Excavator Rebuild: valve control block disassembly - Hitachi EX120-2

[@thomas4844]

You got balls Matt. I’d be so overwhelmed at this point I’d want to just stop. Huge respect for you and your perseverance.

[@kirk467]

Definitely my thinking! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@josephcarino5829]

Dudes a beast

[@Frank-Thoresen]

I was thinking about the same as he dug into it. I don't envy any mechanic who repair these valve blocks and specially not like first time guy

[@troyfortune4124]

Agreed!

[@cv990a4]

Agreed, with the proviso that currently all he's done is disassemble. It will be massively more impressive once it's all reassembled. By the time he's done, he'll be one hell of a heavy equipment mechanic, between the dozer and this.

[@scottwarner1733]

Matt, what I like most about watching you work on projects is that you take the time to explain it, you use tools that the everyday guy can afford, and finally you breathe new life into these old machines and make them look fresh out of the factory. Several of the other channels that I watch get the machines back in to working order (probably what I would do) but you take it several steps further which I appreciate. Your wife must also be a saint and very supportive ! :) Keep it going man!

[@OwenFromOhio]

In my 72 years, I've worked on everything from Harleys to Clocks... I've always thought to myself that I could put together a 747 "IF" I took it apart first! Every time I watch you work, I think of the old saying... How do you eat an Elephant? Answer: One bite at a time! Keep up the great work, I very much enjoy and admire watching your work! Thank you for sharing!

[@merlepatterson]

You can (lightly) ball hone (steel wool maybe?) those bores without hurting anything. Also any minimal bleed-over/bypassing from wear shouldn't be too much of a problem as long as the valve block remains sealed good from external leaking. The only thing which might be effected is a slight (undetectable) drop in power performance for the individual worn valve circuit. But to my eyes I'd say "Clean it and send it". I don't think you'll notice any meaningful degraded performance.

[@dpk241]

I second this. Good cleaning, replace the O-rings so it doesn't leak and run it all day. There are machines in much worse shape operating just fine.

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

I don't think I would use a ball hone. I have had good success removing rust from firearms with 0000 steel wool and WD40 without causing any damage or removing any material.

[@jlucasound]

Right. Not like it is pistons and rings. Those valve bodies are built like tanks. Replacing all rubber (that is deteriorated) should make it like new. This machine is going to be a "like new" "monster", once again.

[@jlucasound]

@@Watchyn_Yarwood Agreed. Ball hone is too aggressive. Not needed.

[@verteup]

Do not ball hone any valve bore. I repeat do not ball hone any valve bores.

[@bobferranti5222]

Matt, I would soak everything in Evaporust. It will remove any rust and never hurt the original finish. I've used it on heavily rusted machined parts and they come out looking like they were just produced. Keep up the great work Pal!

[@KenHiroshi627]

Mad props Matt! That whole pump system is no joke, makes my head spin! Keep up the great work, can't wait to see the final product!

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

thank you!

[@gordonagent7037]

Matt, any part of owning machinery on a farm is the expense of maintenance. The fact that you tackle these overhauls yourself is exemplary but after watching your effort on the Cat dozer I have no doubt in your ability to do this work. I used to take heaps of pics at every stage so I could roll through as a reminder, plus the manual. Fantastic effort as always.

[@davidsheehan6396]

Just had my house pressure washed to remove loose paint, I always thought my pressure washer did not have enough ump to get the job done but it turns out it was the nozzle. Check out getting a TURBO ROTATING NOZZLE it will make a world of difference in cleaning your parts (ask any exterior house painter). Pressure washer direct has a writeup on what numbers nozzle to select

[@yowser8780]

Yup... It doubles or triples the effectiveness of the pressure washer. About $15. Got to be careful on wood though... it digs into the grain !

[@Frank-Thoresen]

Absolutely agree with you

[@incubatork]

Agree but be careful if you get close mine will drill a cinder block quite easily.

[@azjv]

I am always amazed at the hot water shower valve in the shop. what an inspired idea. a good hot water pressure sprayer costs in the thousands. Your version costs virtually nothing and looks to do just as good.

