Marking / taging / labeling hydraulic lines the cheap way.

[WinterDeere]

I have those dust plugs but every time I went to use them they were grimy with dirt. I bought a box of tiny zip-loc bags, and now I just put one over each end and use a twist-tie to keep the ends clean when unused.

You’re supposed to plug the male dust plug into the female, when you couple the connectors, to keep both clean.

 

[RayIN]

You’re supposed to plug the male dust plug into the female, when you couple the connectors, to keep both clean.

Sounds reasonable, but try that when bushhogging all day. The dust gets in everything, for me anyway. Sometimes in the fall dust is so bad I must wear a mask and goggles.

 

[WinterDeere]

Sounds reasonable, but try that when bushhogging all day. The dust gets in everything, for me anyway. Sometimes in the fall dust is so bad I must wear a mask and goggles.

Just hooking mine back up, after spreading fertilizer this morning.



I do rinse the tractor off after spreading fertilizer, because it’s often corrosive, but otherswise just wipe the outside of these assembled pairs real quick with a paper towel, before pulling them apart. Hydro filter change every 400 hours takes care of the rest!

The only gripe I have with these boots is that they get stiff in winter, and occasionally don’t shrink back down enough after pulling them off the male coupling to stay together with the mating rubber plug. But I usually don’t have much dust when I’m plowing snow in winter.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Got tired of trying to figure out which line ran to wich quick-connect /fittings on my FEL and FEL valves. Every diagram I was sent was somehow wrong. Even the dealership didnt quite understand why mine is different. (Was trying to add power beyond to the rear...and failed) So I bought a $6.99 1000piece multipack of colored zip ties from harbor freight and got after it after studying my manual. Also went back in and labeled what color corresponds to each direction on the Joystick in my manual. I'm going to take a paint marker and put a dot on each fitting and each direction on my joystick function sticker, so I can visually see it as well. I over did it. But I know what everything goes to. I even marked my hydraulic pump main lines into the FEL valve with orange tape.

I like your style! Zip ties are the current high point in the evolution of fastening technology: bale string, duct tape, now zip ties!

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Just hooking mine back up, after spreading fertilizer this morning.

View attachment 3084002

I do rinse the tractor off after spreading fertilizer, because it’s often corrosive, but otherswise just wipe the outside of these assembled pairs real quick with ampere towel, before pulling them apart. Hydro filter change every 400 hours takes care of the rest!

The only gripe I have with these boots is that they get stiff in winter, and occasionally don’t shrink back down enough after pulling them off the male coupling to stay together with the mating rubber plug. But I usually don’t have much dust when I’m plowing snow in winter.

My boots never seem to stay on their respective fittings when I have the loader off the tractor. I've just resigned myself to having to clean the fittings each time I put the loader back on.

 

[kenhar]

Paint them different colors when they are hooked up right. Paint don't break off or fall off. Do your memory a favor before it leaves you.

 

[Hoho223]

My 2012 BobCat came color coded with plastic rings on female end and on FEL and front mount snowblower.

 

[ArlyA]

I used colored vinyl electrical tape to color code things.

 

[WinterDeere]

My boots never seem to stay on their respective fittings when I have the loader off the tractor. I've just resigned myself to having to clean the fittings each time I put the loader back on.

Yeah, I had some crappy ones like that, at one point. Try the ones from Deere, they seem to work really well in any weather where you're likely to be seeing dust. The booties that cover the male couplings get too stiff to work nicely in very cold weather, but there's usually snow on the ground at that point, so no dust.

 

[wb3czi]

I used colored vinyl electrical tape to color code things.

The zip-ties fade in the sun and will completely oxidize and fall apart, the vinyl electrical marking tape seems to last much longer... maybe I'll paint them if any hobby shops still sell the little bottles of enamel.

 

[jgmo]

I have a .48" chunk/section of telephone network wire that I think came from an office building demo site.

It was handed to me many, many years ago when I hired on as mechanic for a paving contractor that had scrapers, blades, dozers, tractors, you name it. Every color combination in the world for cutting a length off and wrapping the ends of hydraulic lines and electrical connectors.

I have since learned from other mechanics that a collection of different colored fingernail polish works great too but surface has to be clean.

I don't like tie-wraps because I get cut on them all the time.

Everyone has their.own way.

 

[Alan46]

I put colored zip ties on as well, with a second red tie on the cylinder return lines. Red for return felt easy to remember. So I have a blue, blue red, green, green red, brown, brown red. Makes it easy to hook implements up correctly the first time.

I have never thought about doing that, but I just did that to all my cordless battery chargers and plug ends. All my charges are on the same shelf, what a mess!

 

[Alan46]

The zip-ties fade in the sun and will completely oxidize and fall apart, the vinyl electrical marking tape seems to last much longer... maybe I'll paint them if any hobby shops still sell the little bottles of enamel.

I use paint pens, have had great luck with them.
I got the idea from tractor Mike!

 

[WinterDeere]

I don't like tie-wraps because I get cut on them all the time.

That can only happen if you're cutting them wrong, like using traditional dual-bevel cutters. With flush-cut dykes, cutting up against the lock body, there's no sharp edge left to cut you, ever.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Spiral poultry bands:

Cheap, durable, come in many colors.

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Both my Kubotas use color coded dust caps such as these on the FEL lines.

View attachment 3014624

https://www.amazon.com/JZGRDN-Hydraulic-Quick-Coupler-Compatible/dp/B0B3HDPMB7/ref=asc_df_B0B3HDPMB7?mcid=e7257a127c41356d8e0c50a19c0925b3&hvocijid=7635581810859637945-B0B3HDPMB7-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=730434177080&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7635581810859637945&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9058761&hvtargid=pla-2281435179498&psc=1

I do use color coded zip ties on other implements though.

These are what I use and are the way to go in My opinion. The zips always rot off. Though they are not needed one one of mine as all the hoses clamp on as a unit so there is no way to mix them up.

 

[WinterDeere]

 

[ericb2400]

That can only happen if you're cutting them wrong, like using traditional dual-bevel cutters. With flush-cut dykes, cutting up against the lock body, there's no sharp edge left to cut you, ever.

Or use a lighter to melt the end blunt. Im not fllush enough to have flush cut Dykes.

 

[Balazar]

Cow tags, you can write on them and they come in various colors.