Live and Learn - Hydraulic Couplers

[workinonit]

I've lived most of my adolescent and adult life pulling, pushing and beating on ag style couplers on JD tractors. Back in the day some JD tractors were made easy by having a lever that locked and released the couplers. Naturally, that made too much sense or cost too much, anywho they got rid of them. So since then we have been relegated to shoving them in and snatching them out. Well, back in October I bought a new PHD from a local equipment auction. It had a SS hookup so I had to order a global to SS adapter to keep me from having to do a lot of fabbing. I ordered it and received it Monday. Nice piece from Bell Precision. Fit like it's supposed to. Got it all hooked up and hung and moved on to hydraulics. Flat face connectors. Never used them before. Never had an opinion about them. I do now. I decided to keep them on the PHD and now I think I'm changing everything on the 3rd function over to them. They are so much easier to operate that ag style. The PHD and LimbHog that's coming Monday will definitely have them.

Has anyone ever changed the back end of a JD over to them?

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I don't like the flat face ones because everything else on a tractor is ag style and converting every implement would be a pain in the wallet. But the primary reason is hydraulic lock. I had them on a snow plow and the first time I hooked them up, it was easy. The next and every time after I had to loosen the fitting to bleed off hydraulic backpressure. I have a friend who tore a tendon completely loose from above his elbow trying to hook up the flat fittings on a transfer trailer to his truck. He had been operating a transfer for years, but they had been equipped with ag type fittings, and he never had a problem with them.

 

[workinonit]

I guess I have some more living and learning to do. Maybe these are so easy because they are on 3rd function implements and don't have any stored pressure. We shall see.

 

[kennyd]

The big advantage of FF couplers is that they are easier to clean, and drip less when disconnecting. They are much more expensive, and still subject to pressure problems like AG style couplers.

 

[Hay Dude]

I like Ag or Pioneer type better for more reasons than I like flat face.

 

[shooterdon]

We must embrace diversity.

 

[LouNY]

I'll stay with the "ag" or Pioneer style, diversity can kiss my ____.
I do use mostly the pressure relieving style male connectors;

That little poppet valve in the tip will help relieve pressure and make them easier to connect.

 

[workinonit]

I'll report back after I've run these for a while. I learned my lesson long ago about disconnecting with pressure on. I try to relieve everything when I unhook.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

We must embrace diversity.

Okay, but I don't care how hard you try to make it work, trying to hook a female hydraulic hose to a female fitting on your tractor just isn't going to work. It works that way in electrical applications, among others, also.

 

[shooterdon]

Okay, but I don't care how hard you try to make it work, trying to hook a female hydraulic hose to a female fitting on your tractor just isn't going to work. It works that way in electrical applications, among others, also.

There you go being couplerhobic. Hope your FB account doesn't get suspended.

 

[Xfaxman]

I have flat face couplers and this tool:

Lined up straight:

Latched:

Also use it to couple the connectors when the attachment is removed:

And the Xboom Thread: Front-End Loader - Flat Face Hydraulic QC

.

 

[nyone]

To me both can be a pain. FF do stay cleaner but can be harder to line up and just as hard to release pressure. AG can freeze up easier and get dirty easier.

No matter the type of coupler a can s brake clean and rag should be involved.

 

[Smokeydog]

Operated ag couplers and hay equipment for years on gear tractors. Not the cleanest option but worked.

Skidsteer was the first exposure to flatface. Cleaner for its operating environment. Hydraulic transmission and motors.

Newer tractors with HST have converted 3rd, remotes and backhoe to flatface. Some reason was interchangeability compatibility to different equipment platforms. Have several tools and techniques to help connect flatface connectors under pressure.

Look forward to your review of Limbhog saw. Built a similar saw and been very useful attachment.

 

[Cycledude]

I just wish my new tractor would have come from the factory with break away couplers, haven’t had any problems yet but suspect someday I’m going to drive away from a piece of equipment without disconnecting the hoses first and it’s going to cause a lot of damage.

 

[workinonit]

Operated ag couplers and hay equipment for years on gear tractors. Not the cleanest option but worked.

Skidsteer was the first exposure to flatface. Cleaner for its operating environment. Hydraulic transmission and motors.

Newer tractors with HST have converted 3rd, remotes and backhoe to flatface. Some reason was interchangeability compatibility to different equipment platforms. Have several tools and techniques to help connect flatface connectors under pressure.

Look forward to your review of Limbhog saw. Built a similar saw and been very useful attachment.

I read your thread when you made your saw. I have the ability and knowledge to do the same but what I don't have is the time. So I purchased the Limbhog. It is out for delivery on a UPS truck as I write this so I should have it by mid afternoon. I will definitely start a thread about it. I already know that using it will be easy but cleaning up behind it will be the work.

 

[Fixastuff]

FF couplers have much higher flow. That doesn't matter for most tractors rear remotes or front hird function but it does on a track loader.

 

[workinonit]

I figured this is why they are used on skidsteer equipment.

 

[LD1]

They make FF couplers that can connect under pressure, as well as ones that cannot. Obviously the connect under pressure ones are more expensive.

The problem is, if you get the cheaper ones that CANNOT connect under pressure......its not as simple as tapping the male nipple on the loader arm (or the female nipple with a punch an hammer).

If you have FF couplers that wont connect under pressure.....and you have residual pressure in the line.....the only way to relieve is loosen and retighten a fitting

 

[Smokeydog]

Several of the tools used to connect flatface connectors under pressure or relive pressure without having to loosen a fitting.

 

[Hay Dude]

I would find it annoying to have to carry around a tool to connect and disconnect couplers. Good idea for older guys or weaker hands trying to force flat face couplers together, but easy to lose in the field.
Tried flat face, but didn’t get what all the excitement was about. Will be removing them from my HLA log grapple and snow plow as soon as the last Kubota with FF runs down the road in March.