Difficulty Attaching Hydraulics to 3rd Function...solved

[JohnnyMX]

I have had my tractor and 3rd function for a couple years, and have had issues connecting ever since. I assumed hooking up was just a push-n-click. I have turned the engine off and moved all hydraulic levers to take pressure off (FEL,3pt), tapped the end of the implement hoses and even bled a bit of fluid out because I wasn't able to connect them no matter what I did.
Finally called a local tech and they told me everything I had already tried. I called back and talked to a different tech and he gave me the a-ha moment.

Now I feel very dumb, but because my 3rd function is electric trying to take pressure off all the other lines was pointless and then he told me what I was missing.
1. Turn Engine Off.
2. Turn Engine to Start/Aux (motor not running, electronics active)
3. Press the open/close button on the 3rd function a couple of times to relieve the pressure.
4. Turn the Engine back to Off.
5. Unhook the lines to the implement.
6. ALWAYS DO THIS BEFORE UNHOOKING or you will have the same issue the next time you hook-up with no easy way around it.

Hook-ups are now the 15-second job they should be with no cursing or lost fluid. Maybe someone else out there hasn't figured it out either so here is the post.

 

[JCoastie]

Thanks for that, my grapple should be here in a week and a half, and I also have an electronic solenoid controlled 3rd function valve.

 

[CoyPatton]

I have had my tractor and 3rd function for a couple years, and have had issues connecting ever since. I assumed hooking up was just a push-n-click. I have turned the engine off and moved all hydraulic levers to take pressure off (FEL,3pt), tapped the end of the implement hoses and even bled a bit of fluid out because I wasn't able to connect them no matter what I did.
Finally called a local tech and they told me everything I had already tried. I called back and talked to a different tech and he gave me the a-ha moment.

Now I feel very dumb, but because my 3rd function is electric trying to take pressure off all the other lines was pointless and then he told me what I was missing.
1. Turn Engine Off.
2. Turn Engine to Start/Aux (motor not running, electronics active)
3. Press the open/close button on the 3rd function a couple of times to relieve the pressure.
4. Turn the Engine back to Off.
5. Unhook the lines to the implement.
6. ALWAYS DO THIS BEFORE UNHOOKING or you have the same issue the next time you hook-up with no easy way around it.

Hook-ups are now the 15-second job they should be with no cursing or lost fluid. Maybe someone else out there hasn't figured it out either so here is the post.

You could still hit the occasional issue with pressure present on the grapple side of your connections. If you do it will be because of heat on those black lines causing the fluid in them to expand. Unfortunately, I have never heard of any other way than to relieve the pressure by tapping the ball.
Messy and a pain!

 

[mcfarmall]

You could still hit the occasional issue with pressure present on the grapple side of your connections. If you do it will be because of heat on those black lines causing the fluid in them to expand. Unfortunately, I have never heard of any other way than to relieve the pressure by tapping the ball.
Messy and a pain!

I bought a set of mating couplers for my grapple and installed a 1/4" ball valve on them. When I'm done using the grapple, I unhook the lines and click on the couplers with the ball valves. Any pressure as a result of temperature changes is quickly and easily bled off the next time I hook up. I installed a sintered bronze breather in the outlet of the ball valve to reduce entrance of contaminants or leaf cutter bees.

 

[JohnnyMX]

I managed to make it through the hottest part of my summer in the NE without having to tap on any couplers. I'm sure on a very hot day it can still happen, but I have been free and clear since. The hardest part is to make sure you remember to do it.