Hydraulic line quick-connect leak on Ditch Witch

[treeandland]

I use the original Branch Manager grapple...it's a 2015. I've had my quick connect fittings wear out and drip fluid in the past, but over the last four months it's been a constant battle. I had the machine side male and female fittings replaced within the last twelve months. I've replaced the female fitting on the grapple side three times since mid summer. I've used a hose with no swivel, and a hose with a swivel, hoping that less rotation at the fitting will mean less wear on it. My current new fitting and hose have been on for two weeks and already there's some dripping at the quick connection. Who else has had this problem and how have you solved it?

 

[Reach]

That’s a new one to me! I’ve never heard of that, have you asked a good hydraulic shop for an opinion? My thoughts would be related to hose tension, if your hoses are putting lateral force on those connectors, they’ll leak much sooner. Also, if your hoses are pulling on the connectors, that will wear them out in a great big hurry.

 

[treeandland]

That’s a new one to me! I’ve never heard of that, have you asked a good hydraulic shop for an opinion? My thoughts would be related to hose tension, if your hoses are putting lateral force on those connectors, they’ll leak much sooner. Also, if your hoses are pulling on the connectors, that will wear them out in a great big hurry.

Thanks Reach. Yes I think I have reduced the tugging on the lines by re-routing the hoses differently than what you see in the picture. There is more slack available for fully extending the grapple. But, when you extend to full reach there's always some twisting force in both hoses that makes the fittings rotate against each other about half a turn. Maybe it's the nature of the beast, but I don't like dripping fluid on clients' driveways.

 

[Reach]

Thanks Reach. Yes I think I have reduced the tugging on the lines by re-routing the hoses differently than what you see in the picture. There is more slack available for fully extending the grapple. But, when you extend to full reach there's always some twisting force in both hoses that makes the fittings rotate against each other about half a turn. Maybe it's the nature of the beast, but I don't like dripping fluid on clients' driveways.

Reducing that movement should help, as that’s likely the cause of the leaks. I would suggest a consult with a good hydraulic shop, that should give you some options to get the leak to quit. Maybe even hard plumb the grapple, if you don’t usually take it off the machine.

 

[Kottonwood]

Reducing that movement should help, as that’s likely the cause of the leaks. I would suggest a consult with a good hydraulic shop, that should give you some options to get the leak to quit. Maybe even hard plumb the grapple, if you don’t usually take it off the machine.

I'd say lengthen the lines. You shouldn't be tugging on those at all. Any little tension is eventually gonna wear them out.

I have a ditch witch xt1600 and I welded some bent 1/4" rod on it to make a path for my extra long lines to go through so they don't get pinched when I go up and it absorbs the tension on the way down so it doesn't pull on the quick connect.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I'd say lengthen the lines. You shouldn't be tugging on those at all. Any little tension is eventually gonna wear them out.

I have a ditch witch xt1600 and I welded some bent 1/4" rod on it to make a path for my extra long lines to go through so they don't get pinched when I go up and it absorbs the tension on the way down so it doesn't pull on the quick connect.

Got pics ? I went to school, grew up in Colorado Springs! Your about my age ? My names Aaron. You ever know any wild idiots named that in Colorado?

 

[Kottonwood]

Got pics ? I went to school, grew up in Colorado Springs! Your about my age ? My names Aaron. You ever know any wild idiots named that in Colorado?

I don't have any pics, but it would be different on a mini skid anyways, my main point was to make something that keeps the line from getting pinched when the plate comes up. A lot of guys use shorter lines to prevent that, but then it tugs on the quick connect when you put the plate all the way down. A small loop to run the line through welded up higher somewhere prevents that. A tab with a bungee cord to hold the line up would work great also.

I can't say I know anyone named Aaron out here honestly, but I sure do know plenty of wild idiots!

I've been in CO since 09. I live in Nederland and most of the tree work I do is in boulder and the surrounding area.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I don't have any pics, but it would be different on a mini skid anyways, my main point was to make something that keeps the line from getting pinched when the plate comes up. A lot of guys use shorter lines to prevent that, but then it tugs on the quick connect when you put the plate all the way down. A small loop to run the line through welded up higher somewhere prevents that. A tab with a bungee cord to hold the line up would work great also.

I can't say I know anyone named Aaron out here honestly, but I sure do know plenty of wild idiots!

I've been in CO since 09. I live in Nederland and most of the tree work I do is in boulder and the surrounding area.

I welded a loop on my bmg to retain hose position along frame as well

 

[SeanRuel]

Try a cinching belt around the vertical BMG post & hoses. @Serf Life /sven might have some pictures of his setup, which seems to work pretty well

 

[treeandland]

Try a cinching belt around the vertical BMG post & hoses. @Serf Life /sven might have some pictures of his setup, which seems to work pretty well

Thanks Sean. I was thinking of asking Sven about this. I've had this same grapple for over 6 years and suddenly it's started to act up.