Quick Connects, Skid Steer vs Kubota

[avc8130]

I just picked up a used grapple bucket from a skid steer for use on my Kubota. I need to convert the grapple bucket hydraulics to match my Kubota. My Kubota has 2 male bulkhead fittings. The grapple bucket has one male/one female. They appear to be slightly different than the Kubota.

Anyone know where to source these fittings or what type they are?

Should I convert the tractor to the SS setup or convert the grapple bucket to the tractor setup?

ac

 

[CurlyDave]

Do you have anything else that connects to these fittings?

If you do, keep the tractor fittings, and convert the grapple bucket.

If you don't have anything else that uses the fittings, convert the tractor to the skid steer fittings. One male, one female means you can't hook anything up backward.

Look carefully at the fittings, and they will almost always have a part number on them. You can get new fittings at a local hydraulic shop, or you can get them on the internet for a lot lower price.

The ones that require crimping are much better than the no-crimp ones, but this means you will need to buy an entire hose with pre-crimped fittings on both ends.

The least expensive way to do this might be to buy two short hoses each with a Kubota female on one end and the correct skid steer fitting on the other end.

 

[avc8130]

At the moment this is the only attachment I have. I didn't look at the method of connection on the grapple hoses. Not sure if the current fittings are crimped on or if they are threaded.

The tractor has bulkhead fittings, so swapping them to something else would be pretty easy.

I also need to figure out if the hoses are long enough as setup now. If they aren't, the conversion hose seems like a good option.

ac

 

[kennyd]

A picture (or two) is worth a thousand words. There are many style's of QD's out there so without some pictures we can only guess.

 

[avc8130]

A picture (or two) is worth a thousand words. There are many style's of QD's out there so without some pictures we can only guess.

I'll snap a few tonight.

ac

 

[rd_macgregor]

In addition to keeping the connections always the same (so the control levers do what you expect them to), the paired male/female fittings can be connected to each other when you dismount the implement, which will keep dirt out of the fittings.
BOB

 

[Discount Hydraulic Hose]

I'll second what kennyd said. A picture is worth a thousand words. Also, if you're talking about quick disconnect couplers, they probably don't actually crimp onto your hoses. Usually, the couplers have a threaded back end (NPT is the most common, but SAE is not unusual) that allow the couplers to be screwed onto a hose fitting.

Flatface couplers are dripless and very common on skidsteer loaders and such. If you have a part number, we can probably cross reference them for you. You might also want to look at the different couplers available here...

Hydraulic Quick Disconnects > Discount Hydraulic Hose.com

 

[avc8130]

The ones on the skid steer bucket are definitely flat face. The tractor ones look like agricultural.

ac

 

[avc8130]

Pulled some part numbers off the couplers:

Skid Steer
Male: parker FE-502-12F0
Female: parker FE-501-12F0

Tractor (both male)
H4-63

ac

 

[Discount Hydraulic Hose]

Pulled some part numbers off the couplers:

Skid Steer
Male: parker FE-502-12F0
Female: parker FE-501-12F0

Tractor (both male)
H4-63

ac

Those are both common couplers. I have cross referenced them for you and the interchange for our part numbers is shown below.

Parker FE-502-12FO (male) interchanges with DiscountHydraulicHose.com HT4OF6
Parker FE-501-12FO (female) interchanges with DiscountHydraulicHose.com 4HTOF6

Parker H4-63 (male) interchanges with DiscountHydraulicHose.com 702-08-08S
Parker H4-62 (female) interchanges with DiscountHydraulicHose.com 701-06-06S

If you're looking to save money, the 700 Series couplers are significantly less expensive than the flush-face skidsteer couplers, but the flush-face are dripless and extremely common on Bobcats, other loaders and countless attachments. You will have more interchangeability with other devices if you go with the flushface couplers on your equipment.

Please note: H4-63 couplers look similar to the common Agricultural Couplers (aka Pioneer or 4000 Series), but they are actually a different series and they not interchange.