Check Those Hydraulic Hoses!

[B2400]

While doing a little winter prep work on my B2400 this morning I discovered a blister on a hydraulic hose for the FEL. I started tractor up and cycled FEL several times to place a load on all hoses and found 4 out of 12 had blisters.Removed offending hoses and skipped on over to local hydraulic hose shop where they whipped out new ones with Gates hose. Wrote the check for $90, said "Thank You" and headed home to install. New hoses installed ,start tractor and cycle FEL looking for leaks and what do we find? 3 more hoses all with blisters appearing!!!. This endloader has been stored in garage when not in use and probably doesn't have 10 hrs of actual use on it( it's 3.5 yrs old). I'm amazed that the hoses were all failing at the same time. Anybody else have luck that runs like this???

 

[Dusty]

I have never seen hose failures like what you describe. If it were not for bad luck, you wouldn't have any luck at all. Better to find them now, then when you are working the machine and have one blow then.
Dusty

 

[Doc_Bob]

This endloader has been stored in garage when not in use and probably doesn't have 10 hrs of actual use on it( it's 3.5 yrs old).

Indoors? No sun or weather exposure????
Bob

 

[MadReferee]

Blister? Your definition of a blister may be different than mine.

Was the original hose 1-wire or 2-wire?

Do you have pictures of the blistered hoses?

Having all hoses exhibit the same problem sounds to me like some outside agent was acting upon the hoses. Hoses don't go bad by themselves sitting indoors for 3.5 years.

 

[B2400]

By blisters I mean that small bubbles appear on the outer casing of hose. These bubbles enlarge when load is placed on that hoses circuit. When load is removed, bubbles dissapate. This indicates to me that the inner plies of hose have deteriorated. The hoses occasionally get a swipe with Armor All when cleaning up after use but as I said, unit has approx. 10 hrs of use on it. I only put it on when I need it or for counter balance with brush hog or BB. At all other times it is removed and sitting in garage.

 

[Dusty]

I know that Amoral will deteriorate a vinyl dash. Possibly it has deteriorated your hoses as well. I was told that they reformulated the product, but everyone that I know in the old car hobby stays away from the product because of bad experiences of their own or others.
Dusty

 

[MadReferee]

My 5 year old B2710 with LA402 loader and over 975 hours still has it's original hoses. The tractor has spent almost all it's spring/summer/fall life stored outdoors. It's garaged in the winter and used for snow removal.

The original loader hoses are 1-wire 2500 psi hoses made in the USA and are still on the tractor. I have had no issues with them. Your hoses are probably the same.

I have never used any outside agents like Armor-All on my hoses. As others have posted, there is no need for them on a working tractor and they may be a factor in premature failures. I suspect that an outside agent is responsible for your failures.

 

[B2400]

Thanks for the responses everyone! We'll scratch Armor All from the cleaning regimen in the future.

 

[Egon]

Just wondering if this is an aftermarket loader badged by Kubota. To me it seems the hoses were of inferior grade to began with.

Don't wory abou the armorall. The outer covering of the hose has no intrinsic value in being able to withstand pressure. It protects the pressure components of the hose from external damage.

 

[_RaT_]

Just wondering if this is an aftermarket loader badged by Kubota. To me it seems the hoses were of inferior grade to began with.

Don't wory abou the armorall. The outer covering of the hose has no intrinsic value in being able to withstand pressure. It protects the pressure components of the hose from external damage.

I second what Egon said.

 

[California]

Something's not right.

At 25+ years on my US-made loader, I've replaced couple of hoses like that and the rest are probably original.

If your hoses are rotting from inside then there may be debris circulating through the hydraulic system. Because of this, and also because unsuitable fluid might be the cause, it is probably a good time to replace the fluid and filter.

 

[B2400]

They're Dayton hoses. Haven't checked to see if 1 or 2 wire. I don't know,I just chalked it up to the midas touch I've had recently!!