Hydraulic flow restrictors

[Phils]

<font color="blue"> "Switch the hoses on the boom end." </font>

Nope, the problem is the FEL tilt, which is the boom tilt, which is right for the FEL but backwards and unintuitive for the boom. Making the boom movement right makes the FEL movement wrong. Don't wanna have another set of quick disconnects more than I am willing to relearn the boom movement. Small price to pay to have a "lawnmower" than can dig. Before I bought the PT, I had read the posts here that it didn't excel in any one area, but performed more than adequately in MANY areas. I find the little green machine exceeding my expectations just about every time I use it.

The restrictors have been won and paid for, pictures and descriptions will follow their installation.

Phil

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red">I had read the posts here that it didn't excel in any one area, but performed more than adequately in MANY areas. I find the little green machine exceeding my expectations just about every time I use it. </font>

The Swiss Army Knife analogy's been offered on occasion. It will do more chores of different kinds than any other machine, particularly if you want to do a lot of different ones on the same day.

I think we can claim that the PT genuinely excels, however, in loader work or other operations on turf, where nearly any other machine will tear up the grass.

 

[Phils]

<font color="blue">"... the PT genuinely excels, however, in loader work or other operations on turf, where nearly any other machine will tear up the grass." </font>

How true, Charlie! We've had a LOT of rain lately, and the ground is pretty soft. I did much "tractoring" this last weekend and didn't leave any ruts nor did I disturb the new grass starting to grow. The PT gives new meaning to "tread lightly".

Phil

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> Nope, the problem is the FEL tilt, which is the boom tilt, which is right for the FEL but backwards and unintuitive for the boom. Making the boom movement right makes the FEL movement wrong. </font>

OK. Now I understand. Sometimes you gotta hit me with a bigger hammer. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Phils]

Ok, got the restrictors from eBay (less than $15 total for both, inc shipping). Here's a photo of the "before".

 

[Phils]

Got two short hydraulic hoses and installed the restrictors. They perform admirably and do exactly as I'd hoped. There was a miscommunication when I ordered the hoses. I asked for one 6" and one 20", but I didn't specify and the hose people didn't ask: the length of the ends weren't included in what they measured, so both hoses are 2 and a half inches longer than I'd planned. The hoses were less than $15 too, so the entire project was less than $30.

I had to position them differently and ended up with the "crossover" arrangement shown here. That actually is better than my original plans, as now the left knob controls the flow corrosponding to the left movement of the bucket lever.

The flow is controlled from 'off' (no bucket movement) to 'full on' (as it was before installing these) and everywhere in between. They are easy to change from the driver's seat.

Phil

 

[Rip]

Looks good and glad it eased the motions for you. I put one in the lowering circuit for my lift arms as that was causing me a few problems with more and rapid drop than I sometimes wanted.

I may add them to the curl circuit now that I am using forks a bit more and even limited cylinder movement is amplified out at the end of 46" fork tines.

 

[Phils]

I guess that's the "curl" circuit that I put those restrictors in. The "lift" circuit would benefit too, but it looks like more plumbing than I prefer to do so far. The ones I put in were easy -- less than 15 minutes for both. Restricting the "lift" controls would take quite a bit of hydraulic hose extensions and the equivilant engineering, especially to get the valves easily accessible from the drivers seat. It would be nice to restrict the "lift" circuit's down motion for those times I have the stump grinder attached. It takes concentration to keep the grinder's movement slow. Too fast, and it bites into the stump, stops and lifts the relief valve. Maybe I'll do like you and only put it on the lowering circuit, at the point I talk myself into getting another valve.

Phil

 

[J_J]

Nice work. Have you thought about putting a flow restrictor on the input side of the control valve. That would restrict both lift and curl.

 

[Phils]

Actually, JJ, I HADN'T thought of that. Certainly should work, and although the individual movements wouldn't be adjustable, that would still solve these minor annoyances. Of course, now that I've done it this way I'll leave it, maybe adding that one more valve later on for the lift circuit as discusses earlier.

All things considered, it was easier and cheaper than I would've guessed/hoped.

Phil