Shower - done it again

[curly]

Well, I was grappling away...and suddenly I'm being showered again. Maybe I'm sqeezing to hard?

This is a swivel fitting so it's not like I boogered it up or nothing..it broke where the swivel is. I guess that was the weakest link. But that dude is hard as nails. I can't even come close to bending it closed or further open by hand.

Maybe I need to trade somebody for a smaller tractor until I learn how to work this dude

On a lighter note. Here's Chubby and Licorice having a bite to eat...if it works.

 

[bjcsc]

Internal pressure won't cause that. It got caught on something and bent. Either find out where the interference is and solve it (most likely by using a different fitting), or order a pallet of hydraulic fluid and get a rainsuit!

The only thing worse than being covered head to toe in hydraulic fluid is being covered twice...hang in there...

 

[curly]

Internal pressure won't cause that. It got caught on something and bent. Either find out where the interference is and solve it (most likely by using a different fitting), or order a pallet of hydraulic fluid and get a rainsuit!

Well, it wasn't the same fitting last time. It was one that I overtightened and sorta twisted. I will try to find a solid one Monday (struck out today) and have another go at it.

I thought the swivel thingee may have just been weak...but it's good to know that internal pressure wouldn't do it...although at the time of the shower there was nothing on it (I could see that area well)...it could have hit something earlier while I was digging up a stump.

But alas, another week-end that was going to be full of tractoring....lost

 

[bjcsc]

Northern Tool carries those fittings in most of their stores - they have one in Spartanburg. It opens at 10am tomorrow ...

 

[BTDT]

Maybe time for a nice cab tractor? Still pulling for you, and might be nice to see some pics of you after one of your "spa" treatments. Every one could probably use a good laugh.

 

[curly]

Northern Tool carries those fittings in most of their stores - they have one in Spartanburg. It opens at 10am tomorrow ...

I went there and TSC...neither had a match. Monday I'm going back to the same place I got the fittings the first time.

 

[jdbower]

Wow, this must be the most you've bathed in ages

I'd be careful to keep an eye on your hose routings. If they're too tight you may just need a small obstruction to cause enough pressure to snap a connection (or example, a branch that works its way under the hose when you're closing the grapple). If they're too loose you may end up with the hoses flopping around and begging to get tangled. You can try zip-ties in places where the flex isn't needed, this may help prevent things from getting snagged.

If you want to make a trip up to NJ I'd be willing to accept your tractor for mine, I wouldn't even charge you very much to take it off your hands

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Hey curly, I have a bunch of those in my shop. I'll private message one down to you.

That fitting was definately hit.

As far a torque goes, go to this site-

Eaton Product Literature Library > Fluid Conveyance > Weatherhead

Go to page 28. Pay attention to "additional turns of hex flats".
Many people "gorilla grip" fittings when you really don't have to. Yes, pipe thread needs to be cranked down. JIC (flare) fittings require much less torque and an o-ring requires even less for a good seal. Over torquing also makes the fitting more susceptible to breaking if hit.

Curly, when you go get your new fitting, ask for a hose and fitting catalog. Sooooo much useful info like this in there.

 

[curly]

Hey curly, I have a bunch of those in my shop. I'll private message one down to you.

That fitting was definately hit.

As far a torque goes, go to this site-

Eaton Product Literature Library > Fluid Conveyance > Weatherhead

Go to page 28. Pay attention to "additional turns of hex flats".
Many people "gorilla grip" fittings when you really don't have to. Yes, pipe thread needs to be cranked down. JIC (flare) fittings require much less torque and an o-ring requires even less for a good seal. Over torquing also makes the fitting more susceptible to breaking if hit.

Curly, when you go get your new fitting, ask for a hose and fitting catalog. Sooooo much useful info like this in there.

Thanks Wayne, I'll do it.

