Replacing hydraulic hoses on BT601 Backhoe

[Quokka49]

Hi People, have holed a couple of hoses on my BT601. Cannot work out how to disconnect them. Help please.

 

[Trimley]

Hi People, have holed a couple of hoses on my BT601. Cannot work out how to disconnect them. Help please.

I've read, the only way to get the bad hoses off, is to remove the good hoses next to it/them. Start with the outside hose, remove, the next, and so-on until the bad can be removed and replaced.

I'd take a photo before removal of any of them, just because. I would mark the hoses as you remove them, so you know where they go on re-assembly.

 

[Old Machinist]

Mark the hoses and fittings with matching color zip ties. Make sure and move all the controls to full extremes with the engine off to relieve the pressure on any lines. If you are having hoses made match the hoses and mark with the corresponding color zip ties.

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

I have my hoses made by a local Carquest that uses Gates brand hose and fittings. I have had longer lasting hoses from them than I did at other hose shops that used random brands of hose.

 

[Quokka49]

Hi Trimley,

Thanks for the quick response.

That’s a logical first step which I got to after starting on the RHS where the bad hoses are and discovered that the second hose connector from the RHS prevents the first one from being unscrewed. That done, I went to the LHS and thought, are this will be easy! Not so, because the second hose connector from the LHS prevents the first one from unscrewing. Unless I’m doing something really dumb and that’s always a possibility, I just can’t see how to get properly started on this.

I will photograph and use coloured cable ties as suggested below.

Finally, do you know anyone who has actually carried out this procedure? Cheers, Q

I've read, the only way to get the bad hoses off, is to remove the good hoses next to it/them. Start with the outside hose, remove, the next, and so-on until the bad can be removed and replaced.

I'd take a photo before removal of any of them, just because. I would mark the hoses as you remove them, so you know where they go on re-assembly.

 

[Quokka49]

Mark the hoses and fittings with matching color zip ties. Make sure and move all the controls to full extremes with the engine off to relieve the pressure on any lines. If you are having hoses made match the hoses and mark with the corresponding color zip ties.

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

I have my hoses made by a local Carquest that uses Gates brand hose and fittings. I have had longer lasting hoses from them than I did at other hose shops that used random brands of hose.

Mark the hoses and fittings with matching color zip ties. Make sure and move all the controls to full extremes with the engine off to relieve the pressure on any lines. If you are having hoses made match the hoses and mark with the corresponding color zip ties.

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

I have my hoses made by a local Carquest that uses Gates brand hose and fittings. I have had longer lasting hoses from them than I did at other hose shops that used random brands of hose.

Hi Old Machinist, I really like the coloured (Yep, I’m an Aussie) cable ties idea. I was going to use coloured electrical tape but the zip ties will definitely be a better option. Thanks for the quick response. Cheers, Q

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Yes, use coloured zip ties( I'm in Canada,eh ! ) THEN take several pictures BEFORE you undo the hoses !!!
They can some you how the hoses 'lay' next to each other,just in case one gets twisted or yanked or .... oopsy.

Probably should wash (hose down ) the whole backhoe to remove as much trapped dirt, dust, grime....
Maybe tie a small rope on the one you remove to help 'fish' the new one in ?
Obviously cover ( tape) the connectors to keep crud out...

PATIENCE is the key,slow and steady, THINK don't YANK......

 

[Quokka49]

Hi Greensvillejay, makes good sense, Thank You.

 

[pokey1416]

There’s several very knowledgeable members here that professionally worked on Kubotas. Maybe @TheOldHokie will chime in and others. I have the BH92 but like you, I’d be lost trying to take hoses off.Good luck.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

While the hoses come with end caps, tape them ! There's a 99.44% chance one of them WILL come off when fishing the new hoses in.....5" of tape will save you 1/2hr cleaning the hose to be sure nothing 'bad' got in.

Always better to make new mistakes...not the ones I've done.....

 

[TheOldHokie]

There’s several very knowledgeable members here that professionally worked on Kubotas. Maybe @TheOldHokie will chime in and others. I have the BH92 but like you, I’d be lost trying to take hoses off.Good luck.

Cant offer much. Its akl crammed in tight so taking just one off os probably not possible. Mark them so you get them back in the proper places.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Some of those show serious wear. If you can't reorient them a little, slide some protective sleeve on or use some spiral wrap.

 

[Old Machinist]

Also you can put two zip ties at one end or the other on the hoses so you know which way they install.

 

[DustyRusty]

My suggestion might not be taken very well, but if it were my tractor, I would buy all new hoses for the boom from Kubota so you know that they are the correct diameter and length. Undo each hose and mark the new replacement exactly as the removed one is marked. By the time you have to replace them again, you will be so old that you will have forgotten how you did it the first time. If it were mine, I would also have everything pressure washed and cleaned before starting if you can purchase plastic caps to cover the open fittings to keep the dirt out that would be best. You might ask the dealer for a quote for labor to do the job and a quote including the hose cost. Any cylinder that is not open to the outside should be rebuilt before it goes back in. I don't remember exactly the layout of my old BX22, but I do remember the hoses were in there tightly.

 

[Trimley]

Always get hoses made to fit the original length (if not buying factory hoses) and identical hose ends, as those two key elements have already been determined by design.

Note - If you elect to use generic (readily made/cheaper) hoses, you could find yourself replacing them again, sooner, than later.

 

[Quokka49]

Hi GreensvilleJay, Again this is good advice. However my problem is that I cannot work out how to unscrew the cable connectors, as they all seem to impact each other, preventing further movement. I have tried from both sides of the backhoe, without success. I suspect there is a simple solution, I just am too complicated to see it!

 

[Russell King]

Hi GreensvilleJay, Again this is good advice. However my problem is that I cannot work out how to unscrew the cable connectors, as they all seem to impact each other, preventing further movement. I have tried from both sides of the backhoe, without success. I suspect there is a simple solution, I just am too complicated to see it!

I assume you meant hose connector not cable connector.

Looking at the 293.jpeg above it looks like there are swivels on the fitting that has no hose on it. There is a rigid 90 degree elbow that did have the hose on it. The opposite side screws into a second adapter that then screws into the valve. Where the 90 degree fitting screws in, it looks like that half of the fitting can rotate (swivel) independently of the half that goes into the valve.

You should be able to hold the 90 degree fitting with a wrench so it doesn’t move. Then put a second wrench on the hex and turn it the correct direction to unscrew the rigid fitting. It should break loose and then be easily removed once the friction on the beveled surface is removed.

Then you should be able to remove the next hose or the fitting that is screwed into the valve to provide more clearance.

You might have to start at the most outer hose and work towards the inner hoses.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yes hose not cable(fighting a Brother all-in-one) at the same time....
actually rather work on the BH than the printer......

I wonder if Kubota uses 'brake fitting' wrenches ? They're the box end style wrenches that are missing 1 of the 'hex' sides, that allow it to go around the tubing ?
For sure measure and only use correct wrenches...NO 'good enough' ones !!!

 

[TheOldHokie]

yes hose not cable(fighting a Brother all-in-one) at the same time....
actually rather work on the BH than the printer......

I wonder if Kubota uses 'brake fitting' wrenches ? They're the box end style wrenches that are missing 1 of the 'hex' sides, that allow it to go around the tubing ?
For sure measure and only use correct wrenches...NO 'good enough' ones !!!

Flare wrenches are of very limited value on crimped hydraulic hoses. Unless the hose end fitting includes a tube extension you cant get a flare wrench over the flats. A crow foot socket is sometimes useful.

Dan