Aux Hydraulic will not connect - Fix

[BobRip]

I was working on Spring Cleanup at Church Saturday, and of course I took the PT422. I went to change buckets and could not get one line to connect. I got out my pin and hammer and pushed in the pin. It still would not work. After 5 minutes, I got some help. He held the connector and I used the hammer and pin. A lot more fluid than usual came out and it worked.

We are having some wild swings in temperature from lows in the mid thirties to highs in the 70's. This make for a large pressure change. After this somewhat embarrassing problem I decided I needed a fix. I decided to make a bracket that attaches to the lift arm and can hold the connector. See below for pictures.

I made the bracket out of one piece of metal. The metal is 1/4 inch thick and 2 X 4 inches. I made two cuts to create a tab. I heated the tab with the Acetylene torch and bent it 90 degrees. I then heated it again, held it on the lift arm and bent the tab down onto the lift arm.

 

[BobRip]

To hold it on tighter, I drilled and threaded a hole for a 1/4 inch bolts.

I also cut a hole and slot to run the hose and connector through. The hole is 11/16 inch. The slot is cut so that it's just big enough for the hose to slide in (a little bigger than 0.5 inches) but not the connector. After installation I found that the quick attach plate hit the bracket at certain points in the rotation. While I don't plan to leave the bracket on all the time, I still decided to move the bracket closer to the operator. The hoses were just long enough. Of course I can install it anywhere I need it, as needed.

 

[J_J]

Why not make yourself an adapter using a male QD, and screw a 12 piece of PVC to the threaded part of the male QD, and put a PVC cap on the other end. So, now if the pressure tries to build up, it will push the heated fluid into the PVC tube, which has air, and the hard hookup, will go away.

 

[BobRip]

Why not make yourself an adapter using a male QD, and screw a 12 piece of PVC to the threaded part of the male QD, and put a PVC cap on the other end. So, now if the pressure tries to build up, it will push the heated fluid into the PVC tube, which has air, and the hard hookup, will go away.

J_J, sounds like an elegant solution. Would you leave it on the attachment hose except during use?

 

[J_J]

Yes, you could stuff a rag inside the PVC to help absorb the excess fluid.

 

[menchhofer]

We use to have problems with the pesky QD, but no more. Since we visited PT again and took notice of how they work the bucket control and the auxillry control lever, the problem disappeared. We hardly ever have the need to resort to the hammer and pin method.

All that need to be done is after the engine is shut off, move the control levers back and forth several time and the QD come off and on very easily. Hope this helps

 

[J_J]

The problem is in hooking up the attachments after sitting in the sun for a couple of hours. The pressure builds up, and makes it difficult to connect.

 

[BobRip]

The problem is in hooking up the attachments after sitting in the sun for a couple of hours. The pressure builds up, and makes it difficult to connect.

Exactly J_J.

 

[MossRoad]

Well, I think that if each and every time you change quick attach items you shut down the engine first, then operate the QA handle a few times, then disconnect the implement hoses, you will never have the problem getting them back on. I am pretty sure the problem only occurs when you disconnect the implement with some pressure on it, still. At least that has been my experience. I had it happen once, the first summer after I bought the PT. I just cracked the hose fitting on the cylinder with a wrench, since I did not know about the pin and hammer trick until I posted my problem here and several folks offered the solution. It has not happened again in 8 years, until this past weekend, when I attempted to hook up my snow plow to plow a leaf pile into the woods further. I remember unhooking it with the engine running the last time I used it. :laughing:

 

[wasabi]

I know this is "off topic"... but I want to echo what others have said about the TBN community. this thread epitomizes why i visit and from time to time participate. What a great collective vetting of best approaches to a commonly experienced challenge. IMHO this PT forum in particular is populated by a great bunch. A sincere thanks for sharing!

 

[BobRip]

I know this is "off topic"... but I want to echo what others have said about the TBN community. this thread epitomizes why i visit and from time to time participate. What a great collective vetting of best approaches to a commonly experienced challenge. IMHO this PT forum in particular is populated by a great bunch. A sincere thanks for sharing!

