Took my rig to a shop in Detroit and spotted something weird on their hangar floor

They had this old hydraulic mule parked next to a 737 and oil was pooling under it like crazy. Has anyone else dealt with those old mules leaking way worse than the newer electric ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

bailey.jennifer12d ago

Wait, are those old mules really that bad? I used to think they were just fine, like reliable tanks or something. But then my buddy had one dump hydraulic fluid all over his shop floor during a tire change and it took forever to clean up. The new electric ones are way cleaner, no mess, no stink. Idk, maybe the old ones just get leaky after a while, but that experience changed my mind for sure.

fiona_kim9712d ago

Wouldn't you know it, that's exactly the kind of mess that makes you rethink everything, huh? I totally get why that experience would change your mind, because a leak that big is just a nightmare to deal with no matter how reliable the machine used to be. It's hard to argue with something that doesn't leave a puddle the size of a kiddie pool on your floor.

lewis.brian11d agoTop Commenter

Yeah, "reliable tanks" is a good way to put it. But here's the thing, those old mules weren't exactly leak-free from the factory. The hydraulic fluid dump during a tire change isn't really a getting-old issue. It's more about the design. They had a bad habit of letting fluid flow back into the lines when you cracked a fitting. Newer electric ones are sealed systems, so you don't get that sudden gusher. Still, for basic hauling, the old ones will outwork a lot of stuff.