Need Some Help...

[HandLogger]

Although I was raised on a farm and have been operating machinery since childhood, I've got a problem here that's a bit embarrassing, so please go easy on an old overseas vet...

When we had our new Erskine Hydraulic Snow Blower delivered to us from our area CASE dealer, the guy from the dealership wanted to do the right thing by giving us a run through...but there were problems right from the get go in the form of not being able to connect the high pressure and the return lines to the couplers on our CASE SV340. After turning the machine off and letting is sit for a while, the guy eventually forced the lines together and gave us a demonstration.

As I always remembered how much trouble the CASE rep had attaching our snow blower to our machine, I have made it a habit to let the machine sit overnight before even attempting the connection...but today, for some odd reason, this "trick" isn't working. When I watch YT videos made by guys having similar issues -- usually with grapple attachments -- a sun/heat pressure increase is usually to blame, but it's just above freezing here, so, needless to say, that's not the problem.

In the past, we used a hammer on the "poppet" in the coupler(s) to relieve oil pressure, but this is our first hydraulic attachment with flat face couplers, so I'm at a bit of a loss here. I suppose that I could always start taking the couplers apart, but the attachment is only a couple of years old and the couplers look nearly perfect, so, at the moment, I'm telling myself that someone out there has found a way to solve this problem.

Thank you kindly for your time...

 

[1693TA]

If the newer style quick couplers, just take a gloved hand and smack them with the ball of your hand or push firmly where you would insert the male fitting. They are made to relieve the pressure internally. I have to do that with each new skid steer I deliver before an attachment will connect.

 

[HandLogger]

I'm also embarrassed to admit that we've tried hammering the end of a blunt ratchet extension into the faces of both the male and the female faces to no avail. As the lines that came on our Erskine snowblower a straight lines [no elbows], the lines are very difficult to deal with. This is a high-flow attachment, so the lines and the couplers are fairly large and very difficult to hold in place while trying any kind of quick solution. Thus far, we've had no joy with anything we've tried.

 

[skyking1]

Make it easy on yourself and crack loose a hose fitting. That will relieve any pressure. Don't hammer on your fittings as you are likely to make an expensive mistake. It is easy to clean up the little bit of oil that will come out.

 

[KSSS]

After you have cracked the lines, it should connect up. Whenever you unhook the attachment hyd lines next time (and on any hyd attachment), push in on the connection at the machine before you disconnect the lines from the machine. That will allow the machine to depressurize the lines and you shouldn't have that issue again.

 

[HandLogger]

Okay, so perhaps it's time to crack some coupler lines...I'm not sure about how common this is, but every flat-face coupler on the machine and the snowblower seems to require a different size wrench...and probably more than we have. We own a pretty nice set of large crow's feet wrenches. Does anyone here use them for this type of work?

 

[skyking1]

All you need to do is crack the line at the snowblower end of the first quick connect you are putting on. That depressurizes that coupler and once you plug onto that, it will also release the pressure from the other hose coming from the snowblower. Pick the fitting that is easiest to get at with a regular wrench.

 

[Canuck Digger]

What skyking1 said. Couple of crescent wrenches and crack the line. Takes all but a few secs.

 

[HandLogger]

As the machine in question is still under warranty, we're trying to learn as much as we can about these flat-face couplers, which are totally new to us, before we proceed...

Thanks to the folks who wrote productive posts.

 

[hosspuller]

In the same vein as this issue... Has anyone seen a hydraulic fitting with a bleeder like used on brake calipers? Seems a simple solution to pressurized attachments. A single wrench and rag would suffice.

 

[gwhammy]

Sometimes machines have a way to bleed pressure off. Maybe with the key on and machine not running toggle hydraulic controls so the valves open.

I would think that new of a machine would have the push in pressure relief on the fittings. If it has both the low flow and high flow couplers try pushing in on the smaller coupling as they are hooked together.

 

[Flat Thunder Channel]

Interesting, I would not be happy if I had to crack the lines every time. I would assume their has to be a way to relieve the pressure dead heading at those ports.

 

[skyking1]

IF you do things in the right order it is usually not necessary. All you have to do to make it a tough time is do that one thing wrong, LOL. I have found that each machine is subjective in that regard. It takes time to figure out what works every time

 

[HandLogger]

The new CASE SV340B that we have has more electrical crap in it than I prefer, but we needed a new machine, so we'll have to learn to live with the electronics. The only thing that I've found in the controls that seems to relieve pressure is the trigger switch on the left joy stick. When I want to lower the hydraulic snow blower slowly, I pulled that trigger switch and the implement gradually drops to the surface we're working on. Other than that, I haven't been able to find a way to release hydraulic pressure -- and we've tried numerous suggestions.

 

[Tinkerer]

Put a tee in the lines and add a valve on it that is designed to withstand the pressure. IMHO of course.
This is what I had in mind. LINK

 

[gwhammy]

Video of that machine shows it has the same push in hydraulic couplers as everyone else. I always try to push them in before I unhook an attachment so it has the pressure relieved on it to. I'm guessing you have 5 couplers total, two high flow, two regular flow and a case relief fitting?

 

[Tones]

There is another type of couplers that screw together even with pressure in the lines, just can't remember the brand name. You'd have to buy in pairs though. Fellas running forestry mulchers love them.

 

[hosspuller]

Put a tee in the lines and add a valve on it that is designed to withstand the pressure. IMHO of course.
This is what I had in mind. LINK

The 3 way valve on that page would eliminate the need for a tee. Thanks for the idea.

 

[KSSS]

If do what is posted this will not happen. The MACHINE IS EQUIPPED WITH PRESSURE REDUCING PORTS. Push in on them with the hyd lines still hooked to the machine and it relives the pressure. It is simple. Cracking the lines is very simple, but if you do the above this will not happen again. This has nothing to do with warranty. However, you should probably read the owner's manual.

 

[hosspuller]

KSSS
I can say my machines do NOT have any pressure reduction ports except a control valve movement with engine off. Also, a temperature change will build pressure in the one hydraulic grapple attachment (flat face QC) I have when disconnected. Then cracking the fitting is the only way I know of getting it connected to the tractor hydraulics.
Old tractors are like that...