Flat face couplers

Is there a trick to get flat faced couplers to hook/unhook easier? Unhooked from grapple OK a few days ago but absolutely would not re-attach this afternoon on my T250. Its like the hoses somehow pressurized themselves just sitting there - unhooked outside since last Monday.
In the 5 years I've owned this it has never completely refused to hook up. Guess I'll have to break open both fittings to bleed out some hydraulic oil?
 
Try shutting the machine off and then working the control . Have to do that on our LX 665 to get hooked up to the post hole auger .
 
I have customers run into this problem all the time. In fact I drove 20 miles the other week to to help a customer that couldn't get his grapple hooked up, and pressure in one line was his problem. Anyway, here's what I tell customers when they are having problems like this, and most say they have never thought to do it. The trick is to hook the two couplers on the grapple/attachment back to each other when you unhook it from the machine. It actually works for any attachment, just for the fact it keeps the ends clean and protected, but for one with moving parts attached to a cylinder it's definitely a good thing since doing so prevents a pressure buildup on either side due to some outside force causing the cylinder to move. Plus, like I said, it has the added benefit of, also protecting the ends of the couplers and insures they are clean when it comes time to hook back to the machine.
 
Finally got the thing to hook after bleeding the return hose on the grapple, fiddling with the toggle control button to find "neutral" and then cycling the pressure release switch a few times. When the fitting finally started to hook I could hear a vacuum/gurgling noise in the Bobcat"s return coupler.
This is a fairly new hose and coupler I just had made up last Monday morning as it always seems something lets go late Sunday afternoons. I"ll try hooking the hoses up together idea. I have been using plastic grocery bags to protect the ends. Thanks to all for your suggestions.
 
I know what you mean on that. With the flat faced ones it always seems to me like something gets out of synch between the locking mechanism and the center faces opening each other that screws things up. Probably not what's actually happening but that's kind of what it looks and feels like to me when one has decided to be stubborn. On the other hand I can't say I know of anyone that has any major problems with the Pioneer style couplers unless they've been left out to rust and the retaining balls get stuck in their cutouts.
 
My quick attach hoe can be a problem no matter what I do. Part of the problem is there isn't a lot of room to work between the Cat and the hoe.
 
Looking after a lot of machinery doing utility work we get regular calls for assistance over those flat face couplings from people who can't get say a rock breaker or some other attachment hooked up when they want to use it,it is always down to the pressure in the lines,the problem starts if the pressure is not relived before they are disconnected,when removing the attachment the engine needs to be stopped,the levers wobbled about to relieve any pressure in the lines and attachment,the coupling then can be parted,the same thing to connect them some attachments like a 4 in 1 bucket can pressurize the lines if the cylinders move as they can act like a pump,the older open male/female coupling were much more reliable,we usually have two old coupling welded to say a rock breaker so when it is disconnected the lines can be plugged into the blanks to keep them clean,tidy and off the ground.
AJ
 
My 5240e Ge3hl has those flat face couplers. Always had trouble with one line. Would shut down, work the pedal. Son figured it out.......need to leave the key turned on after shutting down. Couples fine. Something about a solenoid needing to be activated.
 
Yes. You have probably found, like I have, that moving the controls doesn't always do it anymore. Some of my tractors hydraulics, like combines have long been, won't even drop when turned off.
 
I hate those things.
JD uses them for the return on the vac pump on their planters.
Even when they are situated/located where they cannot be pressurized, they can be a bugger to get hooked together.
 

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