Fix for Pressure Bound Hydraulic Couplers ?

[Industrial Toys]

Pioneer couplings are much more friendly and cheaper. Maybe in rental yards and in construction, it's a good thing to have sealed flat face couplings. If it's just you and you take care, probably Pioneer is the way to go. I'm in too deep with the FF couplers now. They are on several SS attachments plus a hydraulic stone cutting chain saw, three jackhammers, various extension hoses and so forth. Oh, and my new sickle mower.

 

[Fallon]

Pioneer couplings are much more friendly and cheaper. Maybe in rental yards and in construction, it's a good thing to have sealed flat face couplings. If it's just you and you take care, probably Pioneer is the way to go. I'm in too deep with the FF couplers now. They are on several SS attachments plus a hydraulic stone cutting chain saw, three jackhammers, various extension hoses and so forth. Oh, and my new sickle mower.

I'll definitely agree with cheaper. I've had just as much pain hooking up the AG style to the back of my Kubota as I have the flat face on the front though, relating to connect under pressure issues. Even using the plastic, metal or rubber condoms both the male & female ends end up covered in dirt & grit. Male end is easy enough to clean off, but the female end is a huge pain, even with a clean rag. Add to that the teaspoon of oil that drools out on every connect or disconnect attempt and my hate for the AG style grows just like your hate for flat face.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I was thinking of making up extra hoses so they could be connected to the implement during storage as in creating a jumper hose. This way the fluid could move freely between each end of the cylinder when implement is stored. There would still be fluid loss (what's inside the jumper hose), but it would prevent having to crack the fittings.

Do you think this would work?

Not a bad Idea. I think it would work if you used a length of thin flexible hose that would easily expand and contract. Maybe something like latex tubing but oil resistant. The oil would collect in the tubing and could be drained into a container for reuse. You would have to buy an extra set of couplers for each implement though.

 

[Rustyiron]

I actuate the control valve as I am attempting to insert/connect the fitting (SS/FF couplers)

Works for me every time.

Good God man, how long are your arms? :laughing:

 

[Rustyiron]

both the male & female ends end up covered in dirt & grit. Male end is easy enough to clean off, but the female end is a huge pain, even with a clean rag.

Yes, this is what brought us to the FFC. Cleanliness is next to....... at least as far as hydraulic systems go.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I actuate the control valve as I am attempting to insert/connect the fitting (SS/FF couplers)

Works for me every time.

This works well for the tractor side of the hydraulic circuit but doesn't help with a pressure bound implement that has been stored for a while.

 

[rswyan]

This works well for the tractor side of the hydraulic circuit but doesn't help with a pressure bound implement that has been stored for a while.

I haven't found that to be true ... you might wanna give it another try ...

 

[rswyan]

Good God man, how long are your arms? :laughing:

Yeah ... I should have qualified it: the front aux hydraulic on the loader is a little far ... :laughing:

However I have no issues reaching either the rear remotes or front loader ... since all the QC's are on the valves.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I haven't found that to be true ... you might wanna give it another try ...

If you are referring to one way male Pioneer or AG style QD's on rear remotes, your method works fine. I'm referring to FEL mounted flat faced and 2 way Pioneer style connectors controlled by a 3rd function valve. Both the tractor and implement sides of these QD's must be depressurized before they will connect properly.

 

[chipmaker II]

what about using a in line check valve and put it just behind the quick disconnect fitting?

CPIFF Inline Check Valve

 

[Fallon]

what about using a in line check valve and put it just behind the quick disconnect fitting?

CPIFF Inline Check Valve

"This valve allows free flow in one direction and blocked flow in the reverse direction."

Would kind of suck if you wanted to run your PHD in the other direction or angle your plow to the other side...

Also, decreasing the volume of trapped fluid from maybe a quarts worth of line to a teaspoon of line would make things worse. As you hook up the QDs you have to compress things. As hydraulic fluid is incompressible, that means the lines move ever so slightly. If you drop that down to a teaspoon of line that's all steel fittings, you aren't going to be able to push in those plungers at all.

 

[rswyan]

If you are referring to one way male Pioneer or AG style QD's on rear remotes, your method works fine. I'm referring to FEL mounted flat faced and 2 way Pioneer style connectors controlled by a 3rd function valve. Both the tractor and implement sides of these QD's must be depressurized before they will connect properly.

I'm talking about skid-steer, flat-face couplers in three locations: my rear remotes valves (3), my FEL joystick valve, and the front aux hydraulics on my loader which is controlled by a Surplus Center diverter valve via the loader joystick.

 

[bdhsfz6]

This problem has been driving me crazy for years and has been discussed here many times in the past. I brought it up again in the hope that one of the geniuses here at TBN had found a cheap easy fix or some new product had hit the market. Some new ideas were mentioned and thanks to everyone who posted.

I've come to the conclusion that spill free quick connect hydraulic couplers are neither quick nor spill free. Some work better than others and from the posts, opinions vary. After spending a fair amount of time on the issue, I replaced all my flat faced couplers with the Pioneer style 2 way type. I used Pioneer breakaway female couplers on the FEL bulkheads of my tractors. That way, I can just pull the coupler apart even if the tractor side of the hydraulic circuit isn't completely depressurized. Yeah, there is some oil leakage but I'll take quick over spill free every time when I'm trying to get a job done. The breakaway couplers also give some protection when I get into a thicket with the grapple and snag a hose on a branch.

For pressure bound implements, which for me are the biggest problem, I used Pioneer male couplers on the hose ends since they're cheaper and less prone to damage. They can be easily depressurized by tapping the ball valve end in an old frying pan or on the side of the implement frame. For my frequently used implements, I made up rigs from spare parts lying around. They protect the hose end couplers during storage and allow me to bleed off any built up pressure before installing. Although more expensive, the same idea can be used with flat faced couplers if preferred.



Thanks again for your comments and suggestions.