Who Makes Their Own Hoses?

[Avenger]

Growing up on the farm we always took our blown hydraulic hoses into town for replacement. The local hardware store would measure the hose, cut new hose to length, crimp on the ends, and I wouldn't even have to pay at the counter. Just charge it to us. Time was always running out when these things happen.

I got hired as a mechanic for a large tractor dealership several... several years ago. We did the same service as that small town hardware store. But we used an electric crimper just like the one at the hardware store, and very similar to this one:

UA-4 | Compact Electric Hose Crimper Bundle W/ Dies

Check out the deal on UA-4 | Compact Electric Hose Crimper Bundle W/ Dies at DiscountHydraulicHose.com

www.discounthydraulichose.com

But that one cost $5,686!!

It would be great if I owned a hardware store or dealership, but I don't. I don't even farm anymore!

But I have blown hydraulic lines, and when I do, I have to take in to someplace local and get it fixed. Most dealerships have the ability, but for them, its more of a drop-it-off-and-leave type of scenario. That's never ideal.

There is one local place I use for all my hose related needs, a shop called "House of Hose" and they supply just about every kind of fitting, hose, clamp, valve, you name it. They are awesome!... and they know it. They charge a premium, but worse, they keep bankers hours. Open 7am-4pm M-F. If you blow a hose 4pm on a Friday, you're up a creek.

The last time I blew a hose was on my backhoe. The hose was the return line for the bucket curl, the longest one on the entire backhoe. ~$250 to replace it from HoH.

Now, I don't blow hoses often. Defiantly not enough to justify that electric bench mounted crimper for almost $6k! But I did see these:
Amazon Crimper Tool

If I got one of those, a small spool of hose, and a few fittings, I could replace my own lines? I don't like being at the beg and mercy of others for anything. Especially if I have to take time off work to go get a hose repaired thats also going to cost me big $.
A $130 for the tool is attractive, but I have my doubts that it will crimp and hold enough for the pressures of my tractor.

Does anyone make their own hydraulic hoses using one of these manual crimpers? How do you like it?

 

[i7win7]

Depending on how it's routed, BH needs the correct length of hose. Now on my grapple, extra length is not an issue. I use 4' NPT hoses from TSC. The adaptors and fittings don't wear out and can be reused. Extra hose, only $20, faster and cheaper than an emergency trip to town.

 

[sd455dan]

Growing up on the farm we always took our blown hydraulic hoses into town for replacement. The local hardware store would measure the hose, cut new hose to length, crimp on the ends, and I wouldn't even have to pay at the counter. Just charge it to us. Time was always running out when these things happen.

I got hired as a mechanic for a large tractor dealership several... several years ago. We did the same service as that small town hardware store. But we used an electric crimper just like the one at the hardware store, and very similar to this one:

UA-4 | Compact Electric Hose Crimper Bundle W/ Dies

Check out the deal on UA-4 | Compact Electric Hose Crimper Bundle W/ Dies at DiscountHydraulicHose.com

www.discounthydraulichose.com

But that one cost $5,686!!

It would be great if I owned a hardware store or dealership, but I don't. I don't even farm anymore!

But I have blown hydraulic lines, and when I do, I have to take in to someplace local and get it fixed. Most dealerships have the ability, but for them, its more of a drop-it-off-and-leave type of scenario. That's never ideal.

There is one local place I use for all my hose related needs, a shop called "House of Hose" and they supply just about every kind of fitting, hose, clamp, valve, you name it. They are awesome!... and they know it. They charge a premium, but worse, they keep bankers hours. Open 7am-4pm M-F. If you blow a hose 4pm on a Friday, you're up a creek.

The last time I blew a hose was on my backhoe. The hose was the return line for the bucket curl, the longest one on the entire backhoe. ~$250 to replace it from HoH.

Now, I don't blow hoses often. Defiantly not enough to justify that electric bench mounted crimper for almost $6k! But I did see these:
Amazon Crimper Tool

If I got one of those, a small spool of hose, and a few fittings, I could replace my own lines? I don't like being at the beg and mercy of others for anything. Especially if I have to take time off work to go get a hose repaired thats also going to cost me big $.
A $130 for the tool is attractive, but I have my doubts that it will crimp and hold enough for the pressures of my tractor.

Does anyone make their own hydraulic hoses using one of these manual crimpers? How do you like it?

Wow that looks like a deal, but after reading the description no mention of the actual pressure, and it mainly states AC lines. No expert here but AC systems are under 800lb on the high side operating normally IIANM

It would be neat if they sold a hydraulic crimp unit that could be connected to the tractor remotes and included the most used dies. had to replace 2 lines on my backhoe and they were just under $200 for 4000lb working pressure.
If a kit was reasonably priced might buy it but looking at economy crimpers from say discount hydraulic hose it looks like starting prices are over 3 grand.

