I just purchased the thumb and the 3rd function kit as mentioned by jbf43. Will see how it installs.
Congrats on the purchase....but incase anyone else is following I'll do some explaining.
There are 4 common ways to power a grapple and I'll Go over those.
1. You can simply use long hoses and rear remotes if you have them. IF you have rear remotes already this is the cheapest and simplest option cause all it requires are a couple hoses the length of the tractor, and your choice of quick couplers for the grapple. But this isnt ergonomic on most tractors but it depends on the location of your remote valve lever. If its beside the seat like mine....makes it kinda awkward to take your hand off the loader joystick and reach beside the seat for the lever everytime you want to open/close the grapple.
2. Next easiest is a diverter. Its simply an electric controlled solenoid valve that can divert either the raise/lower function or the curl/dump function. So your loader joystick works just as it always has, but you add a button to it. You press the button, and move the joystick to whatever function you are diverting controls the grapple. On mine I choose raise/lower. So raise/lower works normal....but push the button and move the joystick to raise/lower now moves the grapple instead. These are a little easier to install than a 3rd because they require fewer hoses, and you dont have to get hung up on understanding things like power beyond.
3. An electric 3rd function. Also requires power and either two buttons or a rocker switch on the joystick. These are plumbed in series with the loader valve, either before, or immediately after off the loaders PB port. These are the ones that are either ON/OFF. So alot more difficult to grapple "delicately" because you have no manual valve to feather the speed.
4. A manual 3rd function. This is another manual valve with a lever. These require an extra hose vs the electric 3rd's because they need a PB cartridge of their own. And your hand also has to leave the loader joystick to grab the 3rd valve....wherever you have located it. They do make loader joystick valves with this already built into it in the same casting too....so thats always an option. And you do have feathering ability because it is a manual valve. While more ergonomic than tying to the remotes because lever placement can be much closer to the loader joystick....it still isnt as good as a simple button on the joystick. So the most common methods people use are #2 and #3
Everyone gets hung up on a diverter....and being unable to do all 3 functions at once. But in reality it really isnt a hinderance....becauase trying to
do all 3 functions at once is complicated, and with limited hydraulic flow anyway.....you slow everything down. IE: you can do a single function at a time at 100% speed, or you can do 2 at a time at 50% speed, or you can do all 3 at 33.3% speed......You dont really gain anything. And after hundreds of hours on the seat with a diverter grapple....I can honestly say I have never wished I could raise and lower my loader at the same time I am opening and closing the lid of the grapple
www.loaders.com