[@mikesmith8952]

My pressure washer allows for a max temperature of 160 degrees water to be used. The PW was bought brand new at Sears some 30 years ago now. I finally rebuilt the pump two years ago and it still works like the Day it was new! Briggs & Stratton 9hp, 4,000psi. Check your owners manual before using Hot water as some pumps will be destroyed by hot 🥵 water.

[@tomfaath9106]

Regarding cleaning parts…Zep industrial degreaser…purple…works great!!! Also great work, I built machinery for a living…I wouldn’t tackle the valves…you have my respect!!!

[@josephcarino5829]

Think i will dissemble my giant excavator and restore it in my back yard. Props Matt Props

[@SPUDHOME]

That dish soap, that cleans ducks, after a oil spill. Diluted and sprayed on. Left to penetrate. Then high pressure wash. Works, pretty good.

[@MrBucala]

I'm about to undertake a similar project on two three valve monoblocks made by Hamworthy. I plan to use a gun cleaning kit and bore solvent to clean my valves. I'll even use gun polishing brushes in the bores. You might find decent results with this. Good Luck!

[@diggingdave3868]

Never ceases to amaze me that no matter how intricate and complicated something looks, it Never fazes you. Id've taken one look at that valve block and bailed out immediately......total respect to you, Matt..👍

[@wrstew1272]

Dave- You ever look at the wiring schematic for your car or truck? Better to not 😂

[@diggingdave3868]

@@wrstew1272 nope... I know my limitations, buddy...😂😂

[@thomastaylor298]

Admire your courage, keep up the good work. I enjoy your videos a lot. Glad your wife is a patient lady to permit this so close to living area.

[@2nickles647]

A wife permitting 😄😄😄 Get a different wife...

[@patrickjordan7670]

Hi matt iv been over 50 years on excavators owner opperater and never seen a valve block been stripped down and I can do most jobs it will be interesting to see it all going back together and even more interesting to see the machine finished it will be like a new machine it wasn't well maintained from new.great videos 👍👍

[@PG-ku9qd]

You, my friend, are truly not afraid. That is a hard core job.

[@user-se7vt5ow4e]

GUNK ultra degreaser works really well on cleaning up greasy dirt encrusted parts.

[@expensivefreeadvice8530]

2nd this. No scrubbing needed, just wash it off.

[@alanm3438]

Way beyond my comfort zone. So many parts. I hope the build goes well. Good see you and keep up the good work.

[@Michael-gp7mv]

Matt,i thought this was going to become mission impossible but when you said that the oven cleaner was lemon scented I knew everything would come out in the wash pun intended,you’re a brave man,looking forward to the next vid,thanks for this one.🇦🇺🦘👌👌👌👌

[@staconcrete2140]

Matt you’re crazy and I love it. I can’t wait to see the series play out

[@joeromanak8797]

What’s next, an engine rebuild on an F-22? I’m willing to take a leap of faith on some things but I’d run from a project like this. Kudos for proceeding boldly. I will relax and breath better after you have it back together and working flawlessly. We’re behind you all the way! 🥸👍👀🔧🔨✅❗️

[@kevinblevins2612]

Dude you got some hairy coconuts!!! Hats off to you sir!!!

[@allanrichards3752]

I don't think those little rust spots will affect anything. I would just clean them up and also get any stuff that is stuck to the bores off then flush it out and reassemble. I admire your work I bet there are only people in a few refurbishment shops who have stripped the valve block like you.

[@krnsssdz]

A new video for saturday, perfect! That block looks like a nightmare to put together, allthough you will surely ace it. Have a nice weekend!

[@mikesmith8952]

My pressure washer allows for a max temperature of 160 degrees water to be used. The PW was bought brand new at Sears some 30 years ago now. I finally rebuilt the pump two years ago and it still works like the Day it was new! Briggs & Stratton 9hp, 4,000psi. Check your owners manual before using Hot water as some pumps will be destroyed by hot 🥵 water.