S2 | Eco Crimp Head Bundle W/ Dies

Check out the deal on S2 | Eco Crimp Head Bundle W/ Dies at DiscountHydraulicHose.com

www.discounthydraulichose.com

Alibaba has a few but still pretty pricey and then who's fittings can be used?

Hydraulic Hose Crimper - High Performance Crimping Machine 560T

Discover hydraulic hose crimping machines with 320-640T crimping force, automatic operation, and CE-certified safety. Ideal for industrial rubber processing.

www.alibaba.com

Maybe there are some TBN members that have cracked this egg and have cost effective DIY hydraulic hose fitting crimping solutions.?.?

 

[mikester]

I can't think of a dollar store quality tool I have purchased without regret afterwords.

 

[Tinhack]

Ditto what Dan says. AC hoses and fittings are nothing like hydraulic parts. For one, the AC fittings are aluminum and take less force to crimp. Also, AC pressures aren't likely to go over 400psi. After that, the compressor starts eating itself. I have a manual crimper I use for air hoses. I sure wouldn't expect that to do even AC work. Don't risk death to save money.

If you happen to be close to a hydraulic line/fitting when it blows, you'll be starring death in the face. If the fluid gets injected under your skin, there is no first aid option and will most likely require amputation to save your life.

 

[oosik]

Avenger - I've also found House of Hose to be absolutely great. For me it's a 60 mile round trip to their business. I really appreciate their "fix while I wait" procedure.

I've never really needed that many new hoses but it's nice to get that type of service.

 

[jwmorris]

You don’t need a machine if you buy reusable hose ends and you also don’t have to buy more fittings when the hose is done, just replace the hose, using the same fittings.

It’s not completely unheard of for a hose to fail right before the fitting too. If that’s the case and you left yourself a little extra, you can just cut the bad part out and reinstall the end without removing the hose from the equipment, much less have to drive it into town.

FBM1305 Eaton Aeroquip® -08 AQP® High Pressure / Power Steering Hose Fitting - Reusable S.A.E. 37° (JIC/AN) Swivel - 3/4-16" Thread - Straight - Steel

FBM1305 Eaton Aeroquip® -08 AQP® High Pressure / Power Steering Hose Fitting - Reusable S.A.E. 37° (JIC/AN) Swivel - 3/4-16" Thread - Straight - Steel, is ideal for Power steering lines, hydraulics, air, gasoline, fuel and lubricating oils, over-thewall air tools and DOT-approved air brake.

hosewarehouse.com

You’ll save the $5k but will need two adjustable wrenches…

If I sold hoses, they would be crimped though. Get to buy cheaper fittings to mark up and get the “come back” because the customer cannot reuse them indefinitely.

One of these will also be handy to have.

 

[crashz]

I've used the mobile hose repair trucks in the past and it works well. Not cheap, but not an everyday situation either. Unless you invest in a huge stock of fittings and hoses, what is the likelihood of having the correct parts on-hand?

 

[Vigo327]

So i agree with everyone else that the basic answer is 'there is no such thing as a cheap crimper that does 'real' hydraulic ferrule crimping to withstand thousands of psi'.

However, in the vein of the diy hose end shown above, i would say it depends on what pressures you need to run. Power steering hoses on cars can go up to about 1500 psi and they have a crimp fitting almost exactly like what is on an AC line. On another forum some garden tractor people have experimented with running 'pinch clamps' up to ~800psi so far.

So is it possible to diy SOME form of hydraulic hose end, pretty cheaply? Yes. But, is it possible to diy a 3000psi working pressure connection that can absorb the roughly up to 6000psi spikes from banging that hydraulic implement into stuff? Not really. Not that i've found!

You could also just make the hoses you have cheaper and more universal by replacing all the non-moving sections of them with hardline and leaving the remaining hose sections at 'standard' lengths you can get cheaply from surpluscenter. Flaring hydraulic line is not really any different from flaring brake line other than everything requiring more force because it's bigger, and requiring some different angle dies.

 

[nyone]

I use to work for a major municipality that ran hundreds of large plow trucks to honda civics and every piece of equipment in between. Every location had a hose crimper, a selection of hoses and fittings. Our main shop had a stationary crimper along with a portable one. I have made thousands of feet of hydraulic hose along with plumbed up systems.
At 1am on a saturday while the snow is still piling up and you need a hose..its nice to have the equipment to make one.

With that being said when I owned my own plow truck I always had a spare hose..even of it was 8ft longer than it needed to be, it would work.

