Hydraulic Valve Question (on chipper)

_M_ · Feb 8, 2007

I have a Wallenstein BX42 with the 420R hydraulic feed hopper. See this site for details if you like:

Wood Chippers

It's new and I've only used it twice so far. The issue I'm having has to do with the control bar that activates the hydraulic feed. The control valve has a detent to keep it in the run position. This is so the operator can throw a limb in the hopper and the feed rolls will pull the entire limb in unattended while the operator gets the next limb ready. The problem is the the vibration from chipping is enough to pop the control valve out of the detented run position and back into neutral. Obviously this negates the main reason for having a hydraulic feed. The way it currently works, I have to hold the control bar back to keep it running. The vibration I described is not excessive. I think the detent doesn't have enough friction or the internal spring is set too strong or weak. I have a call into the dealer already, but while I'm waiting I thought I'd see if anyone knows how to adjust the detent to make it more immune to popping back to neutral (the paper work mentions nothing).

Here are a couple shots of the valve I'm referring to. The arrow in red is where I think the detent adjustment might be, but I don't know what it's for so I haven't messed with it. Any ideas? I already have a call into the dealer, but it's been a few days. They are waiting for info from the distributer. I'll bet several of you are already in the know. Thanks in advance.

MadReferee · Feb 8, 2007

Who is the manufacturer of that motor spool valve? It's probably stamped on the valve somewhere. Since that adjustment appears to be on the spool itself, it could be the adjustment you are looking for. However it might also be the relief valve. ANother candidate for the relief is the plug on the right which may be just a plug of a fixed relief. You really need to find out who made that valve.

kennyd · Feb 8, 2007

That probably is the detent, there should be a spring and a ball in there. What is the make and model of the valve, maybe we can find some info on it?

Farmerford · Feb 8, 2007

Kennyd:
I have never seen a Wallenstein, but that is a very nice looking machine. My Vermeer has only a single motor feed drive and large logs often get hung because the feed roller is only pulling on the top. I bet the double drive system you have solves that problem. How many horsepower do you need to drive it?

I think the valve is a Prince LS 3000 logsplitter valve. A parts diagram is at Hydraulic Monoblock Directional Control Valves. It looks like the detent force can be adjusted. I had a similar problem (with a different make valve) and could not adjust the detent force up enough to hold, and I wound up putting a spring on the bar to take some of the weight off the detent.

MadReferee · Feb 8, 2007

Yep, that looks like the valve. The instruction sheet gives the adjustment instructions for the detent. Good luck.

rback33 · Feb 8, 2007

That is for sure a Prince valve. We see the Made in USA stickers by the thousands. If the adjustment does not work, it may need a new spring. We had some valves from them that were popping out of float while back dragging with the loader. They changed to a stronger spring. Great company to work with. They'll help Wallenstein get you going.

_M_ · Feb 8, 2007

I pulled the valve off the hopper to see the back side. The numbers on the back read C-505. I don't know if that is a model # or not, but it's the closest thing to one on the whole unit. It is a Prince. It says Prince Manufacturing on the sticker. I also agree that it looks like the LS-3000. I'll be making an adjustment