Replacing several hydraulic hoses - best approach

[alchemysa]

I learned the hard way not to stop in at one shop in town and ask for a hose to be made while I went to lunch.

Its amazing how things always seem to be cheaper if you get a quote first.

 

[Egon]

Replace the hoses as required. Just be sure you have the connections properly labeled.

When replacing take the hose in to ensure you get the proper fittings.

 

[MF283]

I'd take the hoses off & to a shop, no miscalculations that way. You can throw some flower on the fittings to get an idea which ones are leaking.

Ronnie

 

[beowulf]

Thanks to everyone.

I have degreased and washed everything, and have identified some of the bad hoses or potentially bad hoses. I can now see how one bad FEL hose with a slow leak at pressure really caused a mess by spreading and attracting dirt over time.

I will use the flour as suggested to make sure. Once this is done, I think I will take the hoses off, go to Tractor Supply to see what they have that is suitable (assuming they have quality 2 wire hoses), and for anything they cannot provide, I will take to a local Parkers to have replacements made. I could take everything to Parkers - that may be easier - but not sure if that would cost a lot more or not. I want to replace the hoses with quality hoses.

I will tape plastic over the exposed fittings until I reconnect the new hoses.

Thanks again to everyone responding - this has been very helpful.

 

[beowulf]

Update: I identified one hose with a slow drip at pressure (at the crimping), and another with a very, very tiny spot of dampness (showed up on the flour I coated the hoses with), and found two others with some minor wear - down to the wire braiding though the braiding was intact. So I removed all four and took those to a hydraulic business and they made all new hoses while I waited. I will reinstall in the morning, and then change the hydraulic oil and filters.

Also, some of the "friction" protection on the old hoses was not replaced on the new hoses, so I bought some of those foam pipe sleeves (used to protect pipes from freezing) in differing diameters and will see how they work out to protect the hoses somewhat - those that might need some protection from abrasion. I will tape them a bit with black duct tape if and as needed. It may not work out, but those foam pieces are really cheap and it would seem they would offer some of the same protection and benefits of other hydraulic sleeve products, i.e., friction protection and pin hole leaks that could cause injury.

Thanks again to all those responding. I know a lot more now about hydraulic hoses - resolving my issues was not as difficult as I had made it in my mind.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I have found Tractor Supply to be a lot more costly (20-30%) and no military discount, than their competition overall. Their Parker compatible fittings are a Chinese knockoff. Decided against that. I have a hydraulic shop less than 10 miles, they are my choice. They give me fleet discount (pays to ask) Check out the ready mades from Surplus Center first if ends are pipe thread (NPT) or flare (JIC). Don't try to make up your own hoses unless you have a skiver and the hydraulic compressor.

Ron