Can't connect quick HD couplers

[Red Horse]

Well I went to put my grapple on this afternoon, and I could NOT attach the Hyd hoses. Shut the engine off, cycled the valve to relieve any pressure and there was no way I could connect those hoses. Never had this happen before. Tried it with engine running or off, no way I could get those fittings on.

Any thoughts??

 

[AKfish]

Most generally it's a pressure build-up on the attachment - not the tractor. I cover the male end of the quick disconnect with a doubled-over rag and pop it on a flat surface of the attachment or a quick rap with a hammer. Bit of hyd fluid and you're good to go!

However, on some of the warmer summer days those black hoses will take on some heat - and pressure. I've had to use a couple of box end wrenches to crack the coupler and drain off some of the hyd fluid.

Other's here on TBN have posted their remedies. Lot's of reading and different solutions.

AKfish

 

[beenthere]

Just as AKfish says, just keep eyes protected (clothes too) from some oil shooting out when relieving the pressure.

Have often thought of a pliers-like tool on the order of that used for compressing the valve springs could be designed to slip behind the crimped connector and have a cap over the male tip to squeeze and slowly release the oil pressure (plus some oil).

 

[Cat_Driver]

Also you can just back off on any hydraulic connection, this will also release the pressure.

 

[Army grunt]

What i do is have the ends set up so at the atacments I have a male an female end, I allways plug them in as soon as I unhook. That prevents crap from getting around fitting also makes it easy to hook up, i gess becoust there is naver any pressure build up.
Army Grunt

 

[Red Horse]

Guys- thx for your responses- and I usually hook the two hoses together on my Fisher. But this Wildkat grapple has the hoses in a sleeve so its too tight- guess I should cut the sleeve a bit so I can loop them around.

 

[k0ua]

What i do is have the ends set up so at the atacments I have a male an female end, I allways plug them in as soon as I unhook. That prevents crap from getting around fitting also makes it easy to hook up, i gess becoust there is naver any pressure build up.
Army Grunt

Hey now. That is an idea!

James K0UA

 

[beenthere]

Guys- thx for your responses- and I usually hook the two hoses together on my Fisher. But this Wildkat grapple has the hoses in a sleeve so its too tight- guess I should cut the sleeve a bit so I can loop them around.

And one is female and the other male? Seems my attachments have male ends.

 

[93Mustang]

Fwiw- This issue stymied me but I found that if I leave the grapple in the open position I do not have the problem. Not sure why. Sort of just lucked into that- prior i had to take a wrench with me and unhook one of the hoses at the cylinder to release the pressure. I also tried connecting the ends (my grapple has a male and a female connector) but then couldn't get them apart...!So out came the wrench!

-Dana

 

[Red Horse]

And one is female and the other male? Seems my attachments have male ends.

Correct- as a matter of fact, you buy the kit from Deere to pipe 3rd valve to front of your loader and that is what you get.

by the way guys---DUH! As suggested I just pushed the end of the male on the grapple against a flat surface, popped a squirt of oil and it hooked right up.

 

[kco]

This likely is not relevant to your problem but the link below is to a post I made this winter.

I could not reconnect my snowblower hydraulics when I was certain there was no residual pressure, the couplings were clean, and working fine. A bit of heat on the couplings solved the problem.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums//showthread.php?t=231513

 

[Mistyridgefarm]

Hooking the two ends together will still allow the pressure to build up in the heat. Even worse, it has no outlet except cylinder seals or busting a line.

I tried the valve spring type pliers idea once using a set of slip joints and some welding. They were 12" pliers and on a really hot day, Popeye wouldn't have enough forearm grip to release the pressure. Oh well, not much invested.

The rag and hammer or flat surface approach is the only thing that always works.

I was going to try some female couplers with open ends for storage, but was worried the mud daubers would fill them up. I have been looking for an inexpensive sintered bronze filter to keep the critters out.

 

[Zebrafive]

Hooking the two ends together will still allow the pressure to build up in the heat. Even worse, it has no outlet except cylinder seals or busting a line.

I tried the valve spring type pliers idea once using a set of slip joints and some welding. They were 12" pliers and on a really hot day, Popeye wouldn't have enough forearm grip to release the pressure. Oh well, not much invested.

The rag and hammer or flat surface approach is the only thing that always works.

I was going to try some female couplers with open ends for storage, but was worried the mud daubers would fill them up. I have been looking for an inexpensive sintered bronze filter to keep the critters out.

My plan is to mount a pair of female hydraulic couplers to the lid of a 5 gallon pail. Then connect both ends of my grapple when not in use. That way no mess from what ever oil comes out of the hoses.

 

[Mistyridgefarm]

Great idea Zebrative. On the way back from the JD dealer this morning, I saw some balloons at a car dealer. I'm going to pick some up and try them on the ends. Cheap a d should keep the critters out.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

I am having a heck of a time connecting up my MMM to my 3320 third valve this year. I had teh snowplow angles attached to teh tird valve all winter. I know there is pressure as My deck is hanging. I tride lifting it to take the pressure off. I should be able to wrap in a towl and hit it with a hammer correct? Should I use a regular steel hammer or dead blow? I tried pushing on it and I guess I am too weak this year. Man it was tough.

 

[J_J]

Using the dowel rod in the female coupler usually works using a regular hammer.

I sometimes just push the male coupler against a rag on a flat steel surface, and that works for me.