How long do hoses last?

[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. -