Replacement Hydraulic Connector Cover Replacment -- easy solution???

Mike_S · Sep 18, 2012

Every 3-4 years the four hydraulic connector covers and plugs for the FEL on my JD 4400HST must be replaced because they harden up and become impossible to use. The female side of the four couplers is a royal PITA to take loose from the bracket in order to slide the tail loops of the POS JD OEM hydraulic connector covers on and then remount the four couplers into the bracket. These are slightly smaller than standard tractor hydraulic connector covers/plugs and it is EXTREMELY difficult to get the wrench onto the securing fasteners due to the small space between the female hydraulic connectors in the bracket.

This time I would love to avoid going through that nightmare -- are there any hydraulic connector covers/plugs that fit my tractor which have tails that "snap on" the hydraulic lines so that the female connectors do NOT have to be removed from the bracket that holds them -- OR is there another solution??

Thanks (kindly forgive crossposting to the JD Owning and Operating forum since this may be a JD-only scenario)

Mike_S

Zebrafive · Sep 18, 2012

John Deere has dust caps that flip open. They come in green, blue and brown. They are marked for extend or retract for cylinders. Part numbers RE268228 thru RE268232

jgayman · Sep 19, 2012

This may sound silly but... rather than slipping the round loop over the hydraulic line, would it be possible to wrap the long rubber string AROUND the line and then slip the end through the loop? It seems like they would still be plenty long enough to plug into the quick connector.

PineRidge · Sep 19, 2012

Why not use a cable tie to fasten the tail loop to the hydraulic line rather than breaking out the big wrenches. Much easier to replace

Mike_S · Sep 26, 2012

That should work great -- will give it a try!!!

Thanks,

Mike_S

Kioti Tom · Sep 26, 2012

They are available on Ebay. "Thesmartfarmer" has them.

aczlan · Sep 26, 2012

jgayman said:
This may sound silly but... rather than slipping the round loop over the hydraulic line, would it be possible to wrap the long rubber string AROUND the line and then slip the end through the loop? It seems like they would still be plenty long enough to plug into the quick connector.

I just did that putting Deere 1/2" Pioneer plugs onto our Kubota L3830. Worked well.

Aaron Z