Quick Connects

[ERNIEB]

A few days ago I found an air hose laying on the side of the road. It looked almost new, so I thought I would hook it up to my compressor to see if it had any leaks. Right away I noticed a problem. the quick connects on the found hose are larger than on my compressor and hoses. The couplings appear to be affixed so that the only way to remove them is to cut them off. Thinking that maybe such a thing as an adapter might be found, I went to the Northern web site to see what I could find. I found references to "A" and "M" and long and short shank.
Now I am confused. How many sizes of air quick connects are there anyway? How can I tell what size is on the found air hose? Is there no such thing as an adapter to go from one size to another? And while I'm at it, Are air line quick connects and hydraulic quick connects interchangable? the same thing?
ErnieB

 

[dullpain]

Air line & Hydraulic quick disconnects are not interchangeable.

 

[Bird]

ErnieB, I've never seen an air hose with the quick coupler affixed so it couldn't be removed. All those I've seen had threaded ends onto which you screw your quick coupler. As to how many different ones there are, I don't really know. I think my catalog only lists 16./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I don't know of any adapters to go from one quick coupler to another. And nope, hydraulic and air couplers are not interchangeable.

Of course, when I said I've never seen an air hose with the quick coupler made onto it, I was talking about automotive types, like most of us use. Some of the industrial/construction type equipment, which generally uses a much larger diameter hose, does have couplers made onto the hoses.

Bird<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Bird on 11/18/00 07:42 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[EddieW]

The hydraulic quick connects on my JD 4300 is a different size from the bigger tractors. I think my connectors and hoses are probably 1/2" and the bigger tractors, probably category 2 types, are either 5/8" or 3/4". I'm guessing on all of the sizes but I do know they are a different size.

 

[Bird]

Yep, even among tractors of the same size, there are some different hydraulic quick couplers.

Bird

 

[hayden]

But we're talking about air hoses not hydraulic, right? Using an air hose for hydraulics would be something close to a disaster. Order of magniture difference is pressure.

 

[Bird]

hayden, both air and hydraulic quick couplers come in different sizes and styles, and of course, the hoses also come in different sizes for each, so I guess we're talking about both in this thread. HOWEVER, you're sure right about not using a 200-300 psi air hose for a 2000-3000 psi hydraulic hose./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif That could be a disaster in the making.

Bird

 

[ERNIEB]

Work has kept me away for a couple of days,so I've been a little slow to respond. I've had a chance to look over the hose in question and have found the Stanley trademark and the words "bostich" and "the builders series" Also the size 3/8 ID. So Bird it looks like you nailed it, it must be some type used by construction. It looks to be about 25 feet in length.
I have a connector on one of the air tanks of the old White dump truck, and have been wanting to get a air hose to carry with me. It could come in handy.
This particular hose would be just right. But with no such animal as an adapter, I guess my only option is to cut off the couplers and attach a threaded end piece. Any ideas on doing this? Or is this hose too large for automotive use?
Is it even worth doing? The last hose I bought was several years ago, and to tell the truth I don't remember how much it was.
ErnieB

 

[Bird]

ErnieB, if you could find a male and female quick coupler to work with the hose you have, then bought the male and female couplers like you need, you could get some pipe fittings and make an adapter for each end of the hose, but in my opinion it would not be worth doing. Right now Northern Tool has a cheap 3/8" hose, 60' long, 1/4" fittings, 300 psi, on sale for $9.99 and their best grade 3/8" by 50' for $19.99, with a lot of others in between. and of course, you can just cut the couplers off the hose you have and put new fittings on with hose clamps; maybe not the neatest thing in the world, but I know a lot of folks do it.

Bird

 

[scruffy]

Ernie, if you happen to be near a NAPA autoparts, they make up hoses of all types, and may be able to identify your find.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

There are 3 types of air quickconnects: Industrial interchange, ARO, and TRUFLATE. Each of these is available in up to 4 sizes. Look at page 186 in the McMaster catalog at www.macmaster.com.

The 1/4" Industrial Interchange is the most common one by a long shot. It's pretty easy to come by the two other standards in the 1/4 size, so making and adaptor shouldn't be a problem, though I have never seen a hose with the connector built in.

Pat

 

[ERNIEB]

Pat, the link as you gave it, is to a bed & breakfast in Portland, but I found the right one. http://www.mcmaster.com/ I printed up a copy of page 186 and compared the hose to the chart. It looks like a Tru-Flate 3/8. That is a good site with some good information on several things. Many Thanks.

ErnieB
"Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?"
Ben Milam 1835

 

[ERNIEB]

NAPA indeed was able to identify and confirm the type of couplings on the hose . I could have made an adapter by getting couplings and matching male to female pipe threads. But, Bird is correct about the cost being more than buying a new hose. I ended up buying two 3/8 nipples with 1/4 pipe threads, at a total cost of $3.00, I have some clamps around somewhere. So when I get some time, its chop chop. Like Bird said it ain't pretty but it should work.

ErnieB
"We were surrounded by some gross, proud, and victorious men. Anyone who knows the character of the North Americans can judge what our situation must have been."
Jose Juan Sanchez Navarro