Flat Face Couplers.... Hate Them So Far

[Johnkn]

My new tractor has FF couplers on the grapple hoses at the grapple. The other ends at the 3rd function valve are Pioneer. For years on other tractors I have never had more than a drop or 2 of oil leak from a Pioneer coupler when removing. These flat face couplers sometimes lose what appears to be an ounce of fluid when removing/installing. I have never had oil stains on my gravel area by my shed, now I do. I may take them off and switch back to Pioneer.

Am I alone? Thanks.....

Edit, just came in from the shed, I have a 8” stain on the wooden shed floor from the couplers now. Leaking from the couplers, not the hose fittings. It’s been in the shed for 6 days now.

 

[rademamj1]

Perhaps you had some residual pressure built-up in your hydraulic remote lines, and during disconnection it leaks and bleeds down, and continues after disconnection. Trapped pressure in a hydraulic system can be caused by thermal expansion of the fluid from heavy tractor usage. And can make hose connections more difficult for the operator. I don't know how many hours on your new tractor, but this issue may just stop over time.

Nearly every skid steer operator i know, says the flat face hydraulic connections are superior upgrades to the "leaky and breakage prone" pioneer connections that are most common on tractors.

My tractor has only the pioneer connections and they always leak a few drops during connection and disconnection. Its normal. But there are some days I just seem to struggle to to make fast connections. So keep rags handy to manage the drips and keep connections fully clean.

 

[mikester]

Sounds like you should take off all your flat faced couplers and replace them with pioneers. You can send me all your FF couplers.

From what you describe I'd say you have them reversed. I always have to have a clean rag handy disconnecting pioneers on my rear remotes, oil pours out all over my rear tire otherwise. FF couplers might have a slow drip over time. I'd suspect your FF couplers were dirty one day and you damaged the seals.

Before disconnecting the FF, turn off the tractor and relieve the implement pressures using the valve. If you park your implements outside in the sun they tend to develop a lot of internal pressure from the heat. That might be contributing you your drips too.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Every single one (10) of my couplers leaks at disconnection. I don't have flat face.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Sounds like you should take off all your flat faced couplers and replace them with pioneers. You can send me all your FF couplers.

From what you describe I'd say you have them reversed. I always have to have a clean rag handy disconnecting pioneers on my rear remotes, oil pours out all over my rear tire otherwise. FF couplers might have a slow drip over time. I'd suspect your FF couplers were dirty one day and you damaged the seals.

Before disconnecting the FF, turn off the tractor and relieve the implement pressures using the valve. If you park your implements outside in the sun they tend to develop a lot of internal pressure from the heat. That might be contributing you your drips too.

That’s good advice. I’m a newby and found I couldn’t reconnect theFF couplers after removing an implement.

I take any and all pressure off The hydraulics and, do it the next morning.

The comment about temp convinced me.

 

[rademamj1]

There is a previous thread on this Kubota Flat Face hydraulic leaking issue related to trapped hydraulic pressure.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388611

 

[Johnkn]

Sounds like you should take off all your flat faced couplers and replace them with pioneers. You can send me all your FF couplers.

From what you describe I'd say you have them reversed. I always have to have a clean rag handy disconnecting pioneers on my rear remotes, oil pours out all over my rear tire otherwise. FF couplers might have a slow drip over time. I'd suspect your FF couplers were dirty one day and you damaged the seals.

Before disconnecting the FF, turn off the tractor and relieve the implement pressures using the valve. If you park your implements outside in the sun they tend to develop a lot of internal pressure from the heat. That might be contributing you your drips too.

The FF couplers are not dirty, they are brand new. Now 1 week old and perfectly clean. I properly relieve all pressure on both the tractor side and the implement side, I cycle the FEL loader control multiple times, then with key on but engine off, cycle the 3rd function switch several times. I've tried it with the grapple completely closed, fully open and mid-way, it makes no difference. No sun in my shed to heat the tractor. thanks.

 

[Johnkn]

There is a previous thread on this Kubota Flat Face hydraulic leaking issue related to trapped hydraulic pressure.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...11-fix-pressure-bound-hydraulic-couplers.html

Thank you.....

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have dozens of them and hate every one. What annoys me most is that it takes virtually no pressure to make them impossible to connect.

Also, impossible to use below zero in wet conditions without carrying a propane torch.

 

[Johnkn]

I just came in from my shed, 75* today, indoors, tractor has been sitting for 24 hours and all pressure relieved multiple times on both the tractor and implement side (and 3rd function valve with the key on but engine off. I removed 1 FF coupler by the grapple and oil poured out. I'll be replacing with Pioneer. I've never had this issue before and getting old enough to not want to fight it.

I have a high degree of confidence that I can probably throw them at least 45 yards back in my woods before they hit the ground. :thumbsup:

 

[9973720wb19]

i have experience and could not hook up a mower deck to my skid steer...(FF couplers) tried hooking up other things as a test and they worked fine so it was not the ss. tried again...could not get it...long story short, I ended up replacing the FF couplers on the mowing deck from "straight" to 90 degree. that way i could get a better grip and push with the palm of my hand. my other attachments have 90s and it's just easier. in any event, i believe there was still some pressure in the mowing deck lines that caused the issue but with the 90s i can push harder. hope this helps

 

[rademamj1]

I have a high degree of confidence that I can probably throw them at least 45 yards back in my woods before they hit the ground.

If you can reach 50 yards, you'll never find them again.

 

[Johnkn]

I'll have 3 extra pancakes for breakfast for that additional carb load. :thumbsup:

 

[Rebeldad1]

Have a mini excavator with FF couplers. After cycling the fittings com off easily. A little extra effort to install them.
Not 1 leaks at all. When I first installed them I thought they leaked but it was at the threads.

Did read a fix if the pressure wasnt fully released was to add a inline valve to release it. Also there is a dedicated installing tool for these that couple hard.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I HATE the hundreds of times I had to stop and restart my engine, then bleed off aux hydraulic pressure to deal with the couplers. OFTEN, going back to the cab to do it a second (or third) time, for reasons I don't understand. If you had a solenoid controlled circuit, that might not work with the engine not running, it would elevate the problem to a new level.

 

[ruffdog]

I have never had a issue (or drips) from the FF couplers on my Toolcat. Does the Kubota FF couplers have the "push to relieve pressure" feature like on a skid steer?

 

[Johnkn]

I don't know if there are "Kubota' FF couplers. These were included with the Landpride SGC6060 grapple just installed on my new LX3310.

 

[ruffdog]

Here is the setup on the Toolcat. The couplers on the machine side are spring loaded so when you push them for a few seconds, the pressure has been released into the lines.

Toolcat 561 - Bobcat Company

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sorry, I don't understand that. IF there is pressure in the lines, you can't release the pressure into the lines, hence the whole problem. IF, there is pressue in the lines, the only means of relieving pressure is to have the machine do it, have a coupler that pisses out oil, or directs it elsewhere.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I have a high degree of confidence that I can probably throw them at least 45 yards back in my woods before they hit the ground. :thumbsup:

I double dog dare you to throw them to Alberta.