I should preface this statement with I use them a LOT, like every time I use the tractor or mini excavator something is coming off or going on.
So far I hate all hydraulic quick connectors and I still feel like I am too young to hate anything - lol.
I had all pioneers - they all leaked (an unused pioneer can last years and years without a leak) after any use, they all leak (every brand I have tried over 30 years). I switched to all flat-face. They are maybe 10% better than the pioneers for my use.
Product Concept,
CEO - "we need a new hydraulic connector that doesn't leak, needs to be bullet proof reliable in all kinds of weather and temperature, it should be quick to connect or dis-connect, should work in psi ranges from 0-6000.
30 years later and tons of money on r&d
CEO - well what do you have?
We have two main options to look at, pioneer, and flat face couplers.
CEO Which one is better?
Well the flat face doesn't leak as much as the pioneer so there is that,
What do you mean not as much? They were not supposed to leak at all.
What about weather? Will they work in any conditions?
Not really, they are both susceptible to dirt/freezing/hot-cold issues
They are easy to use though right?
Well if there is 0psi pressure in the line they work ok as long as they are nice and clean (see above) If they have a positive or negative pressure in the line they can be impossible to connect or dis-connect.
And if there is pressure in the line?
Oh, that is easy, just use a couple wrenches to take the fitting off the hose, all the oil and built up pressure will escape and you can then easily and quickly connect the quick connector.
And if you don't have a couple of wrenches handy?
Sometimes you can smash the little pin or face with a hammer and get it to spray some oil out but it tends to damage the fittings so we suggest taking the fitting off.
I have a great new product concept for 2022
"we need a new hydraulic connector that doesn't leak, needs to be bullet proof reliable in all kinds of weather and temperature, it should be quick to connect or dis-connect, should work in psi ranges from 0-6000.