[@DeirdreHickey-nx8nt]

Matt, my goodness, how are you ever going to get all those tiny and big pieces back together again. You must have some system. Very well done , you are amazing. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@greggb1416]

Well hell Matt, even a caveman…, such as myself, could take that apart…, course, no way in hell I could get it back together. Total respect to your abilities, great video. Thank you sir.

[@andrewcooper8980]

Using the engine stand was a nice idea

[@dustcommander100]

Amazing work!!! I think hydraulic fluid does a lot to limit corrosion. Good stuff!

[@joelx77]

Thank you for showing your organization system for putting things back together... I would be totally lost!

[@Continental1997]

Your a brave man Matt! Outstanding!

[@lifeinbuyck]

nice work Matt! always so thorough and you explain what you're doing and what does what...always informative and fun to watch...give Charlie a good boy from youtube!

[@stoptheirlies]

Jesus Matt! that's the stuff of nightmares, far too much to remember, good job it's being video'd. Well done, you are braver than me. Bob. UK

[@stephenpoe2037]

Tedious progress ! Keep plugging away ! Thanks for sharing !

[@tylerpatchin4246]

Matt, your valve block is completely fine. Ive seen much worse in machines running 10/hrs day. What we do in our shop is take fine emery cloth to the spools and chuck then in a lathe to “polish” them. You can also take an appropriate size ball hone on a drill for the holes for the spools. Rapid in an out motion while honing. The spools should slide freely. Lube is your friend.

[@jessebimbo6361]

You’re amazing Matt tackling at Val body pretty amazing. I do it more frequently, but I’d like to, but I found that vaporous is one of the best things to just soak those things in it out all the rust really good love your content.

[@snowfire45]

You have awesome self esteem and confidence keep up this real content 😊😊👍👍👍

[@smaggies]

Good luck with so many parts, keep moving I'll be here. :)

[@carsonwashburn1]

I’ve been enjoying these videos so much!

[@LeonisLupusRex]

Nice vid Matt i did get myself my own Yanmar B 15-3 EX excavator this weak and today i fixed the right track tensioner and over the next year i am gona fix it up nice and good and use it on my property. Gota say its fun fixing them up and puting them to work.

[@n8xu]

Perseverance personified. Great work

[@steveofire56765]

Nice job stripping and cleaning that valve block. For all the nooks and crannies: a children's battery powered toothbrush works good. They're super cheap, like $8, so get your kids new ones often and "relocate" the old ones to the barn

[@markc9400]

I started watching Your channel, when You first drove up on the Cat dozer. I thought, This guys out of his mind, and in Way over His head. I than couldn't stop watching! I love your easy going attitude on overwhelming projects. Keep up the good work Matt! I'm rooting for You.

[@roberthocking9138]

Best of luck putting all that together again Matt , looks a nightmare to me. Charlie was very content to be in the warm, on a mattress and nearby you, one happy dog.

[@mcjok88]

Thanks Matt!

[@TechGorilla1987]

I'm @3:15 in to the video and I am already mentally overwhelmed with the task you're undertaking this time. Just - daunting.

[@lawrencep7897]

My experience with hydraulics is replace the seals and run it you may have a touch of leak by but not enough to worry about. It’s not like your using it every day.

[@bennieb1466]

You can also use a piece of dowel rod and saw a notch in one end and cut strips of scotch brite and stick in the slot on a drill.

[@Scrapy-ih7ob]

love the tear down verry meticulous in layout, no different than tearing down "HDU" for F/a 18 plus you have manual too put back together, i would diagnose those inner issues as long as wasn't chipping, and it can be smoothed out to prevent further damage and there weren't any issues prior while assembled in that particular system I reassemble with new components (Orings Teflon) call it good. like you said finding one in better shape is always shot in the dark possible waste of money. nice tear down

[@johnnydelio7078]

Maybe a bath in evaporust to clean everything up on the inside?

[@donandnecolemonroe1576]

Aviation Simple Green work great. I use it for all my automotive engine clean up restoration and on my airplane engine under belly. melats the oil and grease away.

