DiezNutz
Veteran Member
Well, there isn't any "wrong" answer here, and I don't want to poo-poo your dealer......He said that it had been his experience that the PTO pump (with the L3400) provided more power and better response than the tractor hydraulics.
But the "more power and better response" reasoning is questionable advice... that's a new one. The only thing the BH needs from the pump is flow at a rated pressure. The flow rate determines the "response". The BH80-X is designed for 5-7 gpm, your implement loop provides 6.3 gpm - no problem. The "power" has little to do with the pump, it's determined by the work cylinders and the BH's pressure relief valve. In no case is my tractor pump the limiting factor. Most people don't even operate them at the rated flow much of the time, because the boom moves too fast.
What I'm trying to say is, you really would not be able to tell the difference between your tractor's hydraulics and your PTO pump. The primary reason they even offer a PTO pump is for older tractors that cannot generate the required flow/sustain pressure; that's not your or my modern tractor.
This is a better argument, you're not the only one who has said that. The only thing I would offer is consider this: All of the fluid running through the work circuits has been filtered (at the HST sump). If you have a FEL, it is running off of the "tractor hydraulics". If your BH was plumbed into the tractor, it would be in the loop with the FEL. So... if it's OK for the FEL, why wouldn't it be OK for the BH? Are we to think the hydraulics of the BH are somehow dirtier than everything else? There are more cylinders, but only one, at most two, are doing anything at a time; the "waste" fluid simply goes back to be re-filtered.I also like the idea of keeping implement fluids isolated from the tractor hydraulics... maybe an unreasonable concern on my part.
Sorry, not trying to tell you what you should do differently. Just seems there's a situation where it looks you're dealing with a lot of inconvenience, and it's perhaps for zero or little benefit. It's just unfortunate to me that you don't want to use your BH more because of it ; it's a great machine.
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