Hose issue - need some advice

[woodlandfarms]

So my fully hydrualic tractor is leaking. In the first spot I am pretty sure I have the culprit nailed. But the reason for the failure is that it looks like the hoses get pinched when the lift arm comes down (they are directed upward, then over the lift arms, but when the lift are at the bottom they get pretty tight). So I am going to add some inches to the order. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I could go with a higher PSI / More Wire hose, they are stiff, and a bear to run.

These hoses have lasted only 5 years.

Second, I have a hose in a tunnel that I think is giving up the ghost. Being in the tunnel, I have no idea which one it is without pulling them all out. I can't think of any other solution but wanted to see if you guys had ideas.

 

[J_J]

I would put an extension on each hose, one at a time and pull that part of the hose that is in the tunnel, wipe it down and pressurize it and determine which one is leaking.

It will then be easy to add a new hose and pull back through the tunnel with some electric slippy fluid which is used for running wires through conduit. Could use soap also.

 

[newbury]

How many hoses in the tunnel?
Are they all the same age?
If only a few and all the same age think if it would it be worth it to replace them all and have a couple of emergency spares.

 

[J_J]

Perhaps you don't realize that there are maybe 10 hoses, at about $400 to $500 in that tunnel.

What happen to that phrase, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Yeah... So.... I guess I am pulling hoses. ugh. Well, at least I will find the bad hose after maybe a week or two. Not sure if there is any other way...

 

[newbury]

Perhaps you don't realize that there are maybe 10 hoses, at about $400 to $500 in that tunnel.

What happen to that phrase, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

That's why I asked how many hoses.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I just had my two 12' grapple hoses fail. They looked kinked where they passed over a horizontal brace but I'm pretty sure the problem was twisting due to my poor routing. I'm going to replace them adding quick-connects 4' from the grapple and try to fix them so all of the flex is in-line (no twist as the grapple and bucket operate) by keeping the flex region perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Hope that make sense but the point is to check your routing to make sure twist is not a factor in your early hose failure.

There are some pretty inexpensive borescope type cameras available online. An amazon search "borescope" gives results like this: Amazon.com: 16ft USB Waterproof Endoscope Borescope Inspection Camera: Camera & Photo

Not sure what kind of access you have to the tunnel but it might help.