3rd function flat face couplers and grapple

[Gaspasser]

Tried hooking up new grapple to 3rd function connections ( flat face couplers) on L6060 loader. No joy, The Homestead Implements grapple connections are 1 /2 inch flat face. They do couple to each other just fine.. The 3rd function kit appears to be smaller diameter? It is not a pressure issue since we bled off the pressure by loosening fittings. Do folks know what the " standard" 3rd function fitting specs are typically? Of course,, it's the weekend and dealer is closed,. I can get pics and measurements later today.. Thanks gang.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Tried hooking up new grapple to 3rd function connections ( flat face couplers) on L6060 loader. No joy, The Homestead Implements grapple connections are 1 /2 inch flat face. They do couple to each other just fine.. The 3rd function kit appears to be smaller diameter? It is not a pressure issue since we bled off the pressure by loosening fittings. Do folks know what the " standard" 3rd function fitting specs are typically? Of course,, it's the weekend and dealer is closed,. I can get pics and measurements later today.. Thanks gang.

There is no standard but on a tractor of this size 1/2" couplers for a grapple are overkill. If the tractor side is smaller my guess is 3/8".

Dan

 

[Gaspasser]

There is no standard but on a tractor of this size 1/2" couplers for a grapple are overkill. If the tractor side is smaller my guess is 3/8".

Dan

Thanks Dan. It seems I need to become a Kubota mechanic to be able to use my tractor efficiently, lol. So if I wanted to change out couplers and shoot for future compatability with other implements in the future, sounds like I should keep the 3rd function couplers as is and change out the ones on the grapple.
I'll call dealer Monday and see what makes sense. Thank you again. Folks like you make this forum a great resource.

 

[Old Machinist]

If it were mine I would change the tractor to match the fittings on the grapple. I think the 1/2 inch flat face IS the norm for a skid steer due to them changing implements under pressure.

Depending on the brand of your third function the hose connecting to the fittings could be anything. Kubota loader hoses tend to be JIC flare. You will have to adapt whichever way you go so you will need to pull a fitting at whichever end you want to change and determine connection type and size then go from there. Plenty of type and size charts online to help in that determination but first you have to pull a fitting and go by appearance and size.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Thanks Dan. It seems I need to become a Kubota mechanic to be able to use my tractor efficiently, lol. So if I wanted to change out couplers and shoot for future compatability with other implements in the future, sounds like I should keep the 3rd function couplers as is and change out the ones on the grapple.
I'll call dealer Monday and see what makes sense. Thank you again. Folks like you make this forum a great resource.

If it were mine I would change the tractor to match the fittings on the grapple. I think the 1/2 inch flat face IS the norm for a skid steer due to them changing implements under pressure.

Depending on the brand of your third function the hose connecting to the fittings could be anything. Kubota loader hoses tend to be JIC flare. You will have to adapt whichever way you go so you will need to pull a fitting at whichever end you want to change and determine connection type and size then go from there. Plenty of type and size charts online to help in that determination but first you have to pull a fitting and go by appearance and size.

He has a 9 GPM tractor not a 20-40 GPM PM skidsteer. A 3/8" flatface is good for 12+ GPM which is more than his tractor can produce.

Dan

 

[Old Machinist]

He has a 9 GPM tractor not a 20-40 GPM PM skidsteer. A 3/8" flatface is good for 12+ GPM which is more than his tractor can produce.

Dan

My point is the flat face is supposed to be easier to connect than the ISO.. Doesn't matter if your connection is more capable than the system . He only needs to change one end or the other and it will work fine with oversized fittings.

 

[TheOldHokie]

My point is the flat face is supposed to be easier to connect than the ISO.. Doesn't matter if your connection is more capable than the system . He only needs to change one end or the other and it will work fine with oversized fittings.

I think you have things a bit confused.

His loader does not have ISO 5675 (agricultural) couplers on it. It has ISO 16028 (flat face) couplerd on it.

Tried hooking up new grapple to 3rd function connections ( flat face couplers) on L6060 loader

The problem is the body size (3/8??) on the loader is smaller than the 1/2" couplers on the grapple. Its both easier and cheaper to change the couplers on the grapple.

Dan

 

[Old Machinist]

I think you have things a bit confused.

His loader does not have ISO 5675 (agricultural) couplers on it. It has ISO 16028 (flat face) couplerd on it.

Tried hooking up new grapple to 3rd function connections ( flat face couplers) on L6060 loader

The problem is the body size (3/8??) on the loader is smaller than the 1/2" couplers on the grapple. Its both easier and cheaper to change the couplers on the grapple.

Dan

I guess I did misunderstand the problem. He didn't specify the third function connections were also flat face. Just that they were smaller.

He still needs to remove one of the fittings to determine the line connection to get the correct fitting and adaptors.

 

[Gaspasser]

I guess I did misunderstand the problem. He didn't specify the third function connections were also flat face. Just that they were smaller.

He still needs to remove one of the fittings to determine the line connection to get the correct fitting and adaptors.

