Looking for tips to access the fittings on the articulation joint bulkhead, where the hydraulic lines pass through. Had a line fail near the rear tandem, have the end off to the box it connects to under the motor, the other end connects through that bulkhead that's "around" the driveshaft at the articulation point. It's fits through about in the top/middle of the lines on there from what we can see. Really having trouble accessing it to even get a wrench on it. Service manual we have (goofy PDF version) talks about adding additional aux lines through there and shows to remove the front engine cover (hydraulic tank covers) and implies you can access that bulkhead and the fittings through there (from above), but we are apparently not properly sized to reach in and down and forward. We can see the fitting/line from underneath, but can't reach to it. Can sort of see it from the side through the articulation joint and almost get a wrench on it. Considering unbolting that bulkhead and pray that it will drop down just enough for us to get a wrench on it from the front/top but believe that is just wishful thinking with the 15 or so lines running through it.. Hoping somebody else has suggestions on the way to get in there to change that hose. This is an 2007 Volvo G946
Well, I don't have the answer to the question posed above by me, but we did get a solution. Working on the rig the following day in better light, we found the wrong hose was being chased once it got into the web of hoses under the hydraulic tank. The one we were after ran direct to one of the pumps and was MUCH easier to access. No tears will be shed if we never have to get at ones of the lines going through that bulkhead plate and we'd still be interested in knowing just HOW those are supposed to be accessed by anyone with experience. PS - still impressive how fast an 3/4" line can dump 40 gallons of hydraulic fluid.