[@phillipdean9879]

Love ya work Matt! Always interesting! 🇦🇺🍺🍺

[@jamesmichael3998]

Looks like fun, maybe use a long skinny wood dowel with a slit cut on the end and slide the scotch brite on the dowel stick then turn with a drill. Good luck. Cheers from Jacksonville Florida 🌞

[@morganmurphy6726]

Love your calm,persistent,never say die attitude! Thanks for the awesome content! Greetings from New Zealand 🇳🇿 and Merry Christmas!

[@johnhenderson8360]

I wonder if a machine shop would have an ultrasonic cleaner where they could soak? I gotta say you got way more guts that I to tackle something that complex. May hat is off to you!

[@donaldcreamer7788]

Matt, you're a pretty clever guy, but holy smokes, are you sure about this.

[@carlf8291]

Wow that would be in a basket and pushed under the bench and I'd have to buy a new one because I'd never get it back together and working.

[@JerrellKull]

The absolute best degreaser is Formula 20, from Whiting Systems in Little Rock, Arkansas. Spray it on, and watch everything run off. Take care.

[@craigdreisbach5956]

You can clean up those bores using giant Q-tips covered with fine valve lapping compound. Load the q-tips in a drill. Kind Regards, Craig

[@TechGorilla1987]

@11:18 - I think it's Simple Green that makes a spray bottle of BBQ and grill cleaner. It's just as potent (if not more) than the aerosol stuff, but the mist and fumes are greatly reduced. I keep it as a quick spot de-greaser in my kitchen.

[@tennysoncason772]

Nice work.

[@MikeKehoe-re8ck]

It should cleanup fine. Each block is unique. You can not exchange parts from to the other. Watch Wes Work and Farm craft 101 have good videos on hydraulics.

[@willmechling2537]

Go to your local machine shop, with the part, and see if you can have them polish it out. Most mechanics sometimes forget that. I have...

[@paulsouth4794]

Any possibility of giving it a really deep clean and using epoxy? Afterall the usage will be low .

[@Bereft777]

Carpet cleaner worked a bit better than oven cleaner...just tried it in a pinch and still had to scrub but not nearly as much.

[@MikeBaxterABC]

32:42 That's good you have confidence, to me?? .. It seems like a HUGE undertaking to reassemble all that :)

[@duncanvowles7100]

Wow I take my hat off to you Matt, great work if you work methodicly you can do anything. Graet channel .

[@leeroyweb1]

Could you clean inside with a bottle cleaner on drill? Nice work Matt, cant wait for it to go back together.💯

[@HolzMichel]

given the overall preponderance of what function the machine will have for you Matt, the valve block is more than serviceable. run some more scotchbrite thru it and clean it up as best you can, the rest will eventually wear off

[@haydenc2742]

Not a hydraulic guy...but would coating the stuff in WD-40 help prevent surface rust on it until it's time to re-assemble? Man...tons of stuff on it, hopefully it will go back together easily and you will have a working excavator soon...it's gonna be a beast! Keep em coming!!!!

[@robknights7205]

My head was spinning as I watched you pull that apart . So many parts to that hydraulic block .Did you have an exploded parts book? Lots of video and good pictures are good to prompt your memory when re assembling the whole thing .. But , I have found that these type of things have a certain logic to their makeup and experience teaches you that logic . But, well done mate .

[@John-rf4sv]

👍looking forward to seeing your progress well done ✊🇬🇧

[@educatedmanholecoverbyrich8890]

Use a BRASS rotary wire brush to remove the rust in the bores. This will not damage anything. You could also use a honing tool afterwards to remove any light burring. New neoprene O-rings will finish off the job. Was the lot out with hydraulic fluid. Good to go. As long as there is no vertical scoring, you should be fine. Brave guy.

[@bluesaberwolf7644]

I think you can run it its not terrible

[@kirk467]

I wouldn’t hesitate to change all the o-rings if you’re going to take it apart!

