Leaking hydro fluid Workhorse GT1800

[homefried1@yahoo.com 2]

Brand new member here, thanks for letting me in!

 

I have an old workhorse gt1800 that I inherited from from father in law. It has always had a small leak, you would have to add oil all along. Last time I tried to use it, it poured oil. I cleaned it up and looked it over best I could, put oil in it and fired it up and when I tried to use the hydro, it was just boiling oil out down in the hole where the lift lever goes in. There is one fitting down in there, its hard to get to and I didnt see it actually leaking but oil was coming from somewhere and I dont see any place else it could be coming out. 

 

I found some talk of that fitting on here on other strings and have decided that might be the worst one to get to on the machine. Does anyone have any advice for me about this leak?

[ebinmaine 73,669]

 

 

Here's a thread with a LOT of information about GT1800s. 

 

 

 

 

Trina and I built this for friends. 

 

We've had several hydraulic leaks and 

 

>> MAYBE << 

 

We've now chased them all ...

 

@cleat has several excellent threads on machines with your type of Eaton 1100 transmission.  

 

 

[kpinnc 14,988]

If I'm understanding your post, the leak is in the steering tower somewhere near the spool valve. 

 

If that is correct, given how far you have to disassemble everything it might be worth planning to rebuild the valve and cylinder, and replace the hydraulic lines. Otherwise you might become overly proficient in disassembly and reassembling the tower and controls. 

 

Just my opinion... 

[ebinmaine 73,669]

51 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

If I'm understanding your post, the leak is in the steering tower somewhere near the spool valve. 

 

If that is correct, given how far you have to disassemble everything it might be worth planning to rebuild the valve and cylinder, and replace the hydraulic lines. Otherwise you might become overly proficient in disassembly and reassembling the tower and controls. 

 

Just FACTS... 

 

There. I fixed it for ya. 

 

Trina knows this first hand.  

[953 nut 61,052]

4 hours ago, homefried1@yahoo.com said:

when I tried to use the hydro, it was just boiling oil out down in the hole where the lift lever goes in. There is one fitting down in there, its hard to get to and I didnt see it actually leaking but oil was coming from somewhere and I dont see any place else it could be coming out. 

From your writeup I presume there is no leaking when the lever is not moved but there is a leak when it is used to raise a load. It could be the spool valve, a hose fitting, or a hose that is leaking.  Clean everything thoroughly and run the engine then gently tap the lift handle in the DOWN direction and see if there is a leak, if not give it a quick gentle tap UP and see where the leak is coming from.

Repair parts are readily available from Wheel Horse Parts and More.  https://wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/product-category/hydraulics/

[Brockport Bill 2,014]

I've not had hydraulic leak from 1800 but did on c175 Blackhood with kt17 engine. 

Removing the master hydraulic valve from inside hoodstand plus 4 hoses was brutal so I decided I was only going to do it once because I couldn't determine precise leak location...so i removed master valve and took apart and installed new O rings plus all 4 new hoses ...no leak thereafter...only had to do once....yippee! A bit expensive for 4 hoses but didn't want to repeat the job.....lots of bruised cut knuckles 

[953 nut 61,052]

4 hours ago, Brockport Bill said:

Removing the master hydraulic valve from inside hoodstand plus 4 hoses was brutal

The older models like the Electro and Charger weren't as pretty with the valve hanging off the side but they were easy to maintain.

  

[pfrederi 18,810]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

The older models like the Electro and Charger weren't as pretty with the valve hanging off the side but they were easy to maintain.

  

 

I will take ugly but easy to work on over elegant/slick design any day...

[homefried1@yahoo.com 2]

Heres what the pipe looks like on a gt1600

[953 nut 61,052]

4 minutes ago, homefried1@yahoo.com said:

Heres what the pipe looks like on a gt1600

Is that what is leaking on you. If so you could buy the fittings and a hose from Surplus Center.  https://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydraulics/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18526732283&gbraid=0AAAAAo6yYyqtA3rKB1-xlS_ayELjfi1t0&gclid=CjwKCAjwiY_GBhBEEiwAFaghvocA81ohnTIMe1Fl3HB4-JoYyZ4JeF3XemwhGG3_EdfZ0mEGYstDORoCtJ0QAvD_BwE

[Wayne0 1,317]

More than likely, if it's at the valve, it's the fitting on the end of a hose. I had 2 blow off before I got smart and replaced all the hoses.

With the amount of work it takes to get that valve out, you only want to do it once!

[homefried1@yahoo.com 2]

I just wish it were as easy to get to on a gt1800, as it is on the pictured gt1600! I'll get it eventually.

[c-series don 10,259]

That’s not a GT-1600, the 1600 only came in an 8-speed model. On one of my GT-1800’s I replaced that steel pipe with a hydraulic hose that I had made. Probably would have been much cheaper to buy the correct one on E-Bay, but I was in a hurry and needed it right away. I believe all the eighties and early nineties Eaton 1100’s were the same and have that pipe, it’s not specific to a GT-1800 

[ebinmaine 73,669]

18 hours ago, homefried1@yahoo.com said:

I just wish it were as easy to get to on a gt1800, as it is on the pictured gt1600! I'll get it eventually.

 

 

2 hours ago, c-series don said:

not a GT-1600

 

Agreed. 

That was @cleat 's pic I think? that he'd shared. 

Likely a 520H chassis which is the same as a GT1800. 

 

 

2 hours ago, c-series don said:

all the eighties and early nineties Eaton 1100’s were the same

 

Frame and transmission yes. 

There's a difference in that pipe at some point. 

IIRC it was based on the location and angle of the transmission oil filter mount. 

I remember this because we got bit by the pipe being different.  

 

 

[ebinmaine 73,669]

On 9/12/2025 at 8:59 AM, homefried1@yahoo.com said:

 

 

 

 

Here's the two different types. 

Now the transmission filter end is at different angles.  

[cleat 7,505]

7 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

 

 

Here's the two different types. 

Now the transmission filter end is at different angles.  

For some reason wheel horse used rubber or hard lines for supply and return to the hydraulic valve from the hydro. Also the hard line from the filter to the hydro is different whether or not it is fed from a hard line or a rubber line.

Another difference is the filter bolts to the fender support around 1/2" or 3/4" further back in another set of holes with the hard line models.

 

Edited September 14 by cleat

[homefried1@yahoo.com 2]

I'm still not absolutely certain that this is where the leak is. It is the right location, but I cant see the oil coming out, only seeing it pooling up right under the fitting. It gushes out!

 

I bought a set of crow foot wrenches and put the 11/16  on an extension and tried to loosen the attachment nut, but even with a cheater bar, it did not turn. I'm thinking I may have to remove the rear end to get to it to get that fitting out.

[homefried1@yahoo.com 2]

On 9/14/2025 at 6:52 PM, cleat said:

For some reason wheel horse used rubber or hard lines for supply and return to the hydraulic valve from the hydro. Also the hard line from the filter to the hydro is different whether or not it is fed from a hard line or a rubber line.

Another difference is the filter bolts to the fender support around 1/2" or 3/4" further back in another set of holes with the hard line models.

 

Here are some pictures of my tractor. Have you ever taken the rear end out of one? Is that a big job? thanks for the help.

[cleat 7,505]

2 hours ago, homefried1@yahoo.com said:

Here are some pictures of my tractor. Have you ever taken the rear end out of one? Is that a big job? thanks for the help.

I would start by giving it a real good degreasing and cleaning so you can more easily see the leak.

You would not want to disconnect a hydraulic line that is dirty and get anything into the hydraulic system either.

 

[Wayne0 1,317]

Have you found where the leak is?

If the leak is in the hood stand, you will have to take a lot of stuff apart to get at it.

Ask me how I know.

[mrc 963]

i'm with pfrederi.   out in the open is soooo much easier to maintain.   plus i like seeing all the valves and hoses.  you can just look at it and see if a hose is becoming worn.

 

regards

mike