Connect under pressure couplers and advice needed please

[sdef]

I have a grapple rock bucket with 1/2" flat face skid steer couplers (Stucchi) and of course mating couplers (Dixon) at the FEL. This is controlled by a W.R. Long electric/hydraulic unit. I have connected the grapple to the FEL once and it was very difficult, but I got it done after a lot of swearing, etc. I removed it today to use the regular bucket and then needed to reattach the grapple later and was not successful. THe issue is with reconnecting the grapple's female connection to the FEL's male connection. I do not recall if it was the same couplers I had the problem with the first time.

I have read many articles on TBN about what causes this and how to manually release the pressure. I believe I released all of the pressure before disconnecting, and disconnection of both couplings was very easy. However, since I am new at this I may have missed something simple in this seemingly temperamental process.

The temperature was ~ 72 degrees last night when I disconnected and was around 62 degrees or cooler this morning when I tried to reconnect. I am certain I can get it done by relieving pressure as noted in many TBN posts, but do not want to mess with it and would prefer a permanent solution that I and possibly my fiance' could do with my direction.

Shortly my tractor will be 35 miles away from home at my retirement property where it will be used for clearing the home site, etc. and will not have the same resources available I presently do. I have decided I am going to replace the couplers with connect under pressure types to hopefully have a fairly permanent solution within the new couplers ratings of ~ 1500 PSI pressure differential.

Reviewing a few web sites, I see that each site will sell only a male connection or a female connection to solve the same problem. I do know that some OEMs will use both males on one side, say the implement side and females on the other side, say the FEL side. I think JD is one of these from posts I have read on TBN. My setup uses a male and female pair on each side.

Questions:

1- Do I need to replace only the males, only the females or replace all to make sure I have all circumstances covered? Or does it really make any difference as long as one coupling is replaced on one side or one on each side, male or female?

2- I want to stay with the same type of connection I currently have, except add the ability to easily connect under pressure. I have found 2 web sites that sell these and they want $55 - $62 a piece, plus shipping. These prices seem reasonable to me in reference to the regular, non pressure connect type of skid steer couplers. I did not see a ISO 16028- FC connect under pressure coupler at "Discount Hydraulic Hose". Are these prices reasonable considering I want to stay with flat face connectors or are better prices available elsewhere?

Thanks.

 

[sdef]

More investigating of this subject leads me to believe the connect under pressure couplings would just be needed on the implement side. Now I need to find out if just one or both couplings will need to be replaced, as I would guess that residual pressure could build up in either side of the cylinder, depending upon the state of the implement.

 

[Zebrafive]

I tend to agree, not needed for the tractor side since you can relieve the pressure of the tractor side........unless both sides must be connect under pressure to work.
Something you might look into is a multi-coupler. Faster makes the ones used on John Deere Loaders. They have Units for four or six hoses for tractor to loader and units for two hoses for the loader to implement. The leverage to make engagement easy. I changed the six quick couplers on my JD 6415 to loader to Multi-coupler.

 

[tony Cecil]

I was told that you have to release the pressure all the way...I found that the front bucket has to be on the ground, all the machine turned off and any hydraulic controls (relaxed) I found if just anything was suspended it was almost impossible to re-connect....Maybe this will help.....It is almost as bad as a chain saw not starting and you are exhausted, and not done anything...Tony

 

[Zebrafive]

Found some pictures of the 2 hose multi-coupler. Loader half and attachment half.

 

[sdef]

I was told that you have to release the pressure all the way...I found that the front bucket has to be on the ground, all the machine turned off and any hydraulic controls (relaxed) I found if just anything was suspended it was almost impossible to re-connect....Maybe this will help.....It is almost as bad as a chain saw not starting and you are exhausted, and not done anything...Tony

Great analogy. And yes- very similar. BTW: I did all you mentioned and have the problem anyway

 

[sdef]

I tend to agree, not needed for the tractor side since you can relieve the pressure of the tractor side........unless both sides must be connect under pressure to work.
Something you might look into is a multi-coupler. Faster makes the ones used on John Deere Loaders. They have Units for four or six hoses for tractor to loader and units for two hoses for the loader to implement. The leverage to make engagement easy. I changed the six quick couplers on my JD 6415 to loader to Multi-coupler.

The loader to implement is what I would need and it sounds like this device may use the connect under pressure couplings. Does the implement side use standard connectors? This setup would be opposite of what I have found with connect under pressure connectors and wonder how it would work to relieve pressure already built up on the implement side?

Also, what are the levers for that are in these pics? I briefly thought about adding fittings immediately before the couplings on the implement side with ball valves to cut off any pressure.

 

[J_J]

There are different types of connect under pressure QD's.

Some will connect under low pressure, about 500 lbs, and others will connect under pressure at full pressure.

The QD sets should be from same manufacturer for proper operation.

There are quite a number of QD manufacturer.

Make yourself an adapter using a dummy QD.

The dummy QD is 1/2 of the QD set with a short piece of PVC with a cap with a small hole in it.

Stuff the PVC tube with a rag, and then plug the adapter into one of the QD from the attachment.

Any expansion of the fluid will go into the PVC tube, and should be very little.

 

[Zebrafive]

The loader to implement is what I would need and it sounds like this device may use the connect under pressure couplings. Does the implement side use standard connectors? This setup would be opposite of what I have found with connect under pressure connectors and wonder how it would work to relieve pressure already built up on the implement side?

Also, what are the levers for that are in these pics? I briefly thought about adding fittings immediately before the couplings on the implement side with ball valves to cut off any pressure.

With the multi-coupler there are two halves. One fixed (mount to loader) and a mobile half (for the implement). The lever pulls the coupler together. The mobile half has pins that guide both halve together. The lever has curved groove that engages pins on the side of the mobile half. Operating the lever pulls the couplers together. A red lock button to keep everything coupled.

In post #5 the top picture is the mobile half. Two out board pins pointing up are the guide pins. In between those are the actual couplers. On the bottom are where the hoses connect. On the side you can see one of the pins that the curved groove (cam) of the lever engages. Not shown is the pin on the opposite side.
Lower picture is the fixed half. You can see the red lock button, groove is hard to see.

LMK if you need better pictures...............I'll try and find some.

 

[J_J]

Zebrafive,

Now, tell us what those couplers cost.