Connecting 3'rd function hydraulics on M59

[caballero59]

Hi guys,
I have a grapple on the M59 that uses skid steer flat-face hydraulic couplers. I've tried shutting the tractor off and operating the solenoid switch on the joy stick to equalize pressure in the grapple circuit but nothing seems to help. It's much worse if the grapple is setting in the sun and the oil expands. Is there some way to relieve a bit of pressure on the couplers so they can be hooked up? Ive even thought of plumbing in a small bleed valve but this would be messy. Thanks
Scott

 

[Tags]

Most of the time you just need to loosen the fittings on the attachment to relieve a little pressure. Hooking the lines together help some when you take it off. If I'm working on a job i always try to find a shady spot to set the attachment down in so it the hydraulic fluid doesn't expand side the lines, it helps but sometimes you have no choice but to set it down in a sunny spot. Also, if you get one line hooked up to the machine, cycle the hydraulic functions again (machine off, key on) and that usually relives the pressure as well.

 

[Gator6x4]

Hi guys,
I have a grapple on the M59 that uses skid steer flat-face hydraulic couplers. I've tried shutting the tractor off and operating the solenoid switch on the joy stick to equalize pressure in the grapple circuit but nothing seems to help. It's much worse if the grapple is setting in the sun and the oil expands. Is there some way to relieve a bit of pressure on the couplers so they can be hooked up? Ive even thought of plumbing in a small bleed valve but this would be messy. Thanks
Scott

I have a hammer with dual plastic heads. Purchased it at Loweç—´ or Home Depot years ago. I place a shop rag on the male end of the quick connect, the one you see the round ball in and whack the round ball in the end with the hammer. The shop rag keeps the hydraulic fluid from squirting everywhere and the plastic headed hammer insures I do not damage the connector. The connectors easily connect after the pressure has been relieved.

 

[AaronM]

Funny this post was here today because I just spent almost an hour out in my pasture trying to hook up a post hole auger that I use on my M62 backhoe boom. I could not figure out what I was doing wrong. I converted the auger to flat face couplers over the winter and I could NOT get the hoses hooked up and did NOT want to drive all the way back to the shop to get wrenches. I figured the coupling must have froze up or something. I finally had to drive to the shop and unscrew the fitting. I was expecting some big burst of pressurized oil but there was just the smallest amount of dribble. There was only about maybe a tablespoon of oil came out when I unscrewed the fitting but then you could depress the center with a finger. I guess the oil expended in the heat? I am used to the normal QD fitting where you can just bang them on something to relieve the pressure and be good to go. Not so much with the flat faced couplers. They do stay very nice and clean though which was nice.

I'm interested to see if you find a good solution. Hooking the lines together seems like a good idea. Most of the time my stuff leaks enough that this would not be a problem but the auger and fittings are new

 

[Gordon Gould]

You could make one of these screw clamps to fit your coupler instead of using a hammer. Just a nut brazed to a bent piece of sheet metal with a half circle cut out of it and a bolt





gg

 

[caballero59]

I have loosened the coupler before but when you're changing attachments every 30 minutes, that doesn't seem like an elegant solution for such expensive equipment.

Any thoughts on these...do they actually work?
Connect-Under-Pressure Couplers: DiscountHydraulicHose.com

 

[caballero59]

You could make one of these screw clamps to fit your coupler instead of using a hammer. Just a nut brazed to a bent piece of sheet metal with a half circle cut out of it and a bolt

View attachment 610187

View attachment 610188

gg

That will certainly work. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Smokeydog]

Best advice has been given for not having to loosen a fitting or punch a QD. Works 90% of the time. For a B20 backhoe QDs and flat faced connectors on the other loaders made this clamp to squeeze the couplers together.

Made from a broken piece from a bar clamp. Doesn’t take much pressure but more than I can do without a tool.

 

[FTG-05]

Best advice has been given for not having to loosen a fitting or punch a QD. Works 90% of the time. For a B20 backhoe QDs and flat faced connectors on the other loaders made this clamp to squeeze the couplers together.
View attachment 610282
Made from a broken piece from a bar clamp. Doesn’t take much pressure but more than I can do without a tool.

That's cool! Got a pic of it in use?

Thanks!!!

 

[ericm979]

I have loosened the coupler before but when you're changing attachments every 30 minutes, that doesn't seem like an elegant solution for such expensive equipment.

Any thoughts on these...do they actually work?
Connect-Under-Pressure Couplers: DiscountHydraulicHose.com

I found the springs on those to be so stiff as to be nearly impossible to operate.

Connecting the implement's couplers together when the implement is off the tractor helps. It also keeps dirt out of the couplers better than the covers do.

You can also make a device with a tee, a coupler on each end and a ball valve on the tee. Open the valve to let the built up pressure out, then disconnect the couplers and connect them to the tractor.

 

[mikester]

Hi guys,
I have a grapple on the M59 that uses skid steer flat-face hydraulic couplers. I've tried shutting the tractor off and operating the solenoid switch on the joy stick to equalize pressure in the grapple circuit but nothing seems to help. It's much worse if the grapple is setting in the sun and the oil expands. Is there some way to relieve a bit of pressure on the couplers so they can be hooked up? Ive even thought of plumbing in a small bleed valve but this would be messy. Thanks
Scott

I have a similar problem with my grapple. I have two work arounds:

1. I installed a toggle switch so I can lock the hydraulic valve in the open position. I turn off the machine, turn the key to the on position, toggle both valves to relieve the pressure, then I get out and uncouple the hydraulics.

2. If reconnection is causing problems, I tilt the bucket until the clam shell hydraulic cylinder is unloaded position (i.e. I can move it by hand easily). At that point the couplers engage easily. Usually I can get one of the couplers to connect first. Again I use the hydraulic valve locked in the open position with the machine off but the key in start position.

Rarely do I have to crack a fitting to relieve the pressure. Moving the implement into the shade of a cool barn helps too.

 

[Smokeydog]

Couple of photos showing flat face coupler clamp. Since making this a few years ago have not had to loosen a fitting to relive pressure build up of an attachment. Doesn’t take much force. Once started they self align with a little wiggle.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

When you shut the tractor off you do turn the key back on so the electric valve will operate don稚 you? I have used a pressure gauge on my front hydraulics and that痴 how I relieved pressure.

 

[Smokeydog]

Don’t have trouble on the tractor side with cycling the valves to relieve the pressure. It’s the attachment side when stored builds up pressure.