How long do hoses last?

[tallyho8]

Just wondering. My hydraulic hoses on my frontend loader on my Kubota take a lot of beating pushing down trees and piling them up and clearing woods. I usually wind up breaking them by a fitting and rarely have them just wear out although some of them look so bad after a few years you would think they must be ready to explode.

Spending an average of $90 per hose is aggravating when it is usually my fault for not paying enough attention when I get in rough situations and push something against one of my hoses. I probably break about 2 of them a year and the ones that break usually show a lot of wear anyway and so I tell myself that they were ready to replace anyway.

I don't usually break hoses when bush-hogging or moving sand or dirt but in thick woods clearing trees is their demise. The ones on my grapple are usually more exposed than many of the other hoses and get the most breaks.

I will feel better about it if you tell me that hoses are usually replaced about every 6 years anyway but if you tell me you work your tractor hard and haven't replaced a hose in 15 years then I will have to admit I need more patience when working and to pay more attention when in these tight spots.

 

[4570Man]

I would start with finding a new source for hoses because that’s high. I have a 1985 dozer that still has factory hoses on it. The outside jacket on hoses is mostly for looks. They can look bad and still last a long time.

 

[MossRoad]

My PT425 is entirely hydraulic.

FEL has three cylinders.
Quick attach has one cylinder.
Steering has two cylinders.
Main PTO has two connections on the FEL arms.
Four hydraulic wheel motors, each with two hoses.
That's 22 hoses right there. I'd guess closer to 30 hoses when it's all said and done.

It's 21 years old. I beat the heck out of it. Haven't broken a hose yet. About 1000 hours. Having said that, it's just a matter of time when I either break one or they wear out.

A lot of it depends on how they're routed, protected, flexed, and sunlight, to name a few.

 

[5030]

I have not replaced a single hydraulic hose on either of my Kubota M9's One is a 2002 and the other is a 2004. Still look fine but they do live inside when not being used.

 

[JWR]

I don't know how relevant this is but ...on smaller Kubotas (BX2200) the hydraulic hoses have been almost the only things that failed over 20 years ownership. I just got mine back from the dealer who replaced steel hydraulic lines that had vibrated against the frame and started squirting oil over the place. Those were feeding the FEL. I replaced the power steering hydraulic lines 4 or 5 years ago. The more vulnerable lines (like you mentioned on your grapple) were pinched and sprayed oil all over my JD 4700 a few years ago -- those were on a 4-in-1 clam shell bucket operating just like a grapple. etc. In the last 11 years I have yet to have to replace a hydraulic hose on my larger MF2660 with 4-in-1 bucket, LaneShark FEL mounted cutter, grapple , etc. BUT this is my retirement hobby, not making a living, and you probably work yours drastically more than I do.

I think it just comes with the territory -- if you do much with tractors you are going to be replacing hydraulic lines once in a while. There is a reason why most all tractor dealers & independent repair shops also make hydraulic lines.

 

[5030]

I just got mine back from the dealer who replaced steel hydraulic lines that had vibrated against the frame and started squirting oil over the place.

Interesting. The steel lines that feed the cylinders and the 3rd function on my M9's are isolated in rubber saddles that are clamped with steel over clamps to the loader frame. Never had an issue with them. They must cheap out on the smaller units.

 

[deserteagle71]

My experience has been that the older hoses did last almost forever. The newer ones - last 8 years or so - not so much. Something has changed in the formulation of the compounds the hoses are made of. I can have a new hose made up and within a few months it is badly cracked and checked and looks older than hoses I have that are 30 years old. Are they starting to make them out of some soy compound (like the new electric wire insulation is) that the sun and oil destroys quickly?

 

[5030]

My experience has been that the older hoses did last almost forever. The newer ones - last 8 years or so - not so much. Something has changed in the formulation of the compounds the hoses are made of. I can have a new hose made up and within a few months it is badly cracked and checked and looks older than hoses I have that are 30 years old. Are they starting to make them out of some soy compound (like the new electric wire insulation is) that the sun and oil destroys quickly?

I think you'll find that if you read the fine print, they were probably made across the pond and that across the pond rubber versus domestic rubber, don't last nearly as long. If I were to get any new hoses, I'd specify Gates hydraulic hose. It's more money but made here.

