Home brew 3rd function questions

[N2DFire]

I found the write-up I was thinking about where they installed a W.R. Long 3rd function kit.

Check out the first picture in this post and see how the mounted the solenoid off the rear of the tractor. Maybe this is something that will work for you.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/331759-3rd-function-install-summary-dk40se.html#post4052068

 

[ericm979]

I finally got around to testing my tractor and when I am moving the loader the SCVs don't get any flow at all (or at least not enough for the tilt cylinder to raise the box blade). 3pt doesn't get flow either. I think my loader valve sends everything to the tank instead of power beyond. I would prefer a 3rd function for ergonomics. The idea of having to move the curl to position the grapple then
return to center, press the diverter button and move the lever again seems like something I'd have a problem with (like forgetting to center the lever between diverted and not diverted). Having separate controls even if they are buttons makes more sense to me.

But with this loader valve I'd have to stop moving the loader before I could open or close the grapple. With a diverter I could theoretially raise or lower the loader while opening or closing the grapple if I can get my brain to do it. Its too bad the 3rd function wont' work as I found a good place for the valve under the seat where the gear shift would go on a gear model.

I have an email into the dealer to verify how I think the loader works and to double check that the curl doesn't have regen (the factory 3rd function is a diverter so I think not).

I think I can make a clean setup with the diverter by disconnnecting the hard lines from the tees that feed the curl cylinders on each side. Those are out on the loader near the torque tube so I'd only need short hoses to a diverter located out on the torque tube.

 

[N2DFire]

With a diverter I could theoretially raise or lower the loader while opening or closing the grapple if I can get my brain to do it. Its too bad the 3rd function wont' work as I found a good place for the valve under the seat where the gear shift would go on a gear model.

True - in theory.

The definitive answer will come if you try to Raise/Lower the loader and Curl/Dump the bucket at the same time right now.

On our Kioti, this is possible - BUT you have to feather into both functions very lightly and since they are dividing the available fluid flow - both movements are very slow.

I think you're going to find that on tractors this size & with the style/design of the hydraulic systems the only real difference between a 3rd function valve & a diverter valve is going to be in the ergonomics of the controls (and perhaps a little cost difference).

I ended up doing the 3rd function for the exact reasons you stated - it just felt more natural to me to operate that way vs having to move the loader joystick back and forth. Especially since to orient it the way it "makes sense" you would have the joystick pulled one way to dump and pushed the opposite to open the grapple lid. In my mind that's just a lot of back and forth movement & lots of chances for my uncoordinated self to forget to press/release the diverter button.

 

[ericm979]

The definitive answer will come if you try to Raise/Lower the loader and Curl/Dump the bucket at the same time right now.

It does that but not as well as the Kubota I had. If I push the stick all the way into a corner it'll move the loader and curl the bucket at about the same rate. But I can't feather the curl a little as I'm raising or lowering the bucket. Could be I need more practice on this loader- I'm at 72 hours but a lot of that's been chipping mowing and box blading. Not a lot of loader work until recently.

At pto rpm it'll move the loader and curl the bucket together at a reasonable speed. It's got 10.3 gpm.