A question about hydraulics and hoses

We have a 63/64 Ford 4000 industrial backhoe tractor, with 1168/F9 backhoe....and the backhoe's hoses need replaced. Before I get into that, I have some questions about hose sizes ect...

So first off, the hoses the previous onwers have in the hoe are huge. Going to the control block from the pump, I can understand they are probably suppose to be large diameter hoses. The hoses running from the controller to the cylinders are also large diameter hoses, but the hoses going into the cylinders are generally much smaller. I replaced a couple already, and they were 1/2. They joined up with those much bigger lines from the controller via some hard steel lines and reducers in some places.

So you have this going on;

controller --[]========[]----------- cylinder

They seem to have a 1/2"or smaller port on the controller going into a 3/4 or 1" hose adapter, into a large diameter hose, that is reduced down to 1/2" or so going to the cylinder.

I can clear that up with pics if needed...


My first question is, do I have to use these big fat lines coming from the controller that reduce down to 1/2", or can I simply run a whole one piece line from the controller to the cylinders that is simply 1/2" or smaller, whatever the cylinder connection may be?

I hope that makes sense...

The old large bore lines that they have going from the controller up inside the boom are a really tight fit, Im not sure how they jambed them in there to begin with.

I guess my simple question is, is there any harm in replacing large bore hydro hoses with smaller (and cheaper) bore hose? I don't care about cutting the speed of the action down, I just don't want to mess anything up and make a mess later.

The connection on the controller that go to the various cylinders on the hoe mostly seem to be smaller than the hoses they have going out of it.

If I could rehose it all with 1/2" line it would not only be cheaper but alot easier to run those hoses where they have to go.

Sorry for the long winded question... lol.

So..does it do any harm to reduce the hydraulic hose size? So long as the diameter is the same as the outgoing port on the controller, and the input port on the cylinders, I dont see it being a problem....but I know very little about hydraulic systems so... here I am. Maybe there is some reason they have it hosed this way, I have no idea.

This post was edited by Nyquil Junkie on 04/22/2022 at 12:11 pm.

1/2 inch hose will be fine. On very long runs, it would matter, but not here.

Very recently I replaced two hoses on my backhoe that
are routed through the boom. They were 1/4 pipe thread
ended. I brazed half of a chain link to a 1/4 half coupling,
which I threaded onto the hose. I used a fish tape to pull
a very strong ribbon cord through the boom, and pulled
the hoses through the crowded boom.

There were.... fat hoses that went from the pump to the controls and from the controls back to the optional front end loader and then back to the sump. These MAIN hoses were sized so that there was enough flow to operate more than one lever at a time... with the hoe, you can raise and swing or curl at the same time...... pending on how the controls are prioritized. You should NOT replace these main hoes with smaller hoses. Once your leave the controls, the hoses are sized by cyl size, and expected smooth digging flow.. usually not nearly as big as the feed and return hoses. Changing these may or may not change the expect speed of the hoe. Sometimes you just have to use what you can get your hands on. On the 4 or six hoses to the boom,,, as they are all but impossible to get to... you need to look at changing any and all hoses that are bad,, and you will need home-made crowsfeet or cut down wrenches to get to them... so if you go in there, get any and all bad ones now. other hoses are much easier to get to and can be changed as needed later.. hope this helps.

suction will always be the biggest hose, return to tank from control is usually one size smaller than suction. then after the control it dont
matter as 1/2 is a very common hose size to the cyl.'s

All that helped a lot.. thanks.

The hoe on this one has its own pump bolted to the PTO shaft. The loader has its own pump bolted to the front of the engine. The hoe has a tank mounted on one fender.

I agree, if I go in there to replace one, I'll replace them all. The ones that run up the bottom of the boom are gonna be a bear....so its a job I dont want to repeat anytime soon.

The loader is rigged in a similar way with the hoses, the ones going out of the controller are big thick hoses, for about 2 feet, then they reduce down to 1/2" steel line then those connect to 1/2" rubber to the cyl. In that case I assume its suppose to be that way, as the outgoing ports to the cylinders are big and match the hoses on there.

Once your leave the controls, the hoses are sized by cyl size, and expected smooth digging flow.. usually not nearly as big as the feed and return hoses.

Click to expand...

That might bet the case, I will have to get in there and see what hose goes where. The boom cyl is a big one relative to the others.

