Connect under pressure couplers and advice needed please

[CJONE]

CJ, I am very content at $150 for 4 couplers. I was reading on a heavy equipment forum post over the weekend and quite a few folks were having my same issue. Several of the resolutions were to use the wing nut style couplings, but the guys were also complaining about fluid leakage whenever they were disconnected (I assume upon initial disconnect). Are there wing nut style couplers that would not have the leakage, like how my present flat face couplers work?

Stucchi make a couple of flat faced no drip style of connectors that will connect under pressure. But Stucchi is known for a quality product and they are not cheap. 1 set of 1-1/4" quick couplers that I use on top drives is over $1000 a set. I will look when I get a chance today for a less expensive alternative. You have to have a threaded coupler to connect under pressure. [have to have some way to overcome the pressure]. CJ

 

[Zebrafive]

I like this idea a lot. But since I would have to purchase two more couplers anyway, like with J-J's scenario, I went the route of getting connect under pressure couplers and hope this solves any future problem.

Let us know how these work, connecting under pressure.

 

[Zebrafive]

Thanks to all who replied as each one gave a totally different perspective. I just ordered a male and female set of ISO 16028 connect under pressure couplings for the bucket grapple from Discount Hydraulic Hose for $135 delivered. I expect these to mate with the existing couplers on the tractor.

J_J: Since I would have had to purchase a set of couplers for this solution, I went with the CP types to replace the existing and am hoping I will not be troubled with pressure connection issues again. I have no idea what the quality of the new couplings are and am hoping they are as good as my current Stucchi and expect them to mate with the "regular" ISO 16028 couplings on the FEL. If not, this will end up being far more expensive than anticipated and I should have gone with your solution.

Zebrafive: I liked your scenario a lot and it would have solved the problems I have now, along with anything that could crop up in the future- no matter what happens. However, the cost for these must be astronomical. BTW: I would have purchased that set on eBay- just because...

CJ: I seriously considered the wing nut type, but all I found were made of brass and I would prefer steel. The prices (for 2 pair) were all ~ $165 plus $45 for the caps plus shipping. These ended up out of my price range for this fix.

Yup, should have bought the ebay multi coupler. I hesitated, someone else did not. Seems like when I do buy something on ebay, I find it for less in few weeks.

 

[J_J]

I don't know if you saw this or not, but here is the connect under pressure figures.

DHH says the the QD you are plugging to should have no pressure on it.

Male coupler will connect under residual pressure up to 3571 psi.
Female coupler will connect under residual pressure up to 1595 psi

I always wanted to install a hyd gage on an attachment and setting it in the sun to see what kind of pressure could be generated.

Has anyone done this.

 

[sdef]

Stucchi make a couple of flat faced no drip style of connectors that will connect under pressure. But Stucchi is known for a quality product and they are not cheap. 1 set of 1-1/4" quick couplers that I use on top drives is over $1000 a set. I will look when I get a chance today for a less expensive alternative. You have to have a threaded coupler to connect under pressure. [have to have some way to overcome the pressure]. CJ

Don't bother please CJ. I have ordered ISO 16028 compatible skid steer like couplers that are push-on, connect under pressure.

J_J: "I don't know if you saw this or not, but here is the connect under pressure figures.

DHH says the the QD you are plugging to should have no pressure on it.

Male coupler will connect under residual pressure up to 3571 psi.
Female coupler will connect under residual pressure up to 1595 psi"

Yes I saw these. I have no clue how much pressure builds up but it must be less than these specs if some folks are able to release it manually by pressing (real hard I assume and using tools) and release enough pressure.

My actual problem was a bit different as I easily removed the couplers in the evening ~ 72 degrees and in the early morning it was at least 10 degrees cooler and I had the apparent pressure build up. Now, I am assuming it is pressure build up, but it could also be a failed coupling. I will find out in a week or so when the new ones come in and will test when I relieve pressure by removing the existing couplings. Oh, I will be using teflon tape

Zebrafive: I will let y'all know about my experiences by posting back to this thread in the future. It may be awhile before I get back to using the grapple bucket again though as I am moving on to other projects, cleaning up this place to sell.

 

[CJONE]

I don't know if you saw this or not, but here is the connect under pressure figures.

DHH says the the QD you are plugging to should have no pressure on it.

Male coupler will connect under residual pressure up to 3571 psi.
Female coupler will connect under residual pressure up to 1595 psi

I always wanted to install a hyd gage on an attachment and setting it in the sun to see what kind of pressure could be generated.

Has anyone done this.

JJ I have not done this but I have had Drilling rigs [oil field] that would pull [2] 1-1/2" bolts and washers through a mounting [anchor] system for the derrick. At 2000psi the rigs operating system it would not even begin to budge these 2 bolts, so guessing 3-3500psi. At least we know the cylinders are tough! Had to build a 1/4" bleed system in the raising and scoping systems to keep this from happening. 70 psi cracking check valve to keep the oil in the cylinders in case of a leak. Fun times!! CJ

 

[sdef]

Initial test results:

I installed two new Stucchi, 1/2" connect under pressure couplings- male and female at the grapple bucket. These are ISO 16028 compatible so they should mate to any other coupling that meets the ISO standards for the flat face coupling.

I installed the couplings at the grapple side during lunch today. Before installation I tested the new couplings with each other, with the original couplings that were still on the grapple bucket and with those on the tractor and all attached and detached well with the new couplings.

When I removed the original couplings, some oil came out from the lines and I dumped out what was in the couplings. I then installed the new couplings and waited until 4:30 PM to switch buckets. The grapple sat in moderate sun and the air temp. was in the upper 80s. Even with the couple ounces of oil that was lost during the coupling installation, enough pressure had built up during the day that made attaching the female grapple coupling difficult. The difference between my 2 experiences with the original couplings vs. 2 experiences this evening with the new couplings was I was able to get the connections made with the new couplings and gave up previously with the original couplings until another day. But, the new ones were not as easy as I had hoped. I would expect that if I were to connect the bucket in the morning before the oil heats up, that with the new connectors, the mating sequence should go easier. With the original couplings I still had a very difficult time making the connections, even in the morning when it was cool.

When connecting the originals, the pressure buildup was enough that I could not mate the grapple female coupling to the tractor's male coupling at all. The male plug would not enter the female coupling the slightest little bit. With the new couplings, I can push the female about 90% of the way and that last 10% is very difficult. And when the pressure is finally released and I am able to slide that last 10% and make a complete connection, a tiny bit of oil is ejected from the coupling.

I am fairly certain that last 10% of pressure could more easily be accomplished by a younger person, as my strength is not what it once was. I feel these connections are worth the $135 delivered price. But due to my individual circumstances, I may also use the original couplings and rig up connections in a bucket or at the end of a PVC pipe to store the grapple connections at when disconnected to ensure I have no future problems.

If anything changes in the near future, I will post those.