 

[sandman2234]

Just wondering if using an open end wrench for assembly versus a tubing wrench would make any differences if he is torquing them too tight? Will a slightly eggshape fitting add enough stress to the swivel to make a diference? Probably not, but I just thought it was worth mentioning/asking.
David from jax

 

[bjcsc]

I can't imagine a tubing wrench would work. The fitting diameter is too close to the hose diameter...

 

[sandman2234]

They make different kinds of tubing wrenches. I have what is left of a set that opens up, and then clamps back down on the fitting, and acts the same as a ratchet wrench. Mainly I was curious how much an open end wrench causing egg shape would matter.
David from jax

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Hey Curly, these guys have a good point.Why don't you try tightening the fitting you usually break with a box end wrench? Good thing is when this happens, you don't have to go looking for a wrench.

 

[bjcsc]

They make different kinds of tubing wrenches. I have what is left of a set that opens up, and then clamps back down on the fitting, and acts the same as a ratchet wrench. Mainly I was curious how much an open end wrench causing egg shape would matter.
David from jax

Those sound great! Do they still make them? Obviously from my response I have only seen the slotted box end type. Sounds like a reason to get myself some more wrenches!

 

[john_bud]

Curly, I does seem that your grapple is causing some interference when it is opening and closing. It could also be that the hose is too short.

Check the mechanicals out, operate the grapple with the grapple end hoses on, but the other end in a bucket to catch the fluid. Then move the grapple by hand to the full extents and see what is causing the issue.

PS. You didn't tighten that by turning the nut farthest from the o-ring, did you? That would be silly.
jb

 

[curly]

PS. You didn't r tighten that by turning the nut farthest from the o-ring, did you? That would be silly.
jb

If you turn the one farthest from the o-ring, the broken part just spins...it's a swivel. But I had to put a wrench onto that farthest part (top swivel part)...and I had to hold it from spinning as I turned the female part that went over it.

Not sure I really understand all of the wrench questions/suggestions here here.

I have wrenches that I tighten the fittings with...they are open so that they will fit onto the fitting.

Wayne, the fittings that broke were not the same ones so it's not that.

I can put plastic ties on the hoses (possibly, I haven't looked yet) to hold them to the grapple I guess...if that's what got caught. I can even put some on the hoses to hold it to the fel arm...but of course I'll have to cut them back off once I take the grapple off...no big deal though.

I must have caught something on that stump and the roots as I was digging it out...I'll have to pay much closer attention to that area when I get the new fitting and make sure how things look as I grapple a stump. It's hard to see from the seat...but next time I'll get up and look several times as I go to see how those hoses look.

Thanks,
Curly

 

[BTDT]

Any possibility of placing a guard over the hose/fitting to keep stuff from getting at it? Maybe weld a tab onto a piece of angle that you can bolt on, or just weld it on. Good luck, you'll get things figured out, then maybe post how you had this problem in this spot and how you remedied the situation.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Hey Curly, these guys have a good point.Why don't you try tightening the fitting you usually break with a box end wrench? Good thing is when this happens, you don't have to go looking for a wrench.

Curly, I was just messing with you.

For how tight these fittings need to be, anything other than an open end wrench is overkill. People, please look at the torque spec's on this stuff.

Bottom line, if you are rounding the flats of a fitting with an open end wrench, you are overtightening.

 

[curly]

Curly, I was just messing with you.

For how tight these fittings need to be, anything other than an open end wrench is overkill. People, please look at the torque spec's on this stuff.

Bottom line, if you are rounding the flats of a fitting with an open end wrench, you are overtightening.

I am definately gonna start tightening things less. I'll get it on just enough and if it leaks...turn it a tad more...til it don't leak.

I have a torque wrench that works with sockets...do they have one for open end wrenches?

 

[AlanB]

You would use a set of "crows foot" wrenches in combination with your tourqe wrench to do those lines. All your regular tool suppliers have them in their corresponding price ranges.

Here is a search on HF varieties,

Harbor Freight Tools