trouble connecting skid steer quick disconnects

[CurlyDave]

Plugging into the tractor is the trouble, because you are trying to push against pressure. So if the tractor is bleed correctly at shut down, and the QD's on the implement were plugged into each other, would there still be a problem.

I used to do this, more to keep the QD fittings clean than for any other reason, but I can tell you from experience it does not relieve the pressure enough to make for an easy connection.

I suspect the reason is that the fittings are designed to lose the least amount of oil possible when the connection is broken, and the designer did a good job. A few drops come out, but not enough.

I haven't done this in over a year, because I have two spare sets now, but as I recall it breaking the connection under pressure took quite a bit of effort also. I could do it, but it wasn't just "pick it up and pull on the lock ring." I had to really wrestle it to get the connection apart if there was any internal pressure.

 

[scuvnut]

CurlyDave,

Just want to let you know that I did follow through and get an extra set of quick disconnects as you suggested. I had a set of small brass plugs which I used instead of plastic. Its done the trick. As long as I push them right on upon removal of the implement.

Have not needed to use the caulking gun as long as I bleed down the tractor side as well.

Thanks as this solved a frustrating dilema.

Paul

 

[CurlyDave]

Happy to hear it worked for you.

 

[MikesTractor]

IMHO the very best solution is a few spare connectors, with the rear (pipe thread) end loosely capped with a plastic fitting, which are mated with the implement lines as soon as the implement is disconnected. This prevents the pressure build up from happening in the first place.

My neighbor uses this trick with a little twist. He adds a piece of pipe about 6" long. He then takes some steel wool and pushes it inside the pipe, then closes it up with a pipe cap that he drilled several small holes in.

The piece of pipe serves as a handle, the steel wool acts like a filter, and the drilled pipe cap lets it vent/breathe.

I'm going out of town for the weekend, but I'll try to get some pics next week.

Mike

 

[kenstrac]

JJ.
I was working on a IH and the guy had a lever assembly hanging on a chain that would fit over both fittings and would pull them together.It didn't look home made have you ever seen one

 

[J_J]

JJ.
I was working on a IH and the guy had a lever assembly hanging on a chain that would fit over both fittings and would pull them together.It didn't look home made have you ever seen one

No, but I was thinking of making something out of those wide two finger welding clamps. Once the pressure is released, they are not to hard to connect. I like my hose and QD,s setup. A male and a female on a short hose . There is air in the hose, and will handle the hyd fluid as it heats up and expands. The other way is to use some QD,s with plastic plugs.

Snap-tite's CP74 Quick Disconnect Coupling Solves Thermal Expansion Issues

Product Information The sun and the heat it generates is a source of life and energy for our planet. It's also the source of many headaches for the hydraulic engineer, one of them being thermal expansion.

While construction and utility equipment manufacturers experience the brunt of the sun's effects, manufacturers of skid-steer loaders may have the toughest challenge of all. Often, thermal expansion creates pressures of over 2000 psi, preventing standard quick connect couplings from connecting as designed. Compounding this issue was the decision made long ago to "key" the proper hose connections by using both a coupler and nipple on both the loader and attachment.

Herein lies the problem, to easily connect an attachment containing trapped pressure due to thermal expansion, both the nipple (male half) and the coupler (female half) would be required to connect while under pressure. Presently, users must remove or otherwise manipulate the coupling's valve to relieve the pressure, defeating the purpose of using a quick disconnect in the first place. Why should the user be forced to manually relieve the pressure and possibly damage the coupling, or endanger the environment with the subsequent spillage?

As if these demands weren't tough enough, the industry also mandated that they design a coupling that meets ISO-16028, an international specification for interchangeable, push-to-connect, dry break couplings.

Patented Design
Using the latest 3-D modeling software, Snap-tite's engineers designed and patented the Series CP74 coupling. While being able to connect to any manufacturers' ISO-16028 compatible design, either the nipple or coupler will connect to static pressures of up to 3625 psi.

The CP74 solution saves time, prevents damage and protects the environment while maintaining the interchangeable criterion of ISO-16028.

 

[J_J]

These QD couplers may be the answer to connecting attachments that are difficult to connect due to expansion of fluid.

Pioneer (Parker Hannifin) Decompression Nipple - Dultmeier Sales

 

[NHhomestead1775]

I am happy to have found this thread. I managed to pull one of the FEL couplers out while working in thick brush and ended up with the loader up of the ground. Tried on and off for an hour to get the coupler back in! Thanks to this thread I was able to get the preasure bled from the male connector that goes to the FEL. It glided down to the ground and the connector plugged right in.

Thank you!

 

[rjkobbeman]

I realize I am responding to an old thread, but the information in this thread gives a good background of what we are talking about.

I finally received my 3rd function valve for my FEL. This afternoon I installed it with no issues, but I found the QDs are not included.

Since it has been a while since I rented a skid steer hydraulic attachment, I can't remember the QD configuration in regards to male and female. On the tractor end, is it 2 males or 2 females or 1 of each? If it is 1 of each, is there a preferred location for them? My QDs are on the left (standing in front of the bucket facing toward the rear of the tractor -- passenger side if it was a car).