[@toeknee5464]

I was just thinking at the end of the project I wonder how much a new machine would cost compared to what you put into this, because like a lot of guys do a few cylinders and maybe hoses and a engine service and some repairs, like what you are doing you have a new machine or fully rebuilt, so if you are thinking it cost a lot, we would love to know too just for comparison I suppose

[@d00dEEE]

Hey, Matt, it's raining again. Still. 😁

[@oddwad6290]

I had a travel valve body apart with everything layed out on a table . Table got jarred , but I guessed putting spools back . Runs fine , but one spool has a continuous slo leak around end . Old wipers where put back unfortunately . $300.00 for a rebuild kit . No . Maybe I could get improvement , if I carefully match by micrometer measurements ?

[@justjoe7313]

All the same looking valves are made separately from the bores and both of them are made to the tolerance. When new, they could me matched by tolerance, but probably not for machines like this, they are simply assembled and they work. Making things with such tight tolerance takes a lot of time and that's why hydraulics are expensive. In use each valve makes different space in the hole and you could probably match tolerances, but it's best to keep each valve in it's hole.

[@gregorythomas333]

I use Super Clean Foaming Cleaner Degreaser with very good success...you can't get the really heavy duty version anymore but the one currently on Amazon is okay.

[@culturalheritage4550]

to clean such stuff off just spray diesel with high pressure

[@donbennington677]

I'd just like to say, where did all those parts come from and what did you do with the valve block? Scary from where I'm standing. I'll be watching you

[@jlucasound]

PNW Hillbilly (on the T-Shirts with even a "cartoon" picture of the machines).

[@prinzeugenvansovoyen732]

A guy I know used such plugs in order to wash a backhoe hydraulic block with mineral spirit solvents, plugs got sticky from whatever solvent and primer+paint& paint thinner he used but he had to pull the plugs with woodscrews, a small crowbar and a gas torch😅😂😂😂 Then he had to clean each plugged end with a wire brush with cordless drill and pneumatic burr with a wire brush head, then he sure wished he got paid for his time

[@oakleyjack7600]

“Wots of Wuck”,,,Matt 🐰👍🤔

[@wagon9082]

Good video

[@michaelhaiden6718]

Interesting to watch but don't believe I would have went beyond pressure washing. Too overwhelming for my liking

[@davebrittain9216]

Don't bother using oven cleaner on that. Especially if there are aluminum parts as it makes the aluminum look awful. Just get a mini pump spray bottle with varsol in it and soak it down and powerwash it with hot water. Works fantastic and is cheap.

[@MrGbarj]

Do you happen to know the link for those plastic plugs you used from Amazon. Really enjoy y'alls videos. Thank you.

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

I don't, but just search for silicon plugs

[@MrGbarj]

@PacificNorthwestHillbilly thank you, can't wait to see how the valve block turns out.

[@smca7271]

Kero siphoned in water blaster....is the lazyest and works

[@wijim1948]

Very bad pitting in that boom bore. I wish you the best.

[@cg8469]

"lemon flavor" lmfao bro don't eat the oven cleaner

[@yezok01]

Those valve bores look pretty sketchy vales and bores are perwcsion ground best 5ak3 it to a hydraulic shop. Probably need to be bored and oversised valves

[@Tim_G_Bennett]

I have to have a bit of a laugh at your into, you're doing way more then fixing it up, it's going to be almost a total rebuild. I haven't had much to do with hydraulics but I wouldn't worry about that bit of rust. I think the cost of replacing most of it would outweigh the benefits.

[@nigelorme4703]

Matt look for a product called GUNK from the uk

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

My experience with a bore scope is, it makes everything look10 times worse. The fingernail test works well. Nice vid as always Matt.

[@markcloer5821]

Your confidence at attacking that valve body is off the scale!

[@flowerstone]

As long as there is no scarring on the spools they will be okay. Surface rust is okay. If you can clean it and not feel any pitting you’re golden. Heck of a project on this one. If you’ve got good manuals you will make it through. 😊

[@bborkzilla]

I've rebuilt engines and transmissions, but the complexity of that thing gives me the willies. Kudos to you!

[@HamiltonvilleFarm]

I laughed when Matt was talking about the oven cleaner and said "I'm lazy" .....😂😂 uh, no. You're not.

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

Thanks! Keep up the good work out there!