 

[Avenger]

You don’t need a machine if you buy reusable hose ends and you also don’t have to buy more fittings when the hose is done, just replace the hose, using the same fittings.

It’s not completely unheard of for a hose to fail right before the fitting too. If that’s the case and you left yourself a little extra, you can just cut the bad part out and reinstall the end without removing the hose from the equipment, much less have to drive it into town.

View attachment 773731

FBM1305 Eaton Aeroquip® -08 AQP® High Pressure / Power Steering Hose Fitting - Reusable S.A.E. 37° (JIC/AN) Swivel - 3/4-16" Thread - Straight - Steel

FBM1305 Eaton Aeroquip® -08 AQP® High Pressure / Power Steering Hose Fitting - Reusable S.A.E. 37° (JIC/AN) Swivel - 3/4-16" Thread - Straight - Steel, is ideal for Power steering lines, hydraulics, air, gasoline, fuel and lubricating oils, over-thewall air tools and DOT-approved air brake.

hosewarehouse.com

You’ll save the $5k but will need two adjustable wrenches…

If I sold hoses, they would be crimped though. Get to buy cheaper fittings to mark up and get the “come back” because the customer cannot reuse them indefinitely.

One of these will also be handy to have.

View attachment 773733

I have heard about using those reusable compression fittings as a quick field repair option. If you blow a hose, and you're hose is long enough (almost never is) you can cut out the blown part and use these to connect the two ends back together. Its enough to finish the day, get your tractor out of the mud, that type of thing. Maybe I'll invest in a handful for such emergencies.

Wow that looks like a deal, but after reading the description no mention of the actual pressure, and it mainly states AC lines. No expert here but AC systems are under 800lb on the high side operating normally IIANM

According to the questions and answers on that specific link, they are rated up to 3600psi on aluminum fittings. Not sure about steel. Love it idea about using hydraulic pressure to crimp the hose. Only issue *might* be is if you only have one tractor and the break is before any valve. Meaning, if you start the tractor, fluid leaks out. But I absolutely love that idea! Might need to file a patent.

Don't risk death to save money.

If you happen to be close to a hydraulic line/fitting when it blows, you'll be starring death in the face. If the fluid gets injected under your skin, there is no first aid option and will most likely require amputation to save your life.

Yeah! For Sure! I have never seen it, but I have heard about it. Just like getting wrapped up in the PTO shaft (Though I do know a guy that lost part of his hand). Tractors and implements are inherently dangerous. Getting a hydraulic oil infusion is defiantly not something you really want to experience.

Avenger - I've also found House of Hose to be absolutely great. For me it's a 60 mile round trip to their business. I really appreciate their "fix while I wait" procedure.

I've never really needed that many new hoses but it's nice to get that type of service.

House of Hose is great! I use them all the time, for just about everything related to hoses or plumbing. Only real issue I have with them is their hours. I have to take time off work to go spend even more money while something is broken down or a project is on hold. If they would be open on Saturdays and/or til 7 or something, that would make my opinion of them much better. They used to be open til 5, but rather recently decreased their hours. Went from taking an hour off early from work, to two. Kinda sucks

 

[jwmorris]

I have heard about using those reusable compression fittings as a quick field repair option. If you blow a hose, and you're hose is long enough (almost never is) you can cut out the blown part and use these to connect the two ends back together. Its enough to finish the day, get your tractor out of the mud, that type of thing. Maybe I'll invest in a handful for such emergencies.

Let me guess, you heard that from a guy that sells you crimped hoses…

If a hose end is good for 4000 PSI today, what makes it not good for that next year?

If you are making your own hydraulic hoses, why would you make them so short, you have no room for error? Even if you have very long hoses, a bad spot can be cut out and once coupled back together are even longer than before.

I would certainly use them before I tried to buy some budget crimped for the cheap fittings. However, that is only because I have been using them for decades and know they work.

Crimped ends are a cheaper alternative, can be assembled very quickly and are not user serviceable. Those are good things if you are making or selling things but not if your the one that has to keep them going.

 

[Avenger]

Let me guess, you heard that from a guy that sells you crimped hoses…

If a hose end is good for 4000 PSI today, what makes it not good for that next year?

If you are making your own hydraulic hoses, why would you make them so short, you have no room for error? Even if you have very long hoses, a bad spot can be cut out and once coupled back together are even longer than before.

View attachment 773738

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'd certainly leave them on the tractor/implement. Why remove them?! I was just thinking about using them as a 'quick fix' to get back up and running.

Most stock hoses are made to exacting length. So if one of the stock hoses were to blow, cutting out the bad portion and reconnecting them might make it too short. Thats was all.

