I'm looking at a MF 1835M and want to add a Green Machine grapple bucket thumb. The dealer told me via email that I need to add an additional valve to operate it. Is there a particular type of valve I should ask for? I don't know where it would be activated from. Is there a standard mount for it? A lever? A button?
I call it a "front remote" or "3rd function". Where ever it is, it's just an extra valve controlled remote pressure outlet and return. Your main loader valve normally has two functions - either via two levers or one lever moving in two directions. These two functions are used to raise and lower the loader arms and to curl and uncurl the bucket. Both directions are hydraulically powered by reversing the direction of flow into the hydraulic cylinders.
There are main loader control valves with more than two levers. For example it is fairly common to have three levers instead of two, and the third lever would work a grapple or anything you wanted. Backhoes have as many as 6 levers... or more. But if you already have a front loader and it just has the standard two functions you would add another valve to the circuit to run the grapple. The valve could be a manual valve, or it could be a solenoid-actuated electric valve.
Which one you choose is just a matter of convenience. Just ask what the valving options are for to run an additional front attachment. And the shop will take it from there.
They may call it a 3rd function valve, or a front remote, or a grapple valve. But what you want is a user-selectable valve that has 2-way flow so you can use it to both extend and retract a hydraulic cylinder.
The only other type of valve is a "one way flow only". Usually for hydraulic motors for mowers or snowblowers. Both typically take a LOT of hydraulic flow
As fruitcakesa says, if you have remote valves on the rear you could use one of those simply by running longer hoses to the front.
In fact, I do something similar on our old JD, I power the entire FEL from the rear by way of an extra factory hydraulic outlet back there. Hoses go from the back of a very long tractor all the way up to the loader control valve. From there is is all standard.
Bottom line is that you do want at least one hydraulic remote outlet somewhere on the tractor. And it is handy to have a more than one both front and rear. But you can always pipe it to where it is needed.
rScotty