Am I safe to go on the logic then that the size of the hose should match the size of the port on the cylinder? I will guess that the port on the controller for that cylinder would also be the same size.

I will have to check that one. I'm pretty sure all of the outgoing ports on the controller are 1/2".

Thanks for the help.

i dont know what pressure your dealing with on that. but double braided is pretty common also and 4 braided is for a high pressure. dont
know if you are making them or having a shop make them. as for the boom you might need 7/8 hose.

oops meant 3/4

I only replace hoses as needed.
Better check the price first.
I get my hoses made at hydraulic shop.
They need to be the same length.
Some hoses may have metric, sae, or
British threads.

Replace the hoses with the same size. Hoses were sized based on flow rate and pressure drop. Too small a hose caused reduced pressure and increased heat
buildup. Someone at the factory spent some time sizing the hoses.

Someone at the factory spent some time sizing the hoses.

Click to expand...

Not on this old machine... its been repaired and rehosed probably many times. All the hoses are different colors and condition. Some are 2 shorts made into one long one in places. I doubt there are any original hoses on it.

But I get your meaning... put what its suppose to have on it. But the thing is so old, who knows what was replaced with the correct hoses?[/quote]

I take the old ones to the local Napa, they have a hydraulic hose making room there. They can copy whatever I bring in. On average I pay about $50 a hose. I just rehosed the loader and most of those were 2-3ft long. I got a few hoses at TSC chinesium hoses off the shelf, but I feel better with napa making me parts right there. They look to be much better quality.

As far as I can measure the loader hoses are about 4' long..maybe a bit longer. There are 4 that go up the boom that I need to replace, they are all torn up, but they dont leak yet.

The leak will happen the day I am sitting by the creek in 3" of water clearing out a culvert or something. THEN the hoses will no doubt all blow out at one time making me want to kill myself as I watch an oil slick heads towards 3 other farms and a small town.

I often see #8 (1/2") factory hoses terminated with #10 (5/8") fittings where they connect with valves, cylinders, etc.

And consider getting your worst hoses (like in the boom base where they rub a lot) armored. Cheap compared to replacing.

Constrictions like you describe in those big lines just doesn't seem right.

(quoted from post at 12:55:57 04/23/22)
I take the old ones to the local Napa, they have a hydraulic hose making room there. They can copy whatever I bring in. On average I pay about $50 a hose. I just rehosed the loader and most of those were 2-3ft long. I got a few hoses at TSC chinesium hoses off the shelf, but I feel better with napa making me parts right there. They look to be much better quality.

As far as I can measure the loader hoses are about 4' long..maybe a bit longer. There are 4 that go up the boom that I need to replace, they are all torn up, but they dont leak yet.

The leak will happen the day I am sitting by the creek in 3" of water clearing out a culvert or something. THEN the hoses will no doubt all blow out at one time making me want to kill myself as I watch an oil slick heads towards 3 other farms and a small town.

Click to expand...

You are wise in replacing all of the hoses judging by the your description of the hoses you are working with now. If you don't you will be chasing blown hoses for the rest of your life. And you are right about a hose blowing at the most inopportune time. We have to remember every time we blow a hose we have to replace the oil lost.

We have to remember every time we blow a hose we have to replace the oil lost

Click to expand...

I dont care about the cost of the oil... O care about where the old oil will end up with a blowout.

Like in the creek. Brrrr... kills me to even think about.

I gave the thing a good checking... only 2 of the hoses going out of the controller are one size bigger than the others that look like 1/2". All the offending hoses are actually only about 4" long. Both boom cyl ports are on the bottom end, looks like the hardest part will be getting those off. The others seem within reach. (famous last words eh?)

Am I correct in assuming that with those 2 boom hoses, that are only slightly larger diameter than the rest, it would do no harm in reducing the fittings down to 1/2" hose if that was significantly cheaper to do?

If it makes a difference, I never dig holes with the thing, what I mostly do with the hoe is break up compost piles and clean out clogs and jambs in the creek bed....stuff that takes little effort on the machines part to do. So speed and moving multiple parts of the hoe at once is almost never done. Its about as light a work as you can do.

Also the controller box is leaking in places.... Fro the parts list it seems to be just a bunch of O rings that require replacing. Does someone make repacking kits for these hoes or is it just a matter of.... find a O ring and wiper that best matches/fits and hope its the right ones?