I'll probably order a small coffee can of these!

 

[alexpops]

Saw a number of hydraulic repairs on "Deadliest Catch" using the field repair ends. Definitely looks like a good strategy vs crimper option, especially since 1. Ends are reusable, 2. More expensive fittings, but indefinite life (cry once), 3. Can acquire over time as needed, then have for life. Only downside I see is that you are locked into matching brand hose, since they apparently aren't interchangeable. Can't buy any cheap hose & expect top results. But, stock up on compatible hoses and the right fittings and you are probably set up for life.

 

[LD1]

Most of the "field attachable" fittings I have seen (which are the two piece thread together fittings) are for R2 hose ONLY. Most places use R16 hose because its alot more flexible.

So blowing a factory hose and thinking you can use a field attachable fitting out in the field will only work if its R2 Hose. R2 and R16 are both two wire braid and have the SAME pressure ratings, but the R16 is a little smaller on the outside diameter. The field attachable fittings thread both on the outside and inside of the hose and "bite" into it. With the R16 being a "thinner" wall thickness so to speak....they dont work.

And not only that......But if you own a couple pieces of equipment as I do, you have a whole slew of different sizes. 1/4" hose, 3/8" hose, 1/2" hose, and if you have a full sized backhoe, probably some 5/8" and 3/4....

Then all the different fittings. NPT, JIC, both male and female, ORB? MAybe some 90° fittings? And all the different sizes mentioned above. Then on mobile equipment its common to have a size change at the fitting. IE: a 3/8" hose with a 1/2" JIC end.

You think the cost of a $5000 crimper is bad.....you better figure at least that much more to cover all the hose sizes and to have a pair of every possible fitting type on your machine.

A local machine shop here who I have done business with for years just started doing hydraulic hoses. Now mind you they stock more than you would need to because they do sizes up to 2", and have ever fitting imaginable as well as all the different adapters and everything. But when they set up their hydraulic shop, they have ~$100k just in fittings and hose.

So unless its really something worth spending at least $10k for just for the convenience...there is no way you will ever recoup your expense making a couple of personal hoses a year.

 

[nyone]

So unless its really something worth spending at least $10k for just for the convenience...there is no way you will ever recoup your expense making a couple of personal hoses a year

And even at 5k..what's the cost of buying every hose on every machine you currently own. For me it would be far less than $5k. In fact last year I changed every hyd hose on my tractor and the cost was under $600.

For personal use I wouldnt buy a crimper. Even a small fleet of construction equipment I wouldnt.

 

[Torvy]

This idea is not practical for me, because my 'farming' will all be PRN (pro re nata). However, if I was making a living with my tractor, I would keep a full set of backup hoses with connections in my shop. If a hose blows, I can swap it with the backup and then get the broken one fixed while running on the backup. The original becomes the backup. In critical time periods, I could even send another (wife, kid, hired hand) to get the repair started.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I replace everything I can with JIC fittinged hoses from Surplus Center. Their selection is available in 6" increments from 12 to 36" and 1ft thereafter. Each diameter hose is offered in nominal and one size up fitting sizes. I keep the sizes Im pretty sure Ill need as well as several selected lengths of 1/4" with JIC6 fittings. Also a selection of union fittings to extend length and/or adapt between sizes. That way you can usually come up with a length you need that will work until it isnt an emergency anymore. The hoses are quite good but the outer jacket weathercracks faster than I like. I add the protective sleeving when I can.

 

[nyone]

I replace everything I can with JIC fittinged hoses from Surplus Center. Their selection is available in 6" increments from 12 to 36" and 1ft thereafter. Each diameter hose is offered in nominal and one size up fitting sizes. I keep the sizes Im pretty sure Ill need as well as several selected lengths of 1/4" with JIC6 fittings. Also a selection of union fittings to extend length and/or adapt between sizes. That way you can usually come up with a length you need that will work until it isnt an emergency anymore. The hoses are quite good but the outer jacket weathercracks faster than I like. I add the protective sleeving when I can.

Surplus center has prety crappy quality hoses..how ever I have them on 3 of my machines. They are very cheap.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Surplus center has prety crappy quality hoses..how ever I have them on 3 of my machines. They are very cheap.

I have about 30 of the SC 2 wire JIC connectored ones in service. Not a single failure even though I have subjected 3 of the 3/8" ones to pressure sufficient to blow up 4 bucket cyls on the 7520. Depending on the yield strength of the 3/16 wall cylinder tube, expansion of the steel would require a hydraulic pressure of 12,000 PSI minimum. -- What is your criterion of pretty crappy?