I replaced the rear center (hydractive) sphere on Rattiva this morning in my usual way, reused the seal, hand-tight and so on. The damm thing leaked
Replaced the seal. Still leaked although marginally less perhaps.
I wondered for a moment if I'd damaged the sphere block in using a large percussive instrument and a large punch to remove the old sphere.
But no, close inspection of the replacement sphere, an old accumulator that had lost a bit of puff, I found this:
That's paint on the sealing surface
When they painted it there was a bit of overspray. Cleaned it up and removed a rime of corrosion on the sphere block face and all is now good...Odd it never leaked in service as an accumulator...