 

[deserteagle71]

I think you'll find that if you read the fine print, they were probably made across the pond and that across the pond rubber versus domestic rubber, don't last nearly as long. If I were to get any new hoses, I'd specify Gates hydraulic hose. It's more money but made here.

Not my experience, at least with Gates fuel hoses. Used to be they would last for years. I have a roll of Gates fuel hose right now that if I cut off a piece and put it on one of my lawn mowers, it will last no more than a year before it is cracked and leaking. I've taken to buying fuel hose at a motorcycle shop; whatever brand they use on motorcycle gas tanks lasts a lot longer. Its definitely not Gates brand.

 

[jyoutz]

On my last tractor, I replaced 2 hoses in 21 years.

 

[timbatrader]

On hoses that are exposed to wear I get a spiral protector wound on over the hose it protects against rubbing and exposing the steel under the rubber because once that is exposed it rusts and weakens the hose leading to breakages also protects against the suns UV rays seems to make the hose last longer
I haven't tried it yet but believe you can get breakaway fittings that will come apart with pull that save snapping the hose which seems a good idea but each time I do break something it is in the middle of a job and I just want to get going as fast as possible so end up replacing with the same as what broke

 

[Richard]

I'm in process right now of replacing the four hoses to my dump/curl for the loader.
I have a couple hoses that I've replaced within the last 10 years and literally, a week ago, had one of them blow like a geyser. Fortunately, it blew pointing away from me.

My loader hoses are down to naked braided steel, all the covering is off (only on the last 2-3 feet where they connect to the cylinder AND are exposed, with their bends pointing back to the operator.....ME)

So I have new ones in my trunk awaiting things to dry out a bit so I can swap all four of them. These were on the machine when I got it so I'm guessing they're nearly 20 years old. First time I've ever replaced them so figured it was prudent.

 

[seville009]

Same general experience as Richard's post above......only hoses that have leaked/cracked were the loader hoses for the dump/curl on my 17 year old tractor. First one leaked maybe two years ago; another one last summer, so I replaced the remaining three at the same time rather than wait until they leaked too. They were all just basic rubber hoses that weathered over the years.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

A tractor is not a bulldozer.

 

[newbury]

My experience has been that the older hoses did last almost forever. The newer ones - last 8 years or so - not so much. Something has changed in the formulation of the compounds the hoses are made of. I can have a new hose made up and within a few months it is badly cracked and checked and looks older than hoses I have that are 30 years old. Are they starting to make them out of some soy compound (like the new electric wire insulation is) that the sun and oil destroys quickly?

Planned obsolescence. If they lasted forever they would sell fewer.
My 95 M4700 has gone through maybe 6 hoses and my 07' B7610 2 hoses.
The consensus on TBN a few years ago was "Go till they blow".

 

[Ken45101]

My B21 TLB hoses started leaking last year and every time I replace one, another one starts leaking. There are a lot of hoses on that thing and some (in the backhoe) are hard to get to. I bought it lightly used 19 years ago. I probably need to do a wholesale replacement of the hoses. Messicks has OEM hoses that are comparatively priced to what I can get locally and they are probably a better fit.

My B2710 is 23 years old and no leaks but it only has a few hoses if any.

Other than that, no leaks on the 15 year old skid steer or mini-excavator.

 

[Smokeydog]

Like most things they come in different grades. The better being more expensive. The rubber jackets on my Kubota B20 hoses all started peeling off at about 20 years. Stored inside and once the loss of the rubber exposed the braided fabric the hose would fail shortly.

Surplus center has been a great resource for hoses. Nylon sleeves on hoses help for sun and physical damage. Local hydraulic shop has the best hose and hose protection options. Always living and working in the woods.

 

[rburke65]

Three years ago I bout a 1993 L3450….25…26 …years old and I’m starting to replace mine as the are dry rotting and leaking when u certain pressure

 

[oosik]

Keep your tractor out of the sun - except when in use. I bought my first tractor - Ford 1700 - brand new in 1982. Housed in one bay of my carport. Traded in on my Kubota in 2009. ALL hoses on the Ford were still in great shape.

 

[Jaeger]

Same hoses since 2005 although tractor is garage kept, when I clean it 2x a year I always wipe down them down with silicone on a rag.

Now my Tuthill fuel hose; they're garbage last about 2-3 years max outdoors. -