Summary of Change
Effective immediately, the 1/8″ NPT grease (aka Zerk) fitting previously installed on the SV-50 and SVX-50 valve housings has been replaced with a 1/8″ NPT steel plug.
Reason for Change
This change was implemented to improve long-term reliability and eliminate external leakage issues reported by some customers.
The grease fitting occasionally allowed minor seepage of hydraulic fluid that originated from the return port. This could be caused by three potential factors: (1) faulty grease fitting that will not hold minimal pressure from valve shift interflow, (2) excessive back pressure from the return port, or (3) grease fitting oriented downward. Replacing the grease fitting with a plug fully eliminates this potential leak point from all three factors and has no impact on valve performance or function.
Maintenance Impact
The grease fitting was originally included to allow field greasing of the valve when operating with water-based hydraulic fluid. However, most SV-50 and SVX-50 valves are used with water-resistant or oil-based hydraulic fluids, which provide adequate internal lubrication and do not require greasing.
If grease application is desired in a water-based hydraulic fluid system or before placing the valve back into long-term storage after use:
- Remove the 1/8″ NPT plug.
- Inject grease using a standard grease coupler.
- Reinstall the plug with Teflon tape or a PTFE based pipe dope, using 10-12 ft-lb. (finger tight + 1.5-2 turns).
This procedure achieves the same result as the previous grease fitting, without introducing a potential leak point.
Documentation Updates
All related technical documents have been updated to reflect this change, including:
– Valve Technical Specification Sheets
– Valve Maintenance Instructions
Customer Impact
– No change to valve dimensions, performance, or maintenance intervals.
– Improved sealing integrity due to elimination of an external fitting.
– The valve remains fully serviceable for greasing when required.
Questions or Feedback
Please review the maintenance instructions for further information.
For additional information or support regarding this change, please contact:
PacSeal Hydraulics – Technical Support
📧 sales@pacsealhydraulics.com
📞 714-529-9495
Committed to continuous improvement and reliable performance.
