main function and is very low priority. My hunch that the system was bleeding of was correct. To test this we placed a ball valve on/in the return line from the control valve. When finished with the forklift simply shut off the valve and wonders of wonders no leak!! With the valve in the off position the lift will not start so no chance of running it dry which was a nice plus. And if it is not shut off after use it will only leak oil making a mess to clean up. Since this fix works and I can not see spending any more money on this lift. That is used for maybe an hour a month at most. I am done, if it was used more I would probably replace the valve. To recap what was done when in the shop (not ours) they replaced the starter supposedly 6 times checked the scavenger tube and so on for obstructions. When we got it back we opened it up and checked the venturi and jet pump everything looked good there. Replaced the starter one more time as that is what everyone says it is. still leaked so we opened up the starter and went through the seals saw some weak areas and reinforced them still leaked. Bought and installed new hyd pump got somewhat better but after about four days started leaking again. last installed ball valve in return line and now no leaks. So to be honest I am not sure if the pump and starter was necessary or if it took all of the above to fix it but we are back in business now! I hope this will help someone else down the road or maybe someone has a simple fix for this and I can remove the valve and put it back as designed because right now if you don't know about the valve your not starting it which might be just extra security.
  • Posted 26 Mar 2019 01:57
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
Well we got the new pump and installed it! for four days not a drop leaked. Left Friday night and on Monday morning came back to a small puddle. It has been slowly growing over a couple of weeks now. The only thing I can think of is something has to be leaking/bleeding off and filling the bell housing somehow.
  • Posted 2 Jun 2018 08:14
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
Congratulations!! I hope it continues to hold for you. Out of all the answers/comments I have read all over the place this one makes the most sense. You also have proof it worked! most everyone gets stuck that it is a wet bell housing so it must be the started. I can not think of one sane person that would intentionally put a starter motor where it would live and work submerged in oil, seals or not. I am looking for a pump for the old girl now.

Thank you
  • Posted 16 Mar 2018 08:50
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
I think Ive found the problem, I recently spent a good amount of time on the truck we have with that issue, and as mentioned in a earlier post, i Believe it was the hydraulic pump, which cured the problem, we had flow from the jet pump, but it may not have been enough for the jet pump action to draw the excess fluid out of the bell housing, and actually the way its designed, if your flow is too low you will instead, fill the bell housing, so far after checking this unit out since the replacement, the bell housing is holding a slight amount of oil on the bottom,
  • Posted 14 Mar 2018 06:45
  • By steppednit
  • joined 18 Oct'13 - 50 messages
  • Tennessee, United States
Steppednit,
I agree with your thoughts on the scavenger tube area and that is where I am looking also. I could be all wet but seams to me like it over fills once it is shut off raising the oil level. I do not see away to adjust the height of the tube to lower the level but.......

sitting here thinking about it may be i spoke to quickly about adjusting the spray flow?? if the flow spraying on the chain was lessened it would have to send more to the scavenger tube which in turn should *** out more oil from the bell housing possibly lowering the level???? just thinking
  • Posted 14 Mar 2018 03:14
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
The only problem I see with your thought is it only leaks when parked at least in my case. It will run all day and not leak but once shut off it will start leaking. So again in my case the amount being sprayed does not seam like it would come into play.

Thank you for your thoughts and for some it may help.
  • Posted 14 Mar 2018 02:56
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States
The spray tube on the older Hysters was adjustable. I am not sure this unit has that ability.
  • Posted 8 Feb 2018 00:31
  • By BREWSKI
  • joined 10 Jan'12 - 1,699 messages
  • Nebraska, United States
I have the exact same problem and thoughts on this problem, seems to be a volume of oil issue since its intermittent, and leaking from starters that have been recently replaced, I think its up to us to find a solution and post it, to put this evasive annoying problem to bed, any further recommendations ,from anyone with experience with this problem,I am going after the scavenger
tube area myself
  • Posted 7 Feb 2018 11:26
  • By steppednit
  • joined 18 Oct'13 - 50 messages
  • Tennessee, United States
If it was easy, everybody would do it.
Thank you for your reply Kevin
Yes it does have a wet bellhousing and the gasket between the starter and the bellhousing is sealed good no leaks there. And i agree with you it is probably the seal in the starter. But it seams to me the oil level is way to high in the bell housing. The lubracation for the chain is sprayed on to it via return line from steering so to me no real need to have 6 (that is an arbitrary number I do not know what the real depth is) inches of oil in the bottom of the bellhousing. And i know a seal is a seal but is the starter really designed to run submerged in oil? One thing I do notice is that there is no check valve in the return line so what ever is in the line when the engine is turned off will flow back into the bellhousing causing the level to rise to some extent. Since it does not appear to leak while running only after being shut off is it possible that is what is causing the problem? If so is there anyway to adjust the jet pump lower to compensate for the drain of the return oil?
Thank you again for any help replacing the unit is not in the budget any time in the near future.
  • Posted 8 Nov 2017 03:24
  • By Rebel57
  • joined 7 Nov'17 - 12 messages
  • California, United States

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