3rd Function Remote

[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.