Any Hydraulics guys here ?

[fastfredracing]

Im new to all this stuff. I have a damaged line, 24 ft long, and makes a u turn inside of a metal channel. Replacement is going to be brutal. Have to remove the entire roll back bed to access the other end of the line, and snake it through. Really, really do not want to do this .
I want to just replace the end with a re-useable fitting. My buddy who does some work on heavy equipment ( not a pro mechanic , but operator, and has but been at it a long time ) , says they use them all the time in the field, and they work fine, if installed properly. Permanent repair.
Guys at the local hydraulic shop say they are not good, and only an emergency repair .
Any advice ?

[unclebilly]

Yes. The JIC reusables are fine for this. I fixed the power steering line in my Unimog with a couple reusables and a union for the same access reasons that you have cited.

[nota]

why not reform the bad end and put in a short coupling ?
can't a double flair be done like a brake line

[asphaltgambler]

Fred - correct reply above ^^^^^^^^^^^assuming the rollback manufacturer has them installed already. If not - it's Ok as you'll need to purchase the additional fitting ends that thread into the valve and actuator / cylinders to complete the end-to-end replacement.

[ficke]

Yes, common, done all the time.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by nota

why not reform the bad end and put in a short coupling ?
can't a double flair be done like a brake line

Not sure what a short coupling is, but the flexible hose is damaged right where it enters the fitting, it got routed improperly, and ripped the hose and fitting from the hydraulic motor that drives the winch.
It will probably still work the way it is, but will 100% blow out in short time, probably when I am loading something at night, in the rain, when I am in a hurry. Want to take care of it now if I can . Wish I had a pic.
Buddy says they do it all the time . Never had a problem that he can remember .

[Scott Douglas]

Can you tie a strong string to the line before removing it so you could use the string to pull the fixed/repaired line back into the channel?

[nota]

hose is different I was thinking a steel tube=line like a car brake line

if you cut the hose shorter don't you need a male/female bit to make up the difference
or can you get away with the current hose being a bit shorter with a new end ?
do they make a portable press to install a new end in the rig ?

[fastfredracing]

The connection at the other end, is also buried inside of the frame channel . Replacing it is not going to be easy. On top of that, the hose makes a 180 deg, bend around a metal wheel inside of this channel. I honestly think that once I commit to pulling the hose out, I am both feet in, and am afraid that I will end u having to remove the bed. The hose looks healthy other than the damage at the very end.

[fastfredracing]

They do have some inexpensive hand operated hose presses on E bay, on amazon. $150.00 ish, they are bench mount, but I am sure I could wing it.
But , seems like a $15.00 fitting and a few hours of my time, would be the best way, as long as it is a viable repair .

[1990C4S]

Either buy the 'screw on' fitting (no crimp) or get one made to length (crimped) at a hydraulic shop.

[unclebilly]

Seriously, the reusables are simple to install and take maybe 15 minutes if you have a double wrapped hose in a difficult spot to get to.. Use oil. Your thread on the outside piece and then crank in the inner piece which can sometimes be a biotch to get started. When I was commercial fishing, all of the hydraulic lines on the boat had reusables on them so we could fix them on the water and get back to work.

I even used on to fix the line to the air line to the governor on my gravel truck.

Simple and effective. What is the hesitation?

[pete3799]

Reusable ends are a permanent fix. If you can get access a straight section of the hose do a "hydraulic field splice". Do it all the time.

[cabmandone]

Any chance you can post a pic of what you're dealing with? I have replaced several hydraulic lines by getting a male to male coupler and tying the two lines together and pulling the line.

[john70t]

Look at how parts move and make them move smooth again.
x 1,000,000 cycles.
x again and again.

Buddy had a Kubota front loader with a pinched hydraulic line.
Obvious jerky operation movement under load. It was not buttery.
It should all definitely be buttery.
Something was wrong. I looked around at arm routing stuff.
Pinched hydraulic line at the elbow. Not secure.
Easily fixed externally by making sure fat hyd line arc was big and everything else secure.
I added an external sleeve of heavy split rubber hosing (inside and outside the crimp) with redundant fat zip ties loosely in a row so that the pinched hose damage area was reinforced, for now.
Like applying an external splint sleeve on a broken leg bone.
Fluids fresh and topped up.
Obvious neanderthal stuff to take care of. Make it move nice.

Not sure what "damaged" means.
If it is a low pressure return line then external repairs might suffice as long as load is light and failure is expected by the operator..
Write a sign on the dash: "Warning. FAILURE MAY INSTANTLY OCCUR UNDER HEAVY LOADS".

24 feet hydraulic line?
What kind of equipment are we talking about?