Hooking Hydraulic lines up on Backhoe

[ChrisRyan]

I tried doing a search and figured I could just ask the question here.

We got the tractor on Saturday (30 degrees during the day) and had the backhoe attached most of the day. In the afternoon we unhooked it and put the box blade on. I've been using the box blade for a bit and went today to try and hook back the backhoe.

I cannot hook the female end coming from the backhoe to the male end of the tractor. The nipple inside the hook up won't release and thus not being able to lock together. I've tried playing with the controls and letting air out, but still nothing. I even drained a bit of hydraulic fluid from the backhoe, still nothing.

What am I missing here? Is it just due to weather? It was about 55 here today with plenty of sun.

The dealer is coming by on Saturday to drop off some stuff, so I will have him give a hand, but I feel like I'm missing something obvious.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Asteral]

Nope that sounds like it still has back pressure on the lines still if you take a Rag(towel) and wrap it around a socket extension and the apply pressure to the nipple( Female Side) it should release the pressure and squirt out some oil, then do the same with the male end wrap the Rag(towel) around it and gently press it down on a hard surface it too should release the pressure on the line a squirt out the oil, i've seen this happen a few times and this is one of the easiest ways to fix the pressure issue i have found, if this doesn't fix your issue they you may have to wait for your dealer to drop.

 

[ChrisRyan]

Nope that sounds like it still has back pressure on the lines still if you take a Rag(towel) and wrap it around a socket extension and the apply pressure to the nipple( Female Side) it should release the pressure and squirt out some oil, then do the same with the male end wrap the Rag(towel) around it and gently press it down on a hard surface it too should release the pressure on the line a squirt out the oil, i've seen this happen a few times and this is one of the easiest ways to fix the pressure issue i have found, if this doesn't fix your issue they you may have to wait for your dealer to drop.

I'm assuming the rag is just to catch the oil. We tried this a bunch, the nipple (plunger) does not budge on the female end no matter how hard we press. I mean, we had two grown men pushing with all our might...not a budge.

 

[ovrszd]

Is the hoe being held up by the outriggers? If so wouldn't that create pressure in the hoe side?

Another thing, you are 25 degrees warmer today than when you took the hoe off?? That's a big problem...

 

[ChrisRyan]

Is the hoe being held up by the outriggers? If so wouldn't that create pressure in the hoe side?

Another thing, you are 25 degrees warmer today than when you took the hoe off?? That's a big problem...

The Backhoe is held up by outriggers, but I don't see anyway to avoid that always happening when you take it off.

Yes, its about 25 degrees warmer and had sun on it. My plan was to try it tomorrow morning when its closer to original temp and not sunny. Hoping that will help a bunch

 

[Asteral]

yea it is to soak up the excess oil, also to prevent tool marks or accidental damage to the nipple, and yikes that's really pressurized then if even that isn't working, the temperature difference may be part of the issue but if it's sat overnight and has been in the sun most of the day the oil should be almost ambient temperature by now, so it shouldn't be making that much of a difference i would think, but i'm also not an expert when it comes to hydraulics and oil temperature differences.
this advice is just coming from what we have seen a few times here in texas.

 

[RickB]

The Backhoe is held up by outriggers, but I don't see anyway to avoid that always happening when you take it off.

Yes, its about 25 degrees warmer and had sun on it. My plan was to try it tomorrow morning when its closer to original temp and not sunny. Hoping that will help a bunch

When you dismount the hoe you should use the tractor hydraulics to lower the backhoe frame to the ground. IT also helps to couple the backhoe supply and return hoses together. This keeps the couplers clean and will help reduce instances of pressurized lines.

 

[ovrszd]

My neighbor had a 3pt hoe. When he detached it he sat it on wooden blocks with the outriggers resting on the ground.

Hopefully some 3pt backhoe guys will chime in with a solution to your current situation.

I would suggest shutting off the tractor and then activating every valve to relieve any pressure before detaching the hoses.

 

[ChrisRyan]

My neighbor had a 3pt hoe. When he detached it he sat it on wooden blocks with the outriggers resting on the ground.

