Best way to connect 4/1 bucket?

egb6550 · Jan 30, 2005

I'm almost at 10 hours now on my 422, moving railroad ties, moving dirt, mowing was amazing and I had a riding mower before. Yesterday I was attaching the 4/1 bucket to do some dirt redistribution and I couldn't get the lines connected.. what do you call those connectors?.. anyway the quick attach would go on fine but the ones from the 4/1 bucket wouldn't.. after struggling with it forever and making sure they were clean I finally realized it was probably the pressure from the 4/1 wasn't letting me push the connector on.. I got the hammer and chisel and tap tap.. there you go.. but I didn't like doing that.. is there a better way?..

btolle · Jan 30, 2005

While I am not familiar with a 4/1 my best guess would be:

When you park it with the 4/1 attached make sure you move the controls in all directions to relieve any pressure on the cylinders before you disconnect the lines.

If that doesn't do it buy a spare disconnect with a couple of feet of line. Put the end of the line in a bucket or container and connect it to the 4/1 to bleed off any pressure. Just be very careful with the hose end sit it doesn't come blasting out of the container and hurt you.

I admit I don't know what I am talking about but I'll bet someone who knows what they are talking about will respond.

Besides, I have 12 hours to go back and change this post to something entirely different if I look too much like a total idiot!

Bill Tolle

dbetts · Jan 30, 2005

I agree with btolle that it likely has to do with being sure you relieve pressure in the lines with the tractor off and before disconnecting the hoses. I don't have a 4-in-1 but I do have the mini hoe and have had similar problems with it on a couple of occasions. I've not been able to fix it with the hammer & chisel method and have had to get out the wrenches and take off and then put back on the quick disconnect to relieve the pressure. It seems it may have to do with putting the implement to rest in a way that leads to pressure build up in the lines due to gravity pulling down on the portion of the tool connected to the hydraulic cylinder. I'm glad you're liking the machine so well, it just keeps getting more and more fun.

J_J · Jan 30, 2005

Power should be off on the PT.

When you disconnect the 4-N-1 bucket, plug the hoses in to each other. If they are two male or two female halves, an adapter can be made. The pressure will equalize.

MossRoad · Jan 30, 2005

I've had that happen a couple of times. Like has been suggested, just stick something blunt on the connector and give it one sharp rap with a hammer. All it takes is one drop to relieve the pressure. After that, I make it a point to shut down the unit and move the joystick and quick attach lever back a forth a few times. That seems to relieve all of the pressure. Then disconnect the hoses. Safety police says you should have shut the unit down before getting in front of it and removing the hoses, anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

toy · Jan 31, 2005

I had the same problem when I first got mine. I couldn't get the mini hoe to hook up, I cracked the line a little to let the pressure off. After a few drops of oil came out I tightened the hose back up and it connected with no trouble. After that first time from then on when I go to change implements that use a cylinder I shut the machine off wait just a second and then work the quick release lever back and forward to releive the pressure and have had no further problems. Apparently when I did it the first time I was in too big a hurry and worked the lever too soon after shutting down and didn't give enough time for it to bleed the pressure all the way down. I don't like to hit the couplins with a hammer but some have had success hitting the plunger to releive the pressure, but for myself I don't like to hit those couplins. I hope you really enjoy working with your new machine.

egb6550 · Jan 31, 2005

Thanks for all the good suggestions.. I'll try shutting down and working the lever.. sounds like the path of least resistance. I did have the machine shutdown while changing and I noticed the 4/1 cylinder all the way compressed. So this time when I disconnected it I left the cylinder about halfway.. I'll let you'all know how it goes...

Clarke · Jan 31, 2005

This can also happen from large ambient temperature change. ex. remove the hoe and let it sit in the hot sun.

sg

tracdoc · Jan 31, 2005

Even with all the precautions to decompress cylinders, sooner or later we all will experience the pressurization problem associated with ambient temp changes. Clarke is spot on. Some time back, I was curious about how much pressure would build up with change in temp. It's roughly 30 psi for every degree C (~17 psi per degree F). The calculations are in an earlier thread {HERE}

So, it's a good idea to have a ball peen hammer, a drift and a rag handy for those times...

egb6550 · Feb 1, 2005

Oh yea.. temperature.. liquids expand as they warm.. I should have thought about that.. It was sitting in the sun when I tried to attach and it was cooler when I shut down.. From now on I only disconnect when its hot and reconnect when its cold.. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Just read the referenced post on hydraulics and their properties of expansion interesting stuff.. way more than I needed to know