Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Hydraulic quick-connects on the boom won’t quit leaking

I have a 70 HP Kubota Tractor with hydraulics on the boom for augers and grapples etc.

Used it for 10 years no problem. Last summer was stacking some brush to burn and the quick connections started dripping oil out of the clear blue a day of 2 after making the connection.

Got busy and forgot about it. Came time to take the tractor in for some service. It had the grapple on it and I told them to check and see if it leaks. They did and it was and they couldn’t get them to stop and replaced them.

Went a while and didn’t use. Then I used lightly once and it was OK. Got out this weekend to stack some brush and the new ones began majorly leaking.

Does anyone have any insight to why this has become a problem after a decade and came back even with new connections? These are the flat-faced type found on most skid-steers.

Change fluid lately?
Particles in it?


I hope not!

O-rings.

Some of the skid steer type connectors on the tractor side have flat, Teflon O rings, and probably have to be replaced. Had one on my skid loader leak slightly, and it was a $60 part.

The other end...The hoses that connect from the attachment should just have rubber O rings, and you can replace those yourself with a dental pick and new O rings. Otherwise a place that makes hydraulic hoses can probably replace them for you.

Change the ends on the implement too?

If no then there could be your problem.

Did they use a name brand hydraulic fittings?

These new flat face style connectors would be very hard to replace the O ring in.


Completely different than old style QC .

I know you have to keep both ends pretty clean. Cramming sand through the connectors with make them leak pretty quick. You have to make sure the skid steer type connectors are closed all the way too... (not sticking) Usually a tap on the side with a hammer, or against something hard will pop them closed.

Not too bad at all.

You push them open, and use a dental pick to get the old O ring out, then seat the new one the same way. 5 minutes out and in.

Having changed the coupler assy's, and still have a leak...I'd say you are missing something on the original diagnosis. Wash everything hospital dry and clean with brake cleaner...have a sharp eyed assistant watch the coupler area, tubing, hose crimps and joints...and work the implement...hard stop to hard stop a few cycles...you'll find it.

I learned to always keep some rags handy, as mentioned grime an grit are not your friend with connections either.

Them SOBs aren't cheap either. Gave almost $500 for a couple set ups last fall.

Betting it is from fittings on implement if they weren't replaced.

If not replaced and they have a burr on them cutting O rings on new fittings you will want to replace the O ring on new as stated above.

Got the skid steer mounted female coupling the other day to replace the leaky teflon one... It was $67.20 at the dealership.

Nothing is inexpensive anymore...

Oops.

My bad, was $323 for 4.

Hydraulic shop was about $40 cheaper but dealer was closer and I needed em quick, fast and in a hurry.

I lean towards flintlocke's advice, although I would use starting fluid and an air gun as a cleaner. Be very meticulous, following a trail of fluid to it's exact source. Could very well be the new fittings weren't installed correctly, or the fittings, hose, tube, whatever they are attached to are cracked, have bad o-rings etc.

If it's not too difficult to get the tractor to the shop that did the work, they should cut you a break for a return trip.

Run over the hose with the tracks?

I did that once or twice then made a DIY spring system that moves the hoses out of the way, and keeps them in place.

No. Cousin doesn't have springs on his hoses. Hoses are a bit too short too tip the rotary mower all the way forward to clean debris off of the deck.

Needs to get springs and hoses about a foot longer. Funny part is he replaced those about a week before and didn't mention to me not to tip the deck all the way to clean it off.

Rookie mistake. Glad I was done that day. Was pulling the machine up to where we could load it, tipped the deck all the way forward to shake off limbs and debris. As soon as I did it and started to level the deck back up I knew what had happened.

That’s the ones.

It comes out of the connection.