Hydraulic pressure release DIY

[winddance]

Often I would remove my FEL in the morning and try to put it back on in the hotter afternoon. But, the pressure in the FEL hydraulic lines would be too high to attach the tractor lines. So, I built this cheap little device. It is simply a male hydraulic fitting with the 'ball' inside removed. I then put in a metal rod with a rounded end. It is loose inside until I tighten down the male pipe cap on the end. Works great. It took about 15 minutes. Most of that time was spent trying to find the right sized punch to remove the ball.

 

[masalser]

I just whack the ball bearing with a piece of wood. Releases the pressure and doesn't damage the ball bearing

 

[winddance]

I just whack the ball bearing with a piece of wood. Releases the pressure and doesn't damage the ball bearing

I used to do that - But it was too awkward and too many times I ended up with wood splinters in the fitting. Plus, it was hard to find a dowel rod strong enough.

 

[winddance]

I just whack the ball bearing with a piece of wood. Releases the pressure and doesn't damage the ball bearing

Or, are you talking about the fitting that is on the tractor? For that I just move the operating lever when the machine is off and there is no pressure. There is no way a block of wood would fit inside the FEL quick connect - A dowel rod works one or 2 times before breaking.

 

[BotaBigot]

Often I would remove my FEL in the morning and try to put it back on in the hotter afternoon...

I used to drop FEL or BH anywhere convenient outside because so easy to do. Quickly got tired of dealing with excess line pressure (and not being level)...so now I only drop them in barn (I realize not a solution for everyone). Even so, I still sometimes have pressure problem with bucket grapple QDs so I carry a 1/8" drift in tool bag. I don't use drift end...force too concentrated, could damage QD...but shank end perfect fit in female connector. Male or female, wrap shop rag around drift/fitting and tap it with whatever handy...

 

[MoreCowbell]

Often I would remove my FEL in the morning and try to put it back on in the hotter afternoon. But, the pressure in the FEL hydraulic lines would be too high to attach the tractor lines. So, I built this cheap little device. It is simply a male hydraulic fitting with the 'ball' inside removed. I then put in a metal rod with a rounded end. It is loose inside until I tighten down the male pipe cap on the end. Works great. It took about 15 minutes. Most of that time was spent trying to find the right sized punch to remove the ball.
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/kubota-owning-operating/433210-hydraulic-pressure-release-diy-release1-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/kubota-owning-operating/433208-hydraulic-pressure-release-diy-release3-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/kubota-owning-operating/433209-hydraulic-pressure-release-diy-elease1a-jpg"/>

That looks like something that's real handy to have in the toolbox. Cheap too. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Wagtail]

I just whack the ball bearing with a piece of wood. Releases the pressure and doesn't damage the ball bearing

There's a hardwood rope-splicing tool called a Fid that would suit. It's a tapered spike, bulbous at the thick end.

(trivia note: Naval slang for a male piece of anatomy. )

 

[npalen]

I have on occasion wrapped a rag around the coupler tip and bumped it against something solid. Works but makes for a messy rag.

 

[dstig1]

I got tired of this routine on my grapple. And it wasn't pressure build up from sitting in the sun, it just would never reconnect without a fight. I made a sorta similar tool. A couple short ~2" pieces of pipe with a 4-way T in between them. Then I connected a Male fitting on the end of one pipe and female on the other pipe end. It bleeds out the fluid into the pipe, which I stuff a rag in to keep the mess down. it eventually works, but i swear these things are just made to fight you. Maybe someday i will put a bunch of gages on it to figure out why it is such a PITA...

 

[Beaux Duke]

I dont take my FEL off but I used to fight with reconnecting my grapple. I tried everything to release the pressure. One day my better half was with me while I was struggling to get the lines reattached. She climbed up in the seat and said, "I wonder what will happen if I push this lever down?". Immediately the couplings reconnected with almost no effort. She was holding the valve down which apparently released the pressure but ONLY while she held it in the down position. Just moving it and then letting it return to the center position accomplished nothing. Now all I do is hook a bungee cord to the lever to hold it down while I make the connection. I don't know about anyone else's situation but the bungee cord has saved me hours of frustration.

 

[kco]

I use a suggestion found on TBN. After disconnecting the loader hoses I drain a out 1/2 teaspoon from the fittings. Usually oil only comes out of one or two.

The resulting small air space makes it possible to reconnect.

 

[coolreinfarm]

This happened to me yesterday the barn was over 100 degrees waited until this morning temp was 65 couplers connected easily. I noticed the boom cylinders had moved about 2 inches out from the dust on the rod this morning they were 2 inches back. Glad to see others with the same situation.

 

[k0ua]

I use a suggestion found on TBN. After disconnecting the loader hoses I drain a out 1/2 teaspoon from the fittings. Usually oil only comes out of one or two.

The resulting small air space makes it possible to reconnect.

This is what I do, When I disconnect, from the source fittings on the torque tube of the loader, I then connect the male and female on the grapple together, then immediately disconnect them and let them "puke" out a little fluid, Then I connect them together finally and put the grapple away. I was smart enough to set mine up with male and female fittings so that they cannot be mixed up, and by plugging them together keep dirt from entering them when stored.

 

[dstig1]

Nice thought James, but I have tried that too, and it does not help. I think it is related the the 3rd function valve leaking a bit, but have never tried to prove it.