hydraulic oil res. leak

[michaelpatri]

We returned home from a wonderful trip - first to Charlotte to participate in Spartan Chassis Owner Training, then to Cedar Point, OH for a couple of days, then to the Newmar Rally in Goshen, IN.

Welllllll - when we got home, I noticed a widening puddle of oil under the engine. Closer observation showed that it was hydraulic oil leaking at a pretty good clip from the hydraulic oil resevoir.

I called Spartan, and they arranged to have a mobile tech come out today and change the resevoir.

The problem seemed to be a cracked weld at the large nipple on the bottom of the tank.

It seems to me that they are asking this nipple to support a lot of weight, as the hyd filter a couple of fittings and 2 hoses are supported by this one nipple with no other supporting brackets.

Has any one else had a problem with their hyd tank leaking?

Spartan was GREAT in arranging to have the unit repaired in my driveway (I had told them that I did not want it towed, and I did not want to drive it with the hydraulic leak). However, I wonder if there is a design flaw in that they are asking an awful lot of weight to be supported by this one nipple which appears to be welded on the bottom of the hyd tank.

How about it -- any opinions out there??????

Thanks

Mike