New Grapple, new tractor guy

[adventure bob]

Ordered a 66in Wicked Grapple from Everything to go on my L4060. Cannot wait for this thing to get here, its as if Christmas has come early.

Ordered it with 1/2in Ag connectors and realized last night that I dont have connectors on the 3rd function hoses; theyre just capped.

Looking for recomendaiton on where and what I need to get. The Grapple has a 1male and 1female 1/2in Ag.
Are there various qualities of connectors, are there better or worse brands? My experience is based on air stuff and theres some reall crap connectors out there and theres some stuff thats excellent but outrageously priced, then there good quality decent price.

Also, when I plug this thing in for the first time, is the hydro level going to drop low enough to require a top off?
Also assuming that tractor hydraulics have a method of bleeding out the air that will get introduced when I plug this thing in.

I throw my ignorance at the feet of the community.

 

[k0ua]

Ordered a 66in Wicked Grapple from Everything to go on my L4060. Cannot wait for this thing to get here, its as if Christmas has come early.

Ordered it with 1/2in Ag connectors and realized last night that I dont have connectors on the 3rd function hoses; theyre just capped.

Looking for recomendaiton on where and what I need to get. The Grapple has a 1male and 1female 1/2in Ag.
Are there various qualities of connectors, are there better or worse brands? My experience is based on air stuff and theres some reall crap connectors out there and theres some stuff thats excellent but outrageously priced, then there good quality decent price.

Also, when I plug this thing in for the first time, is the hydro level going to drop low enough to require a top off?
Also assuming that tractor hydraulics have a method of bleeding out the air that will get introduced when I plug this thing in.

I throw my ignorance at the feet of the community.

I ordered my connectors mail order. Discount hydraulic hose.
ISO 5675 Agricultural Hydraulic Quick Couplers

But I don't know they are any better than any other. TSC has them blister packed also. Don't worry about the loss of fluid. It is a very small percentage of what you have in the tank.. Don't worry about the air.. cycle it 4 or 5 times and you are good to go. It works itself out when the fluid gets returned to the tank. If your third function hoses are capped, are they NPT male threads. or are they JIC or something else? Check and make sure you understand what they are before you buy.
Read this brochure if you don't know what you have

How to Identify Fluid Ports and Connectors

James K0UA

 

[masscity]

I have a L3540 with a 3rd function and I ordered my 1/2" ag couplers from Discount Hydraulic too. I also have the grapple from ETA and everything fit perfect. Don't forget the caps.

 

[Kioti Tom]

The AG couplers that come on the Wicked Grapple are the ball type. I had to change them out
for the poppet type which I use on all my equipment. Get the ball type as shown in the link by
K0UA, if your hoses are 3/8" you will have to get some adapters from 3/8 to 1/2. if they are
1/2 hoses you are ready to go.... Congrats on the new grapple. I have the 60" and would not
trade it for another brand...
Tom

 

[TomSeller]

The AG couplers that come on the Wicked Grapple are the ball type. I had to change them out
for the poppet type which I use on all my equipment.

I thought the standard ag female could receive either the standard ag male ball or poppet. Mine do.

You have good advice above that little hydraulic oil is taken up by the grapple. Some even come with fluid in them. However, I would get in the habit of checking your hydraulic fluid daily along with your engine oil, etc. You never know when you might have punctured an oil filter or developed a leak the day before. I am also in the habit of looking at the ground under where I park before I start up to look for unusual fluid leakage.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

View attachment 345064
My 72" EA grapple. I didn't notice any drop of the hydraulic fluid, I did however bleed out a little air after initial hookup. You are gonna love this thing, it really works well and is just plain fun to use.

 

[adventure bob]

Ok, so when I let all the pressure of the system, how much can I expect the system to leak when I pull these caps to see if theyre NPT or JIC?

 

[TomSeller]

Ok, so when I let all the pressure of the system, how much can I expect the system to leak when I pull these caps to see if theyre NPT or JIC?

Set your loader bucket down on a stump or something if you are concerned so that it elevates the hoses a little. So that they are sloping back. With the tractor off and all pressures relieved by the joystick you should only lose a few ounces. I wouldn't even worry, you will see the threads quick enough and put the cap back on. Don't do it over concrete. Both fittings will be the same.

 

[94BULLITT]

Tractor supply or your dealer is probably the best place to buy the couplers.

Ok, so when I let all the pressure of the system, how much can I expect the system to leak when I pull these caps to see if theyre NPT or JIC?

It should not lose any since you have not used the 3rd function. You probably can look at the 3rd function instructions and it will tell you what the fittings are.

 

[Kioti Tom]

I thought the standard ag female could receive either the standard ag male ball or poppet. Mine do.

They do, but I like all mine to match. Less leakage that way when connection and disconnecting the fittings. Most AG hyd
couplers are NPT for threading. Your hose ends should be the same threads. You just have to get the correct size for your
hoses. One more point. make sure you get the fitting the same size as what is on the grapple. 3/8 and 1/2 do not mix. you
may have to get an adapter for the hose to coupler to make them fit...
Tom

 

[BGigHarbor]

its a personal thing, but I prefer the FF couplers for the front. 3/8 sized with a 1/2 inch female thread to match the hoses. I accidentally ordered mine with the 1/2 FF couplers which work but bigger and more expensive than necessary.

You can order them online for reasonable. Parker is one good brand.

 

[94BULLITT]

its a personal thing, but I prefer the FF couplers for the front. 3/8 sized with a 1/2 inch female thread to match the hoses.

You can order them online for reasonable,

I also prefer FF couplers for the front.

 

[adventure bob]

Grapple shipped today!

 

[adventure bob]

Grapple is in St Louis!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Just wondering why you guys like the FF couplers better on the front? If you like them on the front, why not have them on the back also? :confused3:

 

[TomSeller]

Just wondering why you guys like the FF couplers better on the front? If you like them on the front, why not have them on the back also? :confused3:

I have the ag style but would rather have the flat faced all around. They are easier to keep clean. The female ag connector in particular is sometimes difficult to keep clean, even if you use a plug.

 

[94BULLITT]

Just wondering why you guys like the FF couplers better on the front? If you like them on the front, why not have them on the back also? :confused3:

The loose less fluid than the ag style couplers. IF I wanted to rent a piece of sikid steer equipment I would be ready to go. It would not be a real simple conversion on the rear, you cant screw one off and put a new one on. I also very rarely unhook my tnt so it doesn't matter.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Thanks for the replies, makes sense. I guess that I don't plug and unplug stuff enough that I even give it much thought. I have just always thought of the flat faced QDS for industrial use. From what I have seen, even the BIG AG tractors still use the typical AG style QDs. But maybe that's changing too. :confused3:

 

[murphy1244]

The loose less fluid than the ag style couplers. IF I wanted to rent a piece of sikid steer equipment I would be ready to go. It would not be a real simple conversion on the rear, you cant screw one off and put a new one on. I also very rarely unhook my tnt so it doesn't matter.

Interesting Top Link holder.:scratchchin:

 

[adventure bob]

My grapple is coming with 1/2 Ags. Does anyone here notice a difference or has tried the various versions of Ag connectors? Theres some like the safeway model S70 that are no leak and can supposedly undone under pressure with no leaks. I don't have enough experience to know which are the best so Ill go with the Ags for now. If I find the leaks to be too annoying I figure Ill try something else.