The past couple times I hooked up my grapple bucket there was so much pressure on the hydraulic lines it was impossible to get the flat face couplers connected. I had to crack fittings on the grapple to bleed off the pressure. I try to store it fully closed...don't what is causing the pressure build up. On the tractor side I turn it off, drop the loader to the ground, roll all 4 directions, and bump the 3rd function both directions to relieve any pressure...so I know the pressure has to be on the grapple itself. I've never had anything that was this hard to connect. I've looked at the relief tools but they seem pretty expensive to try without knowing if they work well. Any good tricks for relieving pressure other than loosening up a fitting?
What type of tractor are you using ? Straight up hydraulic or electric over hydraulic? The hydraulic controls on your tractor should have a “float” function which will release pressure on your hoses. The 3rd function box, you may have to push the hoses in to release pressure on your attachment. That’s how the flat face fittings on the skid steers work, push the hoses into the connectors on the power unit while still connected, about 1/2” or so. That lets the pressure off of the attachment.
I use a rag and brass hammer to cover and smack the protrusion. No damage and it works. A couple of squirts is all it takes.
I’ve had it happen a few times on my grapple. I have pioneer fittings which are easy to bleed, but it did not help. I bent the mount on the loader trying to reconnect. I make a point to bump the 3rd function switch a few times along with the loader control before disconnecting now. It has been working so far.
Similar here...I usually lay a clean rag on a solid surface and take a quick stab at the rag with the male end coupler, that releases just a quick squirt, but that is usually enough to allow connection then.
I do the same on the tractor side, my JD will relieve pressure on the third function with turning the key on, not starting the tractor and then hit the third function buttons. Use to store the grapple closed and would have issues connecting it at times with pressure on the grapple side. Now I open the grapple all the way and store it open end down. It’s helped enough that I still do it. On the mini ex, every time I put the auger on I’m fighting pressure at the auger. No reason that I can think of, so I end up cracking the fitting open to relieve pressure if I can’t force it to connect. I don’t have that issue with the cleanup bucket at all.
If you store your attachments out in the sun the light will heat the hoses and cylinder/cylinders enough to build pressure. I saw a video of someone using a clamp to push them together. I'll see if I can find it.
I have that trouble as well. I saw somewhere that it was recommended to connect the 2 hoses together after uncoupling the grapple. I haven’t tried it yet but I plan to as it makes sense to me.
My grapple with flat face was always super hard to attach until I started storing it with the hoses attached to each other. That seems to equalize the pressure and I haven’t had a problem hooking it up since.
I’ve been in the habit of storing attachment hoses connected to one another for years, learned it from work. I have also noticed if attachments are left in the sunlight it’s harder to connect the hoses. I keep mine inside, and try and let them cool down before detaching and storing. Not sure how much it helps, but I’d like to think it does.
I'll give it a try attaching the lines on the grapple to each other. Right now both the lines are in the same sleeve so I can't fit them together, but I'll pick up another sleeve the next time I'm at the supply shop.
