Well, I did it! After trying several methods to secure the blown hydraulic line back onto the fitting to avoid the costly repair, I found a solution. Realize that I did this today, refilled the hydraulic oil reservoir, exercised the top a couple times and filled it to the operating level and have put it up and down twice since then today and it hasn't leaked or blown back off after, say, six cycles. Here it is:
First thing is to take the hose connection fitting off of the hydraulic piston and cut the outside sleeve off of the fitting where the hose connected-obviously this does not mean the whole end, you will need to fit the hose back on its proper connection. Then you can see the male part of the fitting where the hose goes back on. I took a TV cable connector, which is made up of an inner sleeve, outer sleeve and nut fixture. From the nut end, I drilled out the inner sleeve so I just had the outer sleeve to work with. I bought a GOOD, Heavy pair of crimpers that are designed for those fittings, slid the sleeve onto the hose, slid the hose back onto the hydraulic fitting and slid the sleeve up to the hydraulic fitting and crimped the sleeve to secure the hose to the hydraulic fitting then installed the hydraulic fitting back to its proper position. Hey, this works, try it. You can get the cable fittings and associated crimpers at Radio Shack or something. I will repost if this connection fails. I am so stoked. I haven't put the top down for months and I was able to go for a super fall road trip to Fryeburg Fair with friends today!!
First thing is to take the hose connection fitting off of the hydraulic piston and cut the outside sleeve off of the fitting where the hose connected-obviously this does not mean the whole end, you will need to fit the hose back on its proper connection. Then you can see the male part of the fitting where the hose goes back on. I took a TV cable connector, which is made up of an inner sleeve, outer sleeve and nut fixture. From the nut end, I drilled out the inner sleeve so I just had the outer sleeve to work with. I bought a GOOD, Heavy pair of crimpers that are designed for those fittings, slid the sleeve onto the hose, slid the hose back onto the hydraulic fitting and slid the sleeve up to the hydraulic fitting and crimped the sleeve to secure the hose to the hydraulic fitting then installed the hydraulic fitting back to its proper position. Hey, this works, try it. You can get the cable fittings and associated crimpers at Radio Shack or something. I will repost if this connection fails. I am so stoked. I haven't put the top down for months and I was able to go for a super fall road trip to Fryeburg Fair with friends today!!