Free Hydraulic Hose and Fitting Assembly and Crimping
When you bring your damaged or broken hydraulic hose into an O’Reilly Auto Parts location, our team members will match the fittings and cut the new hydraulic hose to length to ensure the new hose assembly is an exact replacement.
Many service trucks and hydraulic hose houses charge per crimp when building custom hydraulic hoses. They may charge ten dollars or more per crimp, which can add large costs to a custom hose. At O’Reilly Auto Parts, we offer assembly and crimping of hydraulic hoses as a free service when you purchase your hose and fittings in-store.
As a safety precaution and under the recommendation of the manufacturer, we cannot crimp a new fitting on an old hydraulic hose. If a new fitting is crimped on a used hydraulic hose, it may not crimp correctly or may damage the hose, and this may create a weak connection that could allow the fitting to separate from the hose while under pressure. Gates hydraulic hose fittings are designed for use with only new Gates hydraulic hoses, and our team members would be happy to build you a custom hydraulic hose to fit your needs.
Gates Hydraulic Hose and Fittings
O’Reilly Auto Parts builds custom hydraulic hoses using Gates Hydraulic hose and Gates Hydraulic fittings. We carry Gates MXT, 4-wire, and non-conductive hydraulic hose, and can even special-order hydraulic hose for your application. We also offer Gates one-piece Megacrimp couplings to be used with 2-wire and MXT hoses, and two-piece Globalspiral couplings used for 4-, 6-, and 8-wire hoses.
Symptoms of Damaged Hydraulic Hoses
Hydraulic hoses will wear out over time, just like the other moving parts on your equipment. Depending on the hose routing of your system, hoses may have tight bends, kinks, or rub against a surface on the equipment, which can cause both internal and external damage to the hose. Hose angles may also affect the hose fittings or the crimps which hold the fitting to the hose. Regular hydraulic hose inspection is recommended to help you prevent any catastrophic hose failure that may leave your equipment down for an extended period of time.
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Damaged Hydraulic Hose Cover
Cause: The outer cover of the hydraulic hose is rubbing against a surface or sharp edge.
Result: The constant friction eventually exposes the internal wire reinforcement. This weakens the structure of the hose and reduces its ability to withstand pressure. If the wires begin to break, the hose can fail catastrophically, losing all pressure. This can stop equipment from working and may require a mobile service call or replacement hydraulic hose to fix. -
Internal Hydraulic Hose Damage from Kinking
Cause: Hoses that are installed with tight bends or kinks can develop unseen internal damage.
Result: The pulsing of the hydraulic system causes these weak points to flex repeatedly. This constant movement weakens the hose's internal layers, significantly shortening its lifespan and increasing the risk of a sudden failure. -
Leaking Hydraulic Hoses or Fittings
Cause: The connection where the fitting is crimped to the hose is often the weakest point. Gates fittings and hoses are designed to work together and are built for durability, with a life expectancy of up to 1,000,000 impulse cycles. However, the crimping process itself can create a weak point in the hose's wire reinforcement over time.
Result: While a sudden failure can happen, many hoses will begin to leak at the fitting before a complete failure occurs. This is why regular inspections are critical for identifying and replacing hoses before they fail.
Can I Build Hydraulic Hoses Myself?
At O’Reilly Auto Parts, we are ready to provide you with the solution for your hydraulic hose needs. However, if you find that you regularly need to replace hydraulic hoses on your equipment, purchasing your own hydraulic hose-crimping machine may be a good option to minimize downtime. Without the right equipment, it is impossible to correctly crimp the fitting end to the hose, and hydraulic hoses will fail almost instantaneously under the pressure in the system.
If you feel that building your own hydraulic hoses is the best option to maintain your equipment, we can help. Our team can work with you to determine the best hydraulic hose crimping equipment, as well as building a custom hydraulic hose and fitting inventory to keep your equipment operating smoothly.
What Types of Equipment can Hydraulic Hoses be Built For?
Equipment with hydraulic systems are commonly used in construction, agricultural, and industrial applications. Hydraulic hoses can be found on tractors, excavators, bulldozers, loaders, and more. O’Reilly Auto Parts has over 1,400 locations where custom-made hydraulic hoses can be assembled for nearly any of these applications.
Don’t Forget The Hydraulic Fluid
When a hydraulic hose breaks, a large amount of hydraulic fluid can leak out of the hydraulic system. You can find the hydraulic fluid you need to refill your system at O’Reilly Auto Parts. We carry premium tractor hydraulic fluid, non-conductive fluid, and viscosity-specific hydraulic oil such as AW-32, AW-46, and AW-68. We also carry hydraulic fluid specifically designed for turf maintenance equipment that will not kill or discolor grass. Hydraulic fluids are available in 1, 5, and 55 gallon quantities depending on how much you typically use. We also carry oil absorbents to clean up any hydraulic fluid that may have spilled during the failure or replacement of the hydraulic hose. Trust O’Reilly for all of your hydraulic hose, fluid, and equipment needs, and ask our parts professionals about our O’Reilly in-store hydraulic hose service today.
O’Reilly Auto Parts’ FREE Store Services
Along with custom hydraulic hose service, O’Reilly Auto Parts also provides several other free store services including Check Engine light testing, alternator and starter testing, wiper blade installation, headlight bulb installation, and fluid and battery recycling. Stop by your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store today to learn more about our store services.