If you have QD's on the remote valve the work ports are blocked from use the valve will go into relief.
If you plug a SA cyl into a DA valves work port A, the fluid is blocked from work port B.
In order to let the fluid out of work port A, the valve must go into relief using work port B, then the fluid will exit out of work port A.
Normally when using a SA cyl on a DA valve, you have to plug the other work port. If you have QD's that function is satisfied.
The other way to use a SA cyl on a DA valve is to run a hose from the other work port to tank, and that will let the fluid exit the cyl.
Did you say you have float on the remote valve.
If so , you could use the float mode to let the cyl retract as all ports are open to tank.
To use float on a DA valve and a SA cyl in work port A. you have to snap it into float quickly or it will go into relief.
So it really depends on how you have it set up.
I am not understanding how the valve works when cold and not hot when using only one work port.
The valve should go into relief with a closed QD on the other work port. The fluid should enter and exit the same work port unless you run the B work port to tank..
You might try this.. Make up a hose to plug into the B work port QD and run the other end of the hose to tank or another return hose.
If you are using B port to feed the cyl, then to retract the SA cyl, you should go into float. When fully retracted, then snap it back to neutral.
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