DIY hydraulic hoses?

[Industrial Toys]

Between styles, sizes, male or female, straight, swivels, 45, 90, You couldn't keep everything you need and I haven't even seen anyone who needs lots of hoses, even try.

What my friend has for inventory would blow your mind, and I am a little worried that all that inventory will end up as dead stock and will never get paid for.

 

[NorthEastSeacoast]

Is there a Napa parts store nearby? Many of them can custom make hydraulic hoses to match your existing setup and they are reasonably priced.

 

[STx]

Is there a Napa parts store nearby? Many of them can custom make hydraulic hoses to match your existing setup and they are reasonably priced.

There is, both Napa and Carquest make hoses here, neither do it for a reasonable price.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Wow. I can usually buy ready-made hoses at TSC or Rural King. They're $30 or so. Much less than what you mentioned. When I need something made, I go to one of the local farm equipment dealers and their parts guy makes me a custom hose for $50 or so -- while I wait at the counter.

I'd look for another outlet or dealer for hoses.

 

[STx]

I guess I should mention, these are seldom 1/4" tractor FEL hoses. Last time I had hoses made, one was about a 10' 1/2" hose for a mulch head on a skid steer and the other was a 5' 3/4" hose for a skid steer harley rake. Most of the time when I break hoses, it's bigger stuff for a skid steer attachment. Since those are dangling out front, they seem to be easy targets for destruction. Also, a lot of these attachments were auction finds so there are all kinds of different connections. Metric, British pipe thread, SAE, weird stuff that has to be special ordered.


If it was just the little hoses on the FEL, it really wouldn't be an issue.

I really hope I don't break one on the new excavator, those are 1" and larger. I'll probably have a heart attack when I get the bulk for one of them.

 

[I Piddle]

I HATE hydraulic line failures. They’re messy, expensive and time consuming, as you all know. My biggest complaint is that it costs a small fortune to get a hose made locally and it takes at least an hour and a half to get one made so, I’m looking at these Weatherhead T-420 crimpers with dies for Eaton fittings. They’re not cheap but, I figure 10 hoses or so and it should pay for itself, I spent $300 on 2 hoses for skid steer attachments on Friday. Then I came home an promptly broke one of the fittings so I had to go back and spend another $60 to get another one put on. Took 1/2 the day.

Has anyone else gotten one of these and made their own hoses? Is there some reason I shouldn’t make my own hoses?

Yeah, some stores charge a lot because they can. I went to one NAPA store and had an 18" house on a FEL loader made and charge $17-18.00. I went to another NAPA Store a year later and had the same hose made for the other side. That store charged $45.00. I made some seething remarks to the clerk, but he didn't make the hose. I just payed and left.

I have found that if you don't need an exact fit. Tractor Supply has hoses that are very reasonable. Actually cheap in comparison compared to what the guys charge to make them up.

 

[RancherGuy]

STx, I feel your pain. Maybe 15 years ago I was in the same dilemma. My money was going into hoses for my batwing mower. After just a couple of replacements, I decided that I was in this for the long haul and had to find something cheaper. Plus there is just no sense having something break on a Saturday afternoon and not being operational again until Monday afternoon.

So I bought a used electric-over-hydaulic crimper. I don't know if it is Weatherford, but something like that. I think my dies are 1/4 to 3/4. I have been very pleased at my decision. I buy supplies from Discount Hyd Hose. Fittings are those that I find on my equipment, and yes I have extra NPT with NPT adapters.

Other tips: If I am in a bind and need something fast but don't have the right fitting (like recently a swivel), I cut my hose and take it to a shop. Their price drops to less than $10 per fitting, especially of you offer cash. Another tip is that before I had the crimper, I was using crimperless fittings. They are two piece, reusable. One piece slides inside the hose and the other comes over and with two wrenches, they screw together to grip the hose. I bought 1/4" and still have them set aside after the hoses eventually failed due to sun and age. The main tip in savings can be obtained by just having enough bulk hose to meet your expected needs for at least couple of years. But if you need a solution immediately, nothing beats being operational in less than an hour because you have your own stuff. And the machine is always marketable when you are finished with it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

At a hundred dollars a pail for JD OIL, and the environmental damage, it doesn't take long for one to appreciate doing things right the first time.

NO ONE will put new fittings on an old hose here. NOT even my friend.

 

[beenthere]

I guess I should mention, these are seldom 1/4" tractor FEL hoses. Last time I had hoses made, one was about a 10' 1/2" hose for a mulch head on a skid steer and the other was a 5' 3/4" hose for a skid steer harley rake. Most of the time when I break hoses, it's bigger stuff for a skid steer attachment. Since those are dangling out front, they seem to be easy targets for destruction. Also, a lot of these attachments were auction finds so there are all kinds of different connections. Metric, British pipe thread, SAE, weird stuff that has to be special ordered.


If it was just the little hoses on the FEL, it really wouldn't be an issue.

I really hope I don't break one on the new excavator, those are 1" and larger. I'll probably have a heart attack when I get the bulk for one of them.

Figure it in as the cost to do business.. or to play.
Those who have the hose and the connectors have money invested in inventory, and are waiting to get paid back in labor and for those parts.
If they fold up shop and go away, then it is a longer trek to find someone sticking their neck out for the poor soul that has a hose break.

 

[Fastowl]

At a hundred dollars a pail for JD OIL, and the environmental damage, it doesn't take long for one to appreciate doing things right the first time.

NO ONE will put new fittings on an old hose here. NOT even my friend.

I actually had a new swivel connection put on a used hose that was about three months old. The guy that made the original hose locally is the same guy who changed out the fitting. About $12 vs. $50-55.