I work for a Kubota dealer so I hope I can shed some light on this topic. Both the 3&4 way vavles mount the same way on the tractors. Visually they look almost identical (the end caps on the 4 way are the same length on the 3 way one is shorter than the other) If you dont have any front implements then both vavles stay on the FEL if FEL is removed from tractor by means of the quick detach pins . Now if you have a snow blower,angle blade, or sweeper for the front then removal of the loader is different because the upright w/vavle needs to stay attached.
The reason 3 way vavle does not work with these front implements is because it has a regenerative circuit (R.C.)which is different from the old vavles. When you dump your bucket, the hyd. oil on the rod end leaves the cylinder faster than the vavle can fill the base end of the cylinder (especially true when bucket is full as gravity makes it dump faster)So you end up with is a loose bucket and usually a slight lag when you go to curl back. So the new vavles with R.C., regenerate the oil from the rod end into the base end when you dump the bucket which prevents lag and loose bucket.The ports on the vavle are specific as to which end of the cylinder they go to (rod end or base end) If you dont believe me try swapping the hoses at the vavle (quick couplers) and you will see that the loader will lock up. So this type of vavle can not run hyd. motors (only one direction) or it can not work with cylinders that are moving in the opposite direction like on the angle blade (one is going in as the other is going out).
The reason that the 4 way vavle is needed is because in the fast dump position there is no regenerative circuit.
Kevinj. I do agree that this does not follow what we have always been taught about Hyd vavles but this is how it works now in the new and improved world. Ha-Ha. I also think Kubota should just use the 4 ways from the begining and nobody would have to worry about it.
I hope this helps. J.D. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif