New to hose work
Learn hydraulic hose repair: start here
A free path for people new to hydraulic hose work. Learn the hose, learn the fittings, learn how an assembly is made, then use the tools and machine data on real jobs.
Hose work has a small core of knowledge that everything else builds on. Once you can read a hose, name a fitting and follow the assembly sequence, the rest is practice.
The path below is in the order most workshops teach it. Each stage links to short lessons. Nothing needs an account.
The learning path
- 1
Understand the hose
What a hose is made of, how it is sized, what codes like 2SN and 4SP mean, how pressure ratings work, and how to read the printing on a hose.
Hose basics →5 lessons - 2
Recognise the fittings
The eight fitting families, how each one seals, and how to tell apart the ones that look alike.
Fitting types →8 families - 3
Learn how an assembly is made
The eight workshop steps from selecting components to labelling the finished hose, with the checks and common mistakes at each step.
Assembly process →8 steps - 4
Work on a real job
Identify a thread from measurements, convert sizes and pressures, calculate cut length, and plan cuts from a reel.
Workshop tools →6 tools - 5
Find the hose for a machine
Look up hose length, end fittings and position by machine model or part number, and follow the repair guides on the machine.
Search hose records →By model or part number
What to be able to do after your first week
- Read a hose layline and state its type, bore and working pressure.
- Tell braided hose from spiral hose at a cut end.
- Convert between dash size, inches and DN without a chart for the common sizes.
- Decide whether a thread is parallel or tapered and find its sealing surface.
- Name JIC, ORFS, BSP and NPT on sight and know that they do not interchange.
- Explain why cut length is shorter than assembly length.
- List the eight assembly steps in order and say what is checked at each one.
Three safety rules before you touch a hose
- Release the pressure first. Lower the attachment, stop the engine and operate the controls to relieve stored pressure before loosening any fitting.
- Never search for a leak with your hand. Oil escaping from a pinhole under pressure can pierce skin; this is a medical emergency. Use a piece of card.
- Wear eye protection and gloves when cutting, crimping and testing, and never stand in line with a hose under test.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start learning hydraulic hose repair?
Start with the hose itself: construction, size, type and pressure rating. Then learn to identify the main fitting families. Then learn the eight-step assembly process. Practise identifying real hoses and fittings alongside an experienced technician.
How long does it take to learn to make hydraulic hoses?
The sequence can be learned in days. Identifying unfamiliar fittings quickly and choosing the right hose for an application takes months of practice on real machines.
What tools does a beginner need to identify hoses and fittings?
Calipers, imperial and metric thread pitch gauges, a seat-angle gauge, a tape measure and a marker. With these you can measure bore, thread diameter, pitch and length.
Is hydraulic oil under pressure dangerous?
Yes. A fine jet of oil under pressure can penetrate skin and cause a serious injection injury that needs immediate hospital treatment. Always release system pressure before working on a hose and never feel for leaks by hand.