Toolcat and crab steer

[laurencen]

been looking at my Toolcat and crab steer, its a pain to setup so anyone tried finding the steering valve for the rear axle and switching the left to right so when the machine thinks its turning left the wheels move right, if this works it would be easy to add a switch to cross the wires from the cab

talked to the service and they are not aware anyone has tried it but that does not mean its never been tried

 

[npartist]

Thanks for starting a new thread on this. Here is the steering valve that I'd think you'd want to mess with. I suppose you could invert the solenoid signal to the rear circuit but I'd have to dive into how it actually commands the rear circuit.

 

[laurencen]

Im still considering just switching the plugs on left and right solenoids so when the signal turns left valve on it moves the right one, service could not advise where the solenoids are located or if it would be this simple, if it is sure would work better than how its done now

 

[Xfaxman]

Looking at the online parts catalog, I think you will have to add a hydraulic valve to swap the flow for the rear steering cylinder.

5600:

My V417 has switched crab steer, it is done with a valve:

 

[npartist]

correct, the steering switch valve on the toolcat basically just turns on and off the flow to the rear cylinder. Switching the electrical connectors would do nothing, I think it would function the same.

 

[SSdoxie]

Changing electrical connections will not do anything regarding changing direction of flow to rear steer cylinder.
when in all wheel steer all 3 stems are activated. The center stem diverts oil to the 2 outer stems (item #2) so oil pass through to the rear cylinder. When in front wheel steer the center stem send oil through to the front cylinder while the 2 outer stems are close to lock oil in rear cylinder to prevent cylinder creep.

 

[Xfaxman]

Another option is to replace the steering valve with one that has crab steer built in.

Looks like Merlo's is hand operated, that wouldn't be easy to do in a Toolcat cab, but the drawing shows the hoses:

Or you could go wild with valves and have rear steer also :

 

[Xfaxman]

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When in front wheel steer the center stem send oil through to the front cylinder while the 2 outer stems are close to lock oil in rear cylinder to prevent cylinder creep.

Front wheel Steer:

 

[laurencen]

was hoping it would be a valve on each axle never is that simple, would a 2 way 4 position valve installed in the rear axle cylinder be the answer, would be the same as switching the hoses

 

[Xfaxman]

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would a 2 way 4 position valve installed in the rear axle cylinder be the answer, would be the same as switching the hoses

Yep, if you can find the right valve.

I have been searching for price info for a valve from a V417 or V519, but no luck. Guess I need to see what the V518 uses.

Edit: The V518 and V638 use the same steering mode valve, PN. 98349-4 as the V417.