This is like a old made up comedy bit...except for the comedy part.
Here's the chain of events...
I had a small leak coming from turntable, no other leaks or issues. Since hydraulic fluid cost $50 a gallon here, I thought it prudent to stop the leak. So I pulled and resealed swing motor. No more leak! I used the machine for about an hour and the right stabilizer seal blew out. I blocked the line and went back to work. 30 minutes later the stick cylinder blew. I repacked the stick cylinder and went back to work, within 20 minutes both blade cylinders blew. None of these are seeping oil, they are just exploding. I've dumped 50 gallons of new CAT TO-4 fluid on the ground. I chained up the blade so I could go back to work and the force from the blade snapped the chain, twice. I switched to a heavy 3/8" grade 80 chain. I was able to get limited use for a few hours with the blade and stabilizer chained up. Then the batteries mysteriously started draining empty over night. Charged and tested batteries, they're fine. Could find no obvious draw. This went on for a few days, so I started kicking off the battery cutoff anytime I turned the machine off. This kept the batteries from dying. Then 2 tires blew (same hub). I replaced the tires, fired up the machine, moved 3 feet and the left stabilizer cylinder started leaking. I shut it down. Went to start it the next day and it just cranks, no start. Checking, I found the main fuse was blown (60amp). Replaced the fuse, turned on battery and burned the fuse again.
This all happened inside of 3 weeks. I doubt I put more than 3 or 4 pampered hours on it, total.
WTF is happening here? It's like it's infested with tiny snickering gremlins.
Anyone ever heard of anything like this? Something blowing a 60a fuse should be obvious, but I can find no culprit.