hydraulic couple clamping tool (inspired by recent Messick's video on YT)

[anomad]

Does anyone have experience with one of those woodworking clamps adapted to mash hydraulic fittings together? They have come and gone over the years from what I have seen. Messick's just did a video about them again.

My only consistent problem attachment is the bush hog/excavator combination. Seems like no matter what I do it wants to fight... I've had the grapple on my tractor put up a fight, but I knew it was because I disconnected it really cold and was connecting it hot months later. I didn't even try, just grabbed a wrench and bled the pressure. Works, but makes a mess. And I am always checking for leaks later.

#HCCT12FR Hydraulic Quick Coupler Connect Tool -- you can search for that on the Messick's webpage if you want to see what it looks like.

 

[ning]

I don't think you need a tool to clamp the connections together, because if you bleed the pressure on the tractor side of things, there shouldn't be any there. That leaves pressure in the lines of the attachment you're trying to disconnect; there are things you can use to bleed that - ranging from tapping the ball or poppet end of a line against a block of wood to a tool more like this: (link)

If this was a big enough problem for me, I'd probably get something like what I linked than that clamp thing, but what I found to be effective was changing the way I left my attachments so it was less likely to occur. In particular I had trouble in the past with attaching my backhoe, mostly because it would settle a particular way. By disconnecting it and having it on some blocks with the boom/dipper/bucket in a particular position, I've pretty much eliminated that settling-induced pressure rise.

The other thing I could see that clamper being used for, of course, would be making a connection to a live circuit, which doesn't seem like a great idea.

 

[anomad]

I don't think you need a tool to clamp the connections together, because if you bleed the pressure on the tractor side of things, there shouldn't be any there. That leaves pressure in the lines of the attachment you're trying to disconnect; there are things you can use to bleed that - ranging from tapping the ball or poppet end of a line against a block of wood to a tool more like this: (link)

If this was a big enough problem for me, I'd probably get something like what I linked than that clamp thing, but what I found to be effective was changing the way I left my attachments so it was less likely to occur. In particular I had trouble in the past with attaching my backhoe, mostly because it would settle a particular way. By disconnecting it and having it on some blocks with the boom/dipper/bucket in a particular position, I've pretty much eliminated that settling-induced pressure rise.

The other thing I could see that clamper being used for, of course, would be making a connection to a live circuit, which doesn't seem like a great idea.

Good advice. Thank you. Agree on a live circuit, seems like a good way to get a hydraulic injection injury. I wouldn't fool with that.

 

[ning]

I have a couple of the wood clamps (not the hydraulic coupler tool derived from them) and I'm not sure if the concept is going to hold up - those clamps can't put a lot of force into the clamping. I consider them very useful when I need a quick one-hand-use clamp that doesn't need to be super solid, but then I don't know how much force you have to use to put things together (other than when I've tried doing what that tool's designed to do by hand it definitely doesn't come close to working!).

 

[hayden]

Pressure in teh implement is just as much of a problem as pressure in the tractor or carrier machine. Temperature changes is one source of pressure changes. Also, many implements will lean, hang, or settle in such a way that puts pressure on a line. A tilt bucket will pressurize one line if the bucket it trying to tilt in one direction. Same for a backhoe or loader who's position has settled.

 

[bdhsfz6]

There are many ways an implement can get hydro bound. Temperature change, bleed down, implement shifting, etc. To ease the problem, I use all male pioneer couplings on implements and just hold them with a rag and rap the ball valve to relieve the pressure.

I made this cheap tool for holding open the female coupler from a Harbor Freight welding clamp:

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-in-locking-welding-clamp-56629.html?hftm_sc=343&utm_source=google&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21905699479&campaignid=21905699479&utm_content=171677810862&adsetid=171677810862&product=56629&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21905699479&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4ecazpoowrJeYUm6RryeHY6r&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuKnGBhD5ARIsAD19RsaB7j4YraaOplcbZUuScGDmbgp-Qva2YNMSwR0XTjiqprJIN2XxKh0aAlq8EALw_wcB

Depending on the diameter of the female coupling barrel, you may need to open the width of the fork with an angle grinder:

For me anyway, these two tricks have eliminated all the issues I have when connecting hydraulic hoses.

 

[anomad]

I'll have to check out those welding clamps next time I am at the store.

 

[Rustyiron]

I approached it in the other direction, that is bleeding the pressure vs fighting it.

It works on a male Flat face QC and works hit or miss as it doesn't fit the fm QA. I'll do both male ends (1 on the machine and the other one the attachment). It's kinda like backing up to a trailer or attaching a heavy implement to the 3 point. Sometimes it's a piece of cake, and the others way more difficult than it's supposed to be.
I still keep an adjustable wrench on every machine just to Crack a line if I need to.
If someone has one of those little bar clamp tools like mentioned, a user's review would be welcomed!

 

[BackRoad]

I had the clamp. The two ends are pieces of Uni-Strut I had on hand from another project, which were modified into a U shape to fit QC fittings using a 4 inch grinder...and a couple of 1/4" bolts & nuts to hold them on.