Hydraulic hose quality

[wdchyd]

You’re right about the outer cover not holding pressure and it’s only protecting the wire braid underneath. But the problem is the wire braid they all use is steel wire instead of stainless steel wire. The stainless steel wire has less tensile strength than steel.
So yes in the long run it is important to keep the outside cover intact and steel wire from rusting.

 

[PILOON]

If U know how to read them, all hosed have date codes on them. Like tires.
Most will also declare a 5 year life.
Always best to go to a high volume hose maker for the freshest batches.
That , often minor extra cost, might interpret into many more years of usage.
I don't discount on line outlets as they might actually have very high volume and fresher hose that some local shops or dealers.

Due to date codes many gov'ts sell equipment as many inspection agencies will flag hose dating as a snag.
Our city auctions vehicles for just that reason at 5 years.

 

[wdchyd]

I still have a hard time with you twisting fittings at all, those fittings should have almost shredded the hose before moving.
I’ve been making hyd hoses since 1985, never once had fittings leak through the fitting. I’ll bet someone used the wrong crimp dies or didn’t have their adjustable crimper set properly.
I have a local welding shop decide to make their own hoses to compliment their new product line. First time, Their guy (supposedly trained by others) made a full set of gates hoses .090” crimped too large. Big troubles happen when not following crimp specs.

 

[oosik]

I've had/have two tractors. The first - Ford 1700 - I kept 27 years. Now I have a 2009 Kubota M6040. Neither had any trouble with hydraulic hoses.

I think it's because they are kept in a large carport stall - out of the sun. Same as the tires.

 

[Sportsman762]

The leaking crimp fittings is concerning.

Out of those, about 25% leaked on first use. I was able to twist the fittings in the hose and that stopped the leak but I wonder what will happen as time passes.

NRP Jones is a quality manufacture of hose. I looked at them a few years ago at bringing them into were I work. They should not leak.

NRP Jones is the maker of the hose.

I still have a hard time with you twisting fittings at all, those fittings should have almost shredded the hose before moving.
I’ve been making hyd hoses since 1985, never once had fittings leak through the fitting. I’ll bet someone used the wrong crimp dies or didn’t have their adjustable crimper set properly.

NRP uses a Custom Crimp crimper, they are all variable stop crimpers. I am betting you are right and the operator did not have the machine set right for the hose. Since Custom Crimp makes crimpers for multiple brands they use a micrometer adjustment with arbitrary numbers on it. It definitely invites an opportunity for error. Also you have to check the machine and adjust crimp settings to account for wear. To my knowledge only Parker sells positive stop crimpers any more. Eaton (now danfoss) dumped the 401 series and is moving towards variable stop. I expect they will get rid of the 410 series soon leaving only variable stop.

 

[Tinhack]

Don't park it in the sun then. Only use it at night. Sunlight causes the cracking.

That's why I covered all the hoses this time around. No covered parking around here. And the lights aren't all that great. Besides; there's animals that will eat you out here after dark.

 

[Tinhack]

I think it's because they are kept in a large carport stall - out of the sun. Same as the tires.

You are very fortunate to have covered parking for equipment. Not like that here, yet.

 

[deserteagle71]

Before I retired I had a job as a buyer for a large mining company. Some years ago we started having the same problems people here on this post are talking about - poor quality "rubber" that deteriorated very fast when exposed to sunlight or certain chemicals. Fuel hoses (such as go between the gas tank to the carburetor on a big portable welder) that only lasted a short time before cracking and leaking. Hydraulic hoses (mining equipment goes through A LOT of hydraulic hoses) that didn't last very long before leaking. When we complained to our supplier we were told it had to do with some EPA mandate - the formulation of the material that made up the "rubber" part of the hoses had to change because the old stuff was not "environmentally friendly".

Don't have any way to confirm if any of that is true - or are the companies using cheaper materials to save costs? Seems to me that's about the same time that electrical wire insulation changed to a soy-based "rubber". After which we began having problems with rodents eating the insulation off vehicle wiring.

I do know that the OEM hoses on the front end loader on my old John Deere lasted about 40 years. In 5 years, the new hoses (Parker) I had made up to replace the OEM look worse than the OEM ever did. The outer covering is starting to come off.

 

[st8yd]

Well so far it sounds like Parker needs to be struck from the list.

 

[willimakit]

Balflex Sharkskin is good hose. NRP Jones is good hose. Don't use less than 100R16 double layer. Sun destroys hose. Use hose cover or paint your hose. Jones is domestic hose. Balflex is made all over the world.