3rd Function Remote

[Dave Mc 19]

Wanting to install 3rd function remote on my Massey Ferguson 1725 TLB to operate a grapple. I stopped my the Massey dealer to see how the hydraulics are installed, The kit that they offer has a manifold block mounted on the cross member up by the bucket, i assume this is because the 1725 does not have a Power Beyond block to tap in to. The kit looked to be superior quality and it should be with the $1300 price tag.

Looking for any info on if there other 3rd function kits available that will work on my 1725?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kracken]

Look at this option, you’ll have to decide if it’ll work for your tractor

Hydraulic Diverter Valve for Tractor Kit- Ask Tractor Mike

This hydraulic diverter valve kit lets you run attachments from the front of your tractor even if you lack hydraulic front ports. Mike explains it all.

asktractormike.com

 

[ericm979]

Third Function Kits - Summit Hydraulics

summit-hydraulics.com

These look pretty good, and are a good price. The joystick handle is a quality part.

 

[dstig1]

There are a couple styles. I went with a diverter as noted by others above. I have a button on the joystick I press and it diverts the Curl/dump function of the FEL to the 3rd function as long as I hold the button down. Only used for my grapple lid so far.

And yes, anything hydraulic is expensive, so don't think you are going to get off cheap unless you luck into some free stuff. I "rolled my own" 10 yrs ago and it was $700-800 total, IIRC. I did have a couple custom hoses made locally so they were a prefect fit and that was quite a chunk of the cost. Prob close to $250-300 just for the pair. And those prices were me doing all the legwork and 10 yrs ago, so...

 

[jwmorris]

I think I need to sell “kits” myself, looks closer to $200 than $700 to me.

View attachment 833591

Maybe the button is the expensive part…

 

[LittleBill21]

artillian tractor sells a diverter kit as well, i just finished installing it on a mahindra max, may just want a 3rd function kit, if not using the loader controls

 

[dstig1]

Well when I did mine, there was less cheap chiwanese junk around like that diverter and I did get a good quality one which was probably 200 at the time. Making hoses to fit was spendy as noted but seemed like a very good idea in this case so that they were tightly routed and secured and wouldn't get caught on anything. Sure you could come up with some cheaper alternatives as you have shown but I wanted a good quality installation and got it. There were a lot more fittings required than what you show too as rerouting the hoses for the diverter was tricky due to tight space. YMMV

 

[jwmorris]

Well when I did mine, there was less cheap chiwanese junk around like that diverter

Fair enough but I did not see “made in the USA” in either of the links above.

If I can sell <$200 worth of goods for $700 though, I’m in. Not so much if I am buying.

That first link doesn’t even include the long (most expensive) hoses. Must be why it’s ”only” $625…

FWIW the reason Chinese stuff is usable these days is because most of our manufacturers off shored their production years ago and they now have that intellectual property. Why every Ford, Chevy, Dodge, TV, microwave and even whatever device you are reading this with, contain parts from the region.

My wife’s Uncle was even involved with John Deere moving all of their casting operations there decades ago.

 

[LittleBill21]

Fair enough but I did not see “made in the USA” in either of the links above.

If I can sell <$200 worth of goods for $700 though, I’m in. Not so much if I am buying.

That first link doesn’t even include the long (most expensive) hoses. Must be why it’s ”only” $625…

FWIW the reason Chinese stuff is usable these days is because most of our manufacturers off shored their production years ago and they now have that intellectual property. Why every Ford, Chevy, Dodge, TV, microwave and even whatever device you are reading this with, contain parts from the region.

My wife’s Uncle was even involved with John Deere moving all of their casting operations there decades ago.

yea, your still missing a bit, all the wiring and switches, mount brackets, quick disconnects, zip ties etc, not to mention those sizes don't remotely guarantee they are going to work for each tractor, people are paying for the research and time put into the kit and instructions as well.....

 

[2manyrocks]

Kubota Remote Hydraulic Kits | TractorInnovations

Tractor Innovations Remote Hydraulic Kits for Kubota Tractors. Custom ready to Plug & Play. Made in USA.

www.tractorinnovations.com

Send pictures of your hose connections/connectors and he may be able to make you a kit using a manual diverter valve if you don't mind that it is manual and not an electric push button to operate.

 

[jwmorris]

yea, your still missing a bit, all the wiring and switches, mount brackets, quick disconnects, zip ties etc, not to mention those sizes don't remotely guarantee they are going to work for each tractor, people are paying for the research and time put into the kit and instructions as well.....

Yeah, your going to need a wire from a fused 12v source going to the solenoid, a ground wire going to a switch and then the solenoid. I probably wouldn’t waste my time with zip ties, probably cough up another $20 for some of these myself.

The FEL probably has QD fitting on it, remove them and put them on the ends of the short hoses from above. That goes to the center ports on the solenoid and back to where they were on the tractor. The 3/8” NPT hose ends that are now bare on the FEL go to one side of the solenoid and your long hoses go to the other and run up front. While your drilling and tapping holes for your hose mount, do 4 more to mount the solenoid to the FEL.

You will need to get what ever QD fittings you want up front. That would depend on what they put on the attachment you use. Also worth noting that first kit linked doesn’t have any of the auxiliary hoses/fittings. So even with a kit, you might have to source some things yourself.

If the hydraulics hoses you are tying into are not already 3/8 NPT, you would want to order different fittings.

 

[onemoa]

Have you checked Summit Hydraulics? I bought a complete 3rd function kit for under $600, but that was for a a Kubota LX2610.

 

[MadJack]

Curious question...
Why the diverter or third function expense? Wouldn't a $125 3-spool valve do the same thing? (close the grapple top)

My 35 year old Ford has a pretty wiggly and tired 2-spool, and I was thinking a 3-spool valve could do the same thing.
(hydraulics newbie here)

 

[sheamus]

I used the Summit 3rd function kit on my Bobcat 2035. It works as advertised. If I did it again, I would go with a diverter though. The 3rd function is so touchy, because your flow is basically 0 or 100%, so it really slams that grapple closed. With a diverter you would have control over the open close speed. It was a couple years ago, but IIRC the diverter kits were easier to come by, and cheaper too.

I am pretty handy mechanically, but I would have spent hours on this forum and youtube figuring things out if it hadn't been for my brother, who had spent a lot of time around hydraulics, as the instructions on the summit kit were pretty generic.

 

[ksJoe]

I think I need to sell “kits” myself, looks closer to $200 than $700 to me.

I recently installed a diverter on my tractor and I saw those. Even in the pictures, the fit & finish of the chinese diverters looks noticeably worse than others. Summit Hydraulics sells European made diverters. They have excellent reviews, and as I understand it are recommended by some (or many?) dealers. They have more of a name reputation at stake than the random Amazon sellers.

So I chose to pay extra to get their kit. A little over $300, with the joystick switch (a large part of the price), wiring harness, and some fittings.

I'm not suggesting its the only or best choice. But its what I decided on after some price shopping.

 

[aesanders]

W.R. Long makes kits for most models. That’s what I got, and it’s a nice setup.

 

[oosik]

I had the Kubota dealer instal a WR Long third function when I bought my grapple. Eleven years and no problems. It's a very "tight" instal and has never caught on anything.

 

[DynamicD]

WR long has good kits. Live 3rd function, tell them make and model of tractor and loader and they can send exactly what you need for complete install.
Im thinking its around $900 but might depend on tractor model.