I agree completely. It's amazing how things get better with help from some good friends who also happen to be knowledgeable. I have seen how some other on line communities work and they don't touch a candle to TBN. My thanks to the participants and the people who run this site.

 

[BobRip]

Well, I think that if each and every time you change quick attach items you shut down the engine first, then operate the QA handle a few times, then disconnect the implement hoses, you will never have the problem getting them back on. I am pretty sure the problem only occurs when you disconnect the implement with some pressure on it, still. At least that has been my experience. I had it happen once, the first summer after I bought the PT. I just cracked the hose fitting on the cylinder with a wrench, since I did not know about the pin and hammer trick until I posted my problem here and several folks offered the solution. It has not happened again in 8 years, until this past weekend, when I attempted to hook up my snow plow to plow a leaf pile into the woods further. I remember unhooking it with the engine running the last time I used it. :laughing:

You may be right about this. I usually shutdown the engine first, but not always. By your theory, it seems to me that if you can remove a connector, then you should be able to put it back on. By the temperature change theory, not so much. Still a full pressure release with engine off does sound good and may reduce or eliminate the problem completely.

On the other hand, I don't often have this problem, but when I do I want the tools to fix it quickly. I will keep the bracket, hammer and pin in the on PT tool box.

 

[KMA]

Well, I think that if each and every time you change quick attach items you shut down the engine first, then operate the QA handle a few times, then disconnect the implement hoses, you will never have the problem getting them back on. I am pretty sure the problem only occurs when you disconnect the implement with some pressure on it, still. At least that has been my experience.

This is true for me also. A few years back, I got into the habit of shutting down the machine and moving the handle back and forth a few times, and I have not had any issues connecting these hoses since. If it heats back up again and creates pressure, just wiggle the handle again to relieve it before disconnecting. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

I know this is "off topic"... but I want to echo what others have said about the TBN community. this thread epitomizes why i visit and from time to time participate. What a great collective vetting of best approaches to a commonly experienced challenge. IMHO this PT forum in particular is populated by a great bunch. A sincere thanks for sharing!

Right back atcha! I have learned sooo much here just by having great conversations.

 

[MossRoad]

Funny thing is, I would have thought that if you could remove it, you could put it back on again, too. But we all know that ain't gonna work. :laughing: The first time it happened to me I had disconnected the snowplow and let it sit in the sun for a few hours. No way was it going to go back on. That's when I mentioned something here on TBN and was offered the pin, rag and hammer method. Tried and true. :thumbsup:

 

[crusty 1]

yep, pressure on system.You can always crack a joint lose when all else fails.Dave:thumbsup:

 

[SpringHollow]

Well, I think that if each and every time you change quick attach items you shut down the engine first, then operate the QA handle a few times, then disconnect the implement hoses, you will never have the problem getting them back on. :

Hi MossRoad,

I wish this were true but your procedure is what i follow every time (except i probably cycle the valve 8 or so cycles) and i often have problems. I now carry a rubber hook strap on the pt and use it to keep the auxillary valve open or closed while hooking up if i am having problems. This time of year, even in the shade, there are 40 degree temperature swings, not to mention the temperature change from the oil being hot when the item was disconnected which can be another 40 or more degrees. I use flat face connectors and it is not uncommon to see them sucked in some from the contraction of the oil when it cools.

Hooking the two connectors on the implement has helped but i still occasionally have problems.

Ken

 

[KMA]

I guess I always have them connected to something... either the quick attach mechanism or another implement. I never leave it sitting unattached allowing things to heat up. Since they are always connected, I can always power down and wiggle the lever before attaching something else. I also have opposite "sexes" on each hose so I can connect them together if necessary.

 

[MossRoad]

...
Hooking the two connectors on the implement has helped but i still occasionally have problems.

Ken

I keep my brush hog and finish mower hoses connected to each other at all times when not in use. The only implement I have had trouble with is the power angle snow plow. Its hoses are both female, so you cannot connect them together. Someday I may swap out one of them with one of the AUX PTO connectors so I get male/female on the plow AND tractor.

 

[SpringHollow]

Hi Moss,

That is what i did - male and female flat face on the tractor and also on the implements. You could make a small adapter hose just to connect for storing the plow.

Ken