hydrolic hose-what do you think

[oosik]

I've had a tractor for 34 years. The first one was 27 years old when I traded for the current one. It was alway stored in the carport- out of the sun. After that amount of time the hydraulic hoses still were like new - except for the normal dust on them. No fading, cracking, leaking etc. It had no protective covering, of any type, on the hoses.

The current tractor was purchased in 2009 and I put heavy duty spiral wound nylon covering over the hoses on the grapple and those serving the hydraulic top link - to prevent any damage from abrasion. It is parked in the same carport stall as the first one.

My tires on the first tractor, being 27 years old, looked like new also when I traded it in. Of course, there was wear and some lugs were cut from the nasty volcanic rock here - but no cracking, fading, etc from all those years.

IMHO - store your rubber products out of the sun if you want extended life.

I always wash my tractor once a year and wax it at that time. Otherwise, I will wash dirt off any implement when I'm finished using it.

I have never used any of the "magical" rubber protectant products on either of my tractors.

My tractor alway has a fine patina of dust covering it, as it waits for me, in the carport.

 

[beowulf]

I don't think those foam insulating wraps are going to do much to protect hoses from abrasion, and, they'll likely break down if they are in contact with oils/fluids/fuels.

Some various "solutions:"

Hydraulic Hose Sleeves - Hydraulic Hoses and Fittings - Grainger Industrial Supply

MegaTuff(R) Cover For Hydraulic Hose Protection | Gates Corporation

LifeGuard Sleeving For Hydraulic Systems | Gates Corporation

Thanks for the reply and the links.

I think you are likely correct. I saw a poster for the LifeGuard sleeves yesterday at the company where I was having hoses made. The guy there said the sleeves were mostly for pin-hole protection and not so much for abrasion.

I will still give the foam wraps a try - I actually think they will protect from the minor abrasion I may experience where I intend to use them, and they are so cheap that if they work at all, and even though they may only last a few months, I can replace them (the ones I will use it on) for a couple of bucks.

One of the hoses I replaced had a sort of hard rubber sleeve for the first 3 feet or so. It will not slip back on the new hose due to the connector. The guy at the hydraulic company said I could simply split it with a box cutter and reinstall - not sure that will work as that casing seems a bit hard.

I also looked at the rubber-plastic tubing you can buy at the big box stores - up to an inch or two in diameter. That costs about $4.50 a foot. I did use a scrap piece of that I had for an area where the 3pt hoses draped over the rear tool box and it worked well - no heat there.

 

[drizler]

I've had a tractor for 34 years. The first one was 27 years old when I traded for the current one. It was alway stored in the carport- out of the sun. After that amount of time the hydraulic hoses still were like new - except for the normal dust on them. No fading, cracking, leaking etc. It had no protective covering, of any type, on the hoses.

The current tractor was purchased in 2009 and I put heavy duty spiral wound nylon covering over the hoses on the grapple and those serving the hydraulic top link - to prevent any damage from abrasion. It is parked in the same carport stall as the first one.

My tires on the first tractor, being 27 years old, looked like new also when I traded it in. Of course, there was wear and some lugs were cut from the nasty volcanic rock here - but no cracking, fading, etc from all those years.

IMHO - store your rubber products out of the sun if you want extended life.

I always wash my tractor once a year and wax it at that time. Otherwise, I will wash dirt off any implement when I'm finished using it.

I have never used any of the "magical" rubber protectant products on either of my tractors.

My tractor alway has a fine patina of dust covering it, as it waits for me, in the carport.

You got it, don't park it outside long term. The sun destroys everything. With all the plastic parts they use today you should worry more about those than hoses really. I toss a loose tarp over the seat and dash if I leave mine out a couple days.
You can buy those automotive wiring looms online cheaper than auto zone and they sure will protect them from that main enemy the sun. It won't do much to help you from snags though but it's one more layer to tear off if you hit something.
FYI most of my hydraulic , all of them in fact on my new one has been internal leakage. The dealer told me straight out that most of those pin holes come from inside the hose. The fluid starts traveling between the layers until it pops out couple inches away from the real leak, usually near a connection. I have had 3 of those in 2 years and the last one I replaced with a higher rated hose rated for 4200PSI .

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I want my hydraulic hoses to shed heat, not be wrapped with anything, that helps hold the heat in!

SR

 

[JOHND755]

Hi Rob, this Parker sleeve on Page D18 should work. https://www.parker.com/literature/H...alog 4400 PDF Files/Section_D_Accessories.pdf
I see you are worried about not shedding any heat from your hydraulic hoses. Hoses are not where you need to worry about dissipating the heat from the hydraulic system, should be done by the cooler. As long as your cooler is working, wrapping the hoses will not cause any heat build up.
John

 

[MF283]

Parked inside here as well. 9 years old, all plastic & hoses look new other than a few scratches. Glad to hear i'm not the only one that washes/waxes my tractor, rarely wax my old truck unless i just don't have anything else to do.
303 Protectant is a great treatment for plastic or rubber if you feel the need to do so. It's used a lot in the boating industry.

Ronnie

 

[PILOON]

A cheap source of hydraulic hose protection is date expired fire hose as found in many commercial buildings.
Generally it is 1.5" hose and very rugged.
I also like to slip a couple of 12" sections over my tie down straps to protect the straps against abrasion when the straps cross sharper edges of cargo. Even wood will abrade those straps.

 

[JOHND755]

A cheap source of hydraulic hose protection is date expired fire hose as found in many commercial buildings.
Generally it is 1.5" hose and very rugged.
I also like to slip a couple of 12" sections over my tie down straps to protect the straps against abrasion when the straps cross sharper edges of cargo. Even wood will abrade those straps.

If you are looking for stronger solution to prevent something sharp from puncturing your hoses here is something you can put over the Parker Partek sleeve. https://www.parker.com/literature/H... Supporting Literature/Protection Shields.pdf

 

[beowulf]

You can buy used fire hose - in 50 lengths or so and in various diameters, here: Used Fire Hose | Used Fire Hoses | Used Fire Hoses for Sale | Used Fire Hose

I have not tried this and I am not certain how well it would work out in all applications or how it would look. For my purposes - I am worried about contact and rubbing in only 2-3 places, I have found other solutions. In locations where the hose does not move much if at all I am using a heavy rubber hose over the hydraulic hose. In areas where the hose moves a lot and there is contact which has and will result in wear I simply use short sections of foam pipe insulation wrap - it is flexible, comes in various diameters and so I can get several hoses inside a section if I need to, it is soft, it seems to offer nice protection in the locations I am using it, and it is cheap (I can get several 12" sections out of one piece that costs just over a dollar). And the grey color sort of blends in to with the Kubota colors. It may not last that long but works so far and so very cheap.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Hi Rob, this Parker sleeve on Page D18 should work. I see you are worried about not shedding any heat from your hydraulic hoses. Hoses are not where you need to worry about dissipating the heat from the hydraulic system, should be done by the cooler. As long as your cooler is working, wrapping the hoses will not cause any heat build up.
John

I'm NOT worried, but you don't have to be a genius to see that any place you can shed some heat from the hydraulic system, is a good thing! Especially on HOT days with a lot of hydraulic work.

Perhaps you don't use your tractors hard enough to build up any heat ?, but I do and a hy hose is a nice additional way to shed some heat...wrapping the hoses is bound to keep some heat in...

BTW, that link just jammed up my puter...so I never got to view it.

SR