Welcome to www.oilyhands.co.uk
Also known as www.diggers-dumpers-plant.co.uk and www.flamingskoda.com
Towable digger, excavator and backhoe website. Features Fleming Micron, Powerfab, Mantis, Benford, Roughneck, Gopher, Smalley, Tow-hoe, Standard Muscleman, Termite, Mitchell Cotts, Mini Gigant, Baromix, Euromach, Bronco, JPB, Digger 50, homemade and other small diggers. Links to current manufacturers such as Groupe-FCM and suppliers of plans for the Ground Hawg Homebuilt Backhoe and CDP Excavator. Includes other plant and mechanical information, Digger Bucket Page, Plant Photo Gallery, Dumper Restoration Project and useful links for Digger Spares and Repairs. Extra information and pictures to add to the site always appreciated. Also includes a section dedicated to preserving information about Johnson Machinery Limited.
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- Site Overview
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- Latest additions
- Plant Discussion Group
- Plant photo gallery
- Fleming Micron digger restoration
- Powerfab digger page
- Roughneck diggers
- Gopher micro excavator
- Smalley diggers
- Benford ME130 and Mantis digger
- Tow-Hoe and Standard Muscleman
- Mitchell Cotts digger
- Termite Micro Excavator
- Baromix Major
- Mini Gigant
- Euromach Jolly and Bronco Micro Excavator
- Topi Motorshovel
- Robinson Rouse CR840
- JPB2 Mini Excavator
- Digger 50
- Faucheux K240
- Benny Skorpio
- Nemag K10
- Dig-It
- Kendig
- FCM Diggers and Backhoes
- Homemade backhoes and new towable diggers
- List of known towable diggers
- Digger buckets
- Digger spares and repairs
- Towable digger V. Mini Digger?
- Frequently asked questions
- Fleming Micron engine change
- Dumper Restoration
- Dumper Restoration p. 2
- Johnson Machinery Section
- Steelfab
- Ditch clearing
- Belle Minimix 130 repair
- Older projects
Powerfab Sight Gauge Repair on Alan's digger
Many towable diggers are fitted with sight gauges to show the oil level in the hydraulic tank. These often get broken or start to leak.
Alan has recently repaired the one on his Powerfab digger and has kindly provided the information and pictures for this page.
The original sight level had a broken glass so Alan could only fill up the tank level with the bottom of the gauge.
Here's the new gauge fitted.
Here Alan has filled up the tank to the correct level.
Alan got his Oil level indicator online from Phoenix Hydraulic & Electrical Peterborough.
Alan's Powerfab is now back in action. He is working in a restricted space and has removed 100 wheel barrows of soil at this point. The Powerfab fills the barrow with just two bucketfuls.
Alternative Repair Method if no sight glass is available
If you have a broken or leaking sight gauge and you can't get one anywhere or are in a hurry there is another way to keep your digger working, just do away with it. If you blank the holes in the tank off so they are oil tight then you can keep working the digger. You can easily make a dip stick for level checking and make some marks on it based on the position of the existing site gauge.