I grabbed some measurements and pics today. For me, the question is what connectors would future 3rd function implements likely have? I am happy to change out either end hoping to be compatible. First pics are tractor side. 2nd set are grapple side. Thanks as aleays for your help gentlemen.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I grabbed some measurements and pics today. For me, the question is what connectors would future 3rd function implements likely have? I am happy to change out either end hoping to be compatible. First pics are tractor side. 2nd set are grapple side. Thanks as aleays for your help gentlemen.

You can read the number on the coupler stamped label.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I grabbed some measurements and pics today. For me, the question is what connectors would future 3rd function implements likely have? I am happy to change out either end hoping to be compatible. First pics are tractor side. 2nd set are grapple side. Thanks as aleays for your help gentlemen.

The tractor side is 3/8" body size and grapple side is 1/2" body size.

Most vendors let you choose what you want on the implement. I have already expressed my opinion. Unless you also have a skid with higher flow hydraulics 3/8 is appropriate for a compact tractor with <10 GPM hydraulics.

Dan

 

[Gaspasser]

The tractor side is 3/8" body size and grapple side is 1/2" body size.

View attachment 157150

Most vendors let you choose what you want on the implement. I have already expressed my opinion. Unless you also have a skid with higher flow hydraulics 3/8 is appropriate for a compact tractor with <10 GPM hydraulics.

Dan

Thank you. Appreciate the details. So these connectors are classified by outside diameter? I'll hit dealer first thing this morning and get grapple side connectors. Amazing how many variations there are and how much time is spent hooking and unhooking implements. One would think that there would be a common standard. Kind of like my Fisher snow plow with the highly touted "minute mount" system. Seems like " hour mount" is more like it, not including the profanity laced tirades. My kingdom for a level concrete floor equipment shed!

 

[TheOldHokie]

Thank you. Appreciate the details. So these connectors are classified by outside diameter? I'll hit dealer first thing this morning and get grapple side connectors. Amazing how many variations there are and how much time is spent hooking and unhooking implements. One would think that there would be a common standard. Kind of like my Fisher snow plow with the highly touted "minute mount" system. Seems like " hour mount" is more like it, not including the profanity laced tirades. My kingdom for a level concrete floor equipment shed!

Hydraulic couplers are classified by "body size" which is indicative of their "nominal" rated flow rate. All the industry standards do is establish the physical dimensions for the male plugs. And even that is limited to the mating surfaces. The rest is left to the OEMs that actually make the couplers.

Dan

 

[Old Machinist]

Like I said, you still need to know what the line/hose connection is. They are most likely JIC flare but what size? Other connection options are NPT, ORB, or ORFS so there's that?

In other words you may need fittings and adaptors.

My MTL grapple arrived with 1/4" hoses that had 1/4" JIC ends and 1/4" JIC to 1/2" ORB adaptors and 1/2" AG quick connects. I switched it to 3/8" ISO quick connects so I needed adaptors for 1/4" JIC to whatever thread those were. I forgot what thread my quick connects I bought were.

 

[Russell King]

As North Idaho Wolfman stated just write the numbers down on the couplers. So you should be able to get four numbers.

Take that to your supply vendor and tell then to get you a similar part that is smaller size. Then show them the numbers from the coupler halves that you want to continue using. A hydraulic shop should be able to do that easily, a tractor supply shop may be confused.

 

[TheOldHokie]

As North Idaho Wolfman stated just write the numbers down on the couplers. So you should be able to get four numbers.

Take that to your supply vendor and tell then to get you a similar part that is smaller size. Then show them the numbers from the coupler halves that you want to continue using. A hydraulic shop should be able to do that easily, a tractor supply shop may be confused.

Thats fine but with flat face couplers you dont need OEM numbers. All you need is body size and hose port type (NPT, ORB, etc). Kubota and the vast majority of other OEMs use couplers with female NPT ports.

Dan

 

[Old Machinist]

I haven't seen any NPT connections on my Kubota, John Deere, or New Holland. The JD and NH mostly have ORB to ORFS and the line terminations on my Kubota are JIC flare.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I haven't seen any NPT connections on my Kubota, John Deere, or New Holland. The JD and NH mostly have ORB to ORFS and the line terminations on my Kubota are JIC flare.

I cannot speak to JD and NH but I am quite familiar wirh Kubota. Kubota generally uses couplers with female NPT ports and hoses with JIC female swivels. There are exceptions.

For direct hose connections the hoses have male NPT ends that screw into the couplers with PTFE tape.

The couplers shown in the OP's picture are bulkhead mounted using a male JIC to male NPT bulkhead fitting. The hose has a female JIC swivel that attaches to the male JIC side of the bulk head fitting and the coupler has a female NPT port that screws into the male NPT end of the bulkhead fitting.

Couplers on loader valves have female NPT ports that connect to hoses with male NPT ends. Valves have female ORB ports, valve mounted nipples have female NPT ports, and they are mounted using male ORB x male NPT adapters.

Aside from the high dollar remote couplers and sectional valves on the larger M series machines I have never seen Kubota use JIC or ORB couplers. I really wish they would but the dont.

I am not from Missouri but please show me all of these JIC/ORB/ORFS couplers on your Kubota machines.

Dan