How to Hook Up Hydraulic Hoses
Simply put, hydraulics is a method of producing power through the movement of liquid. When a liquid is confined in a system, the force of the movement of the liquid can transmit power, multiply force or produce motion. Hydraulic hoses are used in many machines and engines to contain and direct liquid (i.e. brake fluid, clutch fluid). Making sure you hook up hydraulic hoses properly is key to the hydraulic system working correctly. A poor connection will create a vacuum seal that will lessen the effectiveness of your hydraulics.
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Instructions
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1
Make sure there is no debris in the receiving connector where you need to hook up your hydraulic hose and that any required fluid is at the proper level. For example, before you hook up a hydraulic clutch hose to the master clutch cylinder of your car, you need to make sure there is no debris in the connection where you will place the hose and that there is enough clutch fluid in the reservoir to prevent an air bubble from forming during the connection.
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2
Insert the hydraulic hose fitting into the receiving connector. The fitting is the metal line and nut crimped on to the end of the hose. The metal line has a specific shape at the end called a flare. These flares are designed to mate with the receiving connector to form a seal. The nut on the fitting looks like a kind of nipple with one end being a typical nut shape and the other being a threaded nipple that slides over the metal line.
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Hold the hose steady so the metal line of the fitting goes straight into the receiving connector, and hand tighten the locking nut into the receiving connector.
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Use a crescent wrench to tighten the locking nut into the receiving connector. No threads on the nipple of the locking nut should be visible when you are done tightening.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't worry if the flare of your hydraulic fitting does not mate perfectly into the receiving connector. The flare is made of a soft enough metal that, as you tighten the fitting, it will mold to mate and form a perfect seal to the receiving connector.
Always test your lines by briefly allowing them to be under pressure after connecting your hydraulic hoses. A hydraulic hose connection that fails can shoot backward off the connector at high speed while spraying fluid and can cause serious damage to material, machinery or people.