Hopefully some 3pt backhoe guys will chime in with a solution to your current situation.

I would suggest shutting off the tractor and then activating every valve to relieve any pressure before detaching the hoses.

It actually hooks up to the tractor frame, not the 3 point hitch. But I'm going to try a couple of things and hopefully get some good advice tonight on things to try

 

[ovrszd]

It actually hooks up to the tractor frame, not the 3 point hitch. But I'm going to try a couple of things and hopefully get some good advice tonight on things to try

Same result. Unpin it from the tractor, then let it down on blocks, shut off tractor and release all pressure in every circuit, then uncouple hoses.

 

[ChrisRyan]

Same result. Unpin it from the tractor, then let it down on blocks, shut off tractor and release all pressure in every circuit, then uncouple hoses.

Yeah, now I know what to do. I tell you, once I get it hooked back up, its gonna be on there a while.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah, now I know what to do. I tell you, once I get it hooked back up, its gonna be on there a while.

This is a steep learning curve. Can happen with any hydraulic attachment that you remove. You need to face it and learn tricks to make it easier. Then you can fully use your tractor and it's attachments.

 

[two_bit_score]

Same result. Unpin it from the tractor, then let it down on blocks, shut off tractor and release all pressure in every circuit, then uncouple hoses.

That would be the thing to try. I had trouble hooking up mu auger on the 110TLB because of pressure on the thumb connection with the engine running. Have to shut it all down, release pressure from everything and have engine off.



TBS

 

[ChrisRyan]

That would be the thing to try. I had trouble hooking up mu auger on the 110TLB because of pressure on the thumb connection with the engine running. Have to shut it all down, release pressure from everything and have engine off.



TBS

Absolutely for next time. Now I'm in the position of trying to hook it back on. I guess worst case scenario I can unhook the hydraulic hose from the backhoe and then hook it up. Then I can just reattach the hose once the coupler is hooked up

 

[ChrisRyan]

This is a steep learning curve. Can happen with any hydraulic attachment that you remove. You need to face it and learn tricks to make it easier. Then you can fully use your tractor and it's attachments.

Yeah, its good to get all the hangups out of the way earlier and have the knowledge built up. We'll figure it out, or at least have the dealer figure it out on Saturday.

 

[RickB]

Don’t discount the value of coupling the attachment hoses together after disconnecting from the tractor.

 

[LouNY]

Absolutely for next time. Now I'm in the position of trying to hook it back on. I guess worst case scenario I can unhook the hydraulic hose from the backhoe and then hook it up. Then I can just reattach the hose once the coupler is hooked up

If you do this be very carefull unscrewing the connector from the hose, if one of your valves is leaking by and keeping pressure
on the line unscrewing the connector could release the pressure suddenly and also alow the hoe to move unpredictably.

 

[ChrisRyan]

If you do this be very carefull unscrewing the connector from the hose, if one of your valves is leaking by and keeping pressure
on the line unscrewing the connector could release the pressure suddenly and also alow the hoe to move unpredictably.

Will do. Right now everything is unpredictable because I haven't worked with a backhoe on a tractor....haha. I'm making sure that we're as safe as we can be.

 

[ChrisRyan]

Don’t discount the value of coupling the attachment hoses together after disconnecting from the tractor.

We had them coupled together, but it didn't help us with holding down the pressure. Kept them clean though!

 

[Branson Bob]

Funny, I was just in the hydraulic shop today investigating fittings which are designed to alleviate this common and annoying problem. The owner said I can buy the fittings and do it myself (I had photos of the stock hoses and fittings) and he directed me to a nearby vendor (Morse) so he wouldn't have to mark it up on me as the middle man. I had read previously and he confirmed that Parker makes "Connect-Under-Pressure Quick Couplings."

I'm not a fan of fighting my equipment and the idea of "scheduling" my backhoe attaching/detaching around the current temperature is more ridiculous than I can express... so I'm going to change out the stock ones. I have to confirm the pressure and trade size and then will price them out and let you all know what I find. Don't hold your breath though... not sure when I'll have a definitive answer.