Quick Couplers

Eric_Phillips · Feb 12, 2009

I am trying to plan out my rear remotes to be installed this spring. The first thing is size. I read one post that said to use quick couplers one size larger than the hose size. When looking at the Safeway couplers this sort of makes sense. They claim only 6GPM through their 3/8" couplers. I am wanting to run a post driver off my measily 8GPM system. Are the 3/8" adequate or should I go to 1/2"? Do other manufactureres 3/8" couplers have higher floe rates?

Then comes ball style or poppet? I do not see myself changing things out often if that makes a difference.

Zebra5 · Mar 8, 2009

I would go with 1/2" coupler, since most things hook up with 3/8" hoses.
I too wonder if there are any advantages to ball or poppet style, better flow, better leak control when empty? Anyone?

jonsstihl · Mar 8, 2009

depends on the size of the valve if you are mounting them directly on the valve like me, with the prince sv series vavle, the half inch qd's from surplus center will not fit according to their specs

so for my application I have to go with the 3/8 qd's

poppet style have slightly better flow apparently.

Eric_Phillips · Mar 8, 2009

After doing some more research I found there is a lot of variation in flow rates through quick connects. The ones from SC have low rated flow rates, even their poppet style. The Faster brand poppet style from Baileynet have much better flow rates.

J_J · Mar 8, 2009

Here is some more data on Quick Couplers. Safeway claim that their poppet style couplers are leak free. It seems like when you go from 3/8 to 1/2, you double the flow rate, so that alone makes it a good choice to always go to the next sizes coupler. Of course you will have to change out both couplers.

Here is Safeways data page.

http://www.safewayhyd.com/pdfs/s40-series.pdf

Eric_Phillips · Mar 9, 2009

J.J. What concerned me about the Safeway was in the text they said "high flow poppet valve" but in the specs there was no difference between the ball valve and the poppet. Looking at the faster specs they show the poppets to have a flow of 13.2GPM vs 7.9 for the ball.

http://www.fasterinc.com/catalogs/0115-09-06-GB(Standard).pdf

J_J · Mar 9, 2009

Eric_Phillips said:
J.J. What concerned me about the Safeway was in the text they said "high flow poppet valve" but in the specs there was no difference between the ball valve and the poppet. Looking at the faster specs they show the poppets to have a flow of 13.2GPM vs 7.9 for the ball.

http://www.fasterinc.com/catalogs/0115-09-06-GB(Standard).pdf

I called the Safeway company and they are supposed to call me back.
Here is some more interesting reading on Quick Disconects.

http://www.new-line.com/PDFs/IH2007-PL New-Line Hose & Fittings Catalogue/V - Quick Connects.pdf

J_J · Mar 10, 2009

Eric,

The Safeway people called me back, and said you can run more gpm through the coupler, but there will be some pressure loss, and more heat buildup. It also seems like the ball valve is seated against metal, and the poppet has a rubber seat, and therefore, less leakage. I recommend up-sizing on the QD's

Eric_Phillips · Mar 10, 2009

J.J.,
Thanks for the information. I have already committed to the Faster poppet QDs. My tractor only puts out about 7 GPM. Two of the remotes are mostly just going to run a T-N-T with 1/4" tubing so they should be more than adequate. Right now the third remote will run a post driver. That is the one where I want good flow. If it is a problem it should be easy to get a set of larger QDs for that one line.