Making your own Hydraulic Hoses

[Fritz Maurer]

May I ask where you get the Thimbles { hydraulic Ferrules ] ;This is what I want to do for some of my fittings

Last place I saw them was Baum Hydraulics. Haven't been looking lately because it's pretty easy to make many of them out of steel conduit. I roll one end closed and drill it out to fit over the step on the fitting.


For oddball sizes not covered by the conduit, I just carve them out of any tubing that's handy. There are easier ways I guess, but for me the thrill is seeing the chips fly.

Shown is 1/2" electrical conduit on 1/4" hose with M14 JIC . Those little devils were 15$ each and I had a lot of them.... which is how I got started in doing my own crimping.

 

[Brokengun]

I get mine from Discount Hydraulic Hose, they call them crimp collars (I think that's what you're looking for anyway).
Crimp Collars

Thank You for your reply. Those are crimp collars used to reinforce hydraulic hoses so they can be held in holders; they are not Ferrules to be used for hose ends.

 

[Andy Wickiser]

Thank You for your reply. Those are crimp collars used to reinforce hydraulic hoses so they can be held in holders; they are not Ferrules to be used for hose ends.

They are the right diameter, thickness, and material as the crimp section of common fittings, at least for Weatherhead U-Series, so I have used them to crimp new hose onto old, odd, unobtainable fittings. It's not ideal but it has worked for me.

 

[Russ from MN]

I repaired many hydraulic hose that had the no-skive fitting on the Prentice Log Loader that I operated. All you need is two adjustable wrenches and a axe. You to make sure that you gave the hose a darn good swing to cut thru in one hit.

That's what we had, a Prentice! And we visited the factory at Prentice WI once. Are they still in business? When I tried to go to their website, I drew a blank.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Most new fittings have a sleeve already on the outside of the fitting to just crimp with your dies so how would one save anything with that and why risk it coming off or blowing out . We had the local Deere dealer make a hose for the combine and it blew out the hose in about a year so we had to have a new one made. IT has held so far. IF it blows out of the fitting again I would probably look for a different place to do it but those are probably one of those stupid metric hoses so would be harder to solve around here.

 

[Texasmark]

The one universal truth of making your own hydraulic hoses is, if you need a fitting, you won't have it.

That holds true for tools too.......but I think, after 45+ years of doing my own work, I have an upper hand with that problem......thanks to HF and my torch and 5" vise.

 

[DWF]

That's what we had, a Prentice! And we visited the factory at Prentice WI once. Are they still in business? When I tried to go to their website, I drew a blank.

Prentice loaders were bought out by Cat quite a few years ago. Cat loaders are now called Weiler.
DWF

 

[Brokengun]

Pacific Northwest Hillbilly (Youtube) does a good job of reviewing an inexpensive unit he bought if you search his videos.

I found the Pacific Northwest Hillbilly youtube channel and the video you referenced; it was very helpful.

Thank You

 

[Fritz Maurer]

I repaired many hydraulic hose that had the no-skive fitting on the Prentice Log Loader that I operated. All you need is two adjustable wrenches and a axe. You to make sure that you gave the hose a darn good swing to cut thru in one hit.

Are you guys talking about reusable fittings that screw together? You'll hear no criticism from me. I love those things.

I once asked a repair shop what he would take for a barrel full of blown hydraulic hoses. He said, " Take all you want. What do you want with that junk?"
Most of them were reusable ends.

 

[WilBury]

Are you guys talking about reusable fittings that screw together? You'll hear no criticism from me. I love those things.

I once asked a repair shop what he would take for a barrel full of blown hydraulic hoses. He said, " Take all you want. What do you want with that junk?"
Most of them were reusable ends.

My only problem with those ends is I could never remember which hose to use or skive, otherwise good for 2000 lbs no problem.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

My only problem with those ends is I could never remember which hose to use or skive, otherwise good for 2000 lbs no problem.

The way I use them, is if the thimble fits the hose, run with it. The only ones I skive are those where there is no way the thimble will start on the hose due to the excess OD.

 

[WilBury]

The way I use them, is if the thimble fits the hose, run with it. The only ones I skive are those where there is no way the thimble will start on the hose due to the excess OD.

I think it takes an experienced hand to make one that doesn't weep. Plenty of variations in hose wrap.