Manitou MB25C Accumulator

[maxmb25]

Hi all, wonder if someone can help with some info.

I've got an MB25C Rough Terrain Forklift Circa 1978 with International engine still working everyday and starts first time
I have a problem with the Hydraulic Accumulator fitted beneath the offside rear axle
Its badly leaking Hydraulic fluid around the seam where the two halves of the spheres screw together .(currently has bucket tied underneath) Ive tried unscrewing the two halves to investigate but no chance no budge so dont know if its a diaphragm or a bladder
My understanding is that the Accumulator acts as a kind of Shock Absorber within the Hydraulic system and also as a pressure boost to the system under certain circumstances

Chap at local Hydraulics workshop says maybe blank it off as they are not usually fitted on forklifts but I think its because it is ROUGH TERRAIN lots of bumpy bits so lots of bangs and shocks so dont really want to blank it off as it wasnt just put there by our French friends to look pretty
He says he can get a replacement off another company for about £175 but would need to know the gas pressure it works under but no-one seems to know what it is for this model
SO
What is the gas pressure for this model
Is it a bladder or a diaphragm type
Is it really necessary

mANITOU havent bothered to reply to my query so can anyone help ??

[Robban_C]

I think that some gas accumulators can be pre-charged with "lots" of pressure and then you can release pressure until it works as expected.
Some accumulators can have the pressure "recharged" by a hydraulics shop if you release to much pressure.

[maxmb25]

Thanks for info that would certainly make sense. I think there's abit of "Health and Safety liabilty paranoia" going on at local hydraulic shop's suppliers as they are very reluctant to charge a replacement with "lots" of pressure, insisting on knowing design pressure for specific machine.
I'll have to keep hassling Manitou until they deign to reply !!

[innes]

Thanks for info that would certainly make sense. I think there's abit of "Health and Safety liabilty paranoia" going on at local hydraulic shop's suppliers as they are very reluctant to charge a replacement with "lots" of pressure, insisting on knowing design pressure for specific machine.
I'll have to keep hassling Manitou until they deign to reply !!

Dont agree that this makes sense,it is at the best bad engineering practise and at the worst dangerous! accumulators like any other hydraulic component are designed to withstand a given pressure and if this is exceeded then they could rupture or explode, they are usually charged with nitrogen and some have the max pressure stamped into the body.Accumulators have no releif valve untill they are installed into a hydraulic circuit,I have charged and changed many of these components as a OEM service engineer and I understand the hyd shops reluctance to give it "lots of pressure" how much is this? I have little time for H&S liability paranoia but perhaps the hyd people should have better explained the implications of your request.
Hope you get the info from Manitou and good luck

[maxmb25]

Thanks for that AM , I will continue my quest for a solution and in the mean time buy another drum of hydraulic fluid.