Releasing Pressure to hook up attachments

SpringHollow · Nov 8, 2009

Just a quick post in case someone never thought of it.

BobRip mentioned releasing pressure to hook up attachments. Since the high presure connects are too expensive, i just replaced my quick attach connections with standard flat face. Still, sometimes i need to hold the lever all the way up for one connection and all the way down for the other (man times, if holding the lever is necessary, connecting the first allows me to connect the second without holding the lever). To aid in this, i keep a rubber tied down strap wrapped around the ROPS support. When needed, i connect one end to the lever above the plastic grip and the find an attachment point for the other end. By the way, do not use the pedals to wrap the strap around if you are forgetful and might not detach it before starting the tractor. Do not ask how i know! Fortunately, you realize right away lol.

Ken

BobRip · Nov 8, 2009

Ken, all I do is push the lever up for a second and then down for a second. That releases the pressure. I do not have to hold it. Maybe I misunderstand you. Once the pressure is released (engine not running of course) it will not come back. If you are doing it with the engine running, this is potentially dangerous.

SpringHollow · Nov 8, 2009

Hi Bob,

I have connected with the engine running a couple of times (out of many hundreds of times) with no problems of spraying but i am definitely not pulling on the handle then (and have safety glasses and a coat on).

80 - 90% of the time, no pulling or pulling as you do works. About 10% of the time, if the handle is not held up or down while connecting, i can not get the last 20% of the connector in. This is with the engine off. I assume it is pressure in the attachment immediately creating pressure in the tractor but i do not know that that is true.

Ken

MossRoad · Nov 8, 2009

One thing you might try doing is this....

Shut off the tractor. Move the lever a few times in both directions, then disconnect the attachment. That should relieve the pressure and make it easier to hook up again next time.

KMA · Nov 9, 2009

MossRoad said:
One thing you might try doing is this....

Shut off the tractor. Move the lever a few times in both directions, then disconnect the attachment. That should relieve the pressure and make it easier to hook up again next time.

Yeah, this approach works great. The only hassle is having to turn off the tractor. Not a huge deal, but when it runs hot I like to let it idle a bit before powering down... that adds to the overall time to change attachments.

BobRip · Nov 10, 2009

I have had pressure build up in the attachment cylinders. I put a pin in the connector and tap it with a hammer or whatever. You get a little spirt of oil and then it connects easily. I see this mostly if the attachments is a lot warmer than it was when I disconnected it. Sitting in the Sun for example.

smilindave · Nov 20, 2009

I also move the lever up and down to relieve the pressure build-up. I went one step further by reversing the fittings so that when i remove my 4 in 1 bucket, I hook them together, thereby equalizing the pressure in the lines.

BobRip · Nov 21, 2009

smilindave said:
I also move the lever up and down to relieve the pressure build-up. I went one step further by reversing the fittings so that when i remove my 4 in 1 bucket, I hook them together, thereby equalizing the pressure in the lines.

Have you seen this work over a wide range? Sure the pressure is equal, but if it is high then you would still have trouble getting them apart, IMHO.

stray · Nov 22, 2009

I don't know if this applies to what you all mean or not. But if I am going to use the quick connects that go to the quick attach cylinder say for operating hydraulics on the grapple bucket. I will always engage the lock (the quick lock that locks the bucket to the PT) and then just tap it back enough to release the pressure. Than would be just barley moving it off completely locked. You should see the attach move back a little and this will let you know the pressure is off. There is then no problem unhooking or hooking the lines. I will say that I never shut the engine off to attach any of the hydraulics, these or for the PTO. Wow than would really be aggravating to me.

SpringHollow · Nov 22, 2009

I have tried everything people have posted and still have trouble every so often. I did switch so that i have one male and one female connector on the tractor so that i could easily connect the attachment hoses together. I used flat face connectors. They are nice - easy to clean and no oil loss when disconnecting/connecting.

Ken