Hydraulics question.

[hogi]

Is it best to bleed down all hydraulic pressure after turning off a PT? i.e. moving all levers/joysticks?

 

[kennyd]

It is best to do that with all equipment, not just your PT

 

[Partsman2]

It is best to do that with all equipment, not just your PT

What he said!

 

[MossRoad]

Yes. Lower the implement to the ground, set the brake, turn off the engine and move the joystick in all 4 directions. Also, flip the Aux PTO lever by your knee if you are going to change an implement.

I have also found it helpful to check the Aux PTO lever on start up to make sure the implement is still locked into the quick attach.

 

[Phils]

I've found it helpful to bleed down attachments too before detaching. For example:

Close the grapple on the grapple bucket before detaching. Otherwise, the grapple will, by gravity, tend to go down applying pressure to the hoses and making it difficult to reattach without cracking a line to relieve pressure.

Same for the mini-hoe. I pull the bucket all the way "up" and then lay it so that it stays that way.

Of course, I keep a small crescent wrench nearby to bleed lines as necessary. I just don't have to use it more than a couple times per year.

Phil

 

[KentT]

Of course, I keep a small crescent wrench nearby to bleed lines as necessary. I just don't have to use it more than a couple times per year.

Phil

Just to clarify, you don't have to use a wrench and open the fittings on the hydraulic lines of an attachment in order to bleed off this built-up pressure. All you need to do is to take something like a small punch (or something clean and strong that will fit inside the female quick connect), and give it a light tap with a hammer or heavy tool. This will depress the valve in the center of the female connector and relieve enough pressure for you to install the implement...

The valve inside the female quick connect is similar (in operation) to the schraeder valve in a tire's valve stem. All you need to do is overcome the built-up pressure and depress that valve core and it will bleed out a few drops of oil then stop, usually without releasing enough to even make a mess...

I carry an old punch and a hammer in my toolbox (along with clean rags to clean the connectors), for just this purpose...

I never open a hydraulic line unless it is absolutely necessary, because that just opens the possibility of further leaks...

 

[BobRip]

Just to clarify, you don't have to use a wrench and open the fittings on the hydraulic lines of an attachment in order to bleed off this built-up pressure. All you need to do is to take something like a small punch (or something clean and strong that will fit inside the female quick connect), and give it a light tap with a hammer or heavy tool. This will depress the valve in the center of the female connector and relieve enough pressure for you to install the implement...

The valve inside the female quick connect is similar (in operation) to the schraeder valve in a tire's valve stem. All you need to do is overcome the built-up pressure and depress that valve core and it will bleed out a few drops of oil then stop, usually without releasing enough to even make a mess...

I carry an old punch and a hammer in my toolbox (along with clean rags to clean the connectors), for just this purpose...

I never open a hydraulic line unless it is absolutely necessary, because that just opens the possibility of further leaks...

I do the same thing.

 

[catsco]

I also do the same thing, but would like to add that you should wrap a rag around the fitting and bolt or punch (I use a 3/8" socket extension) as when there is a lot of pressure in the attachment, such as days like we have here in Colorado that start out at 10 degrees and can get up to 50, there is quite a forceful spurt of oil when the pressure is relieved!

Regards,
Mark H.

 

[Phils]

I tried depressing the valve in the quick disconnect. One time I couldn't do it (I wasn't using a hammer/punch, just a socket extension and hand pressure). I grabbed the crescent wrench and slightly cracked open one hose fitting. I think that it would be easier than holding the fitting, holding a punch, and striking the punch with a hammer without damaging the quick disconnect or my hand. I didn't want to use a hammer on the punch simply due to the chance of messing up the quick disconnect. If I boogered up the quick disconnect I'd say bad words and generally be irritated with myself.

Fortunately, as I said, it's an infrequent problem.

Phil

 

[toy]

I tried depressing the valve in the quick disconnect. One time I couldn't do it (I wasn't using a hammer/punch, just a socket extension and hand pressure). I grabbed the crescent wrench and slightly cracked open one hose fitting. I think that it would be easier than holding the fitting, holding a punch, and striking the punch with a hammer without damaging the quick disconnect or my hand. I didn't want to use a hammer on the punch simply due to the chance of messing up the quick disconnect. If I boogered up the quick disconnect I'd say bad words and generally be irritated with myself.

Fortunately, as I said, it's an infrequent problem.

Phil

I use a wrench also for the same reasons and it is no big deal to do it this way , I just barly crack the fitting and a few drops come out and I am ready to go. I know that a lot of people use the hammer and punch method and that is ok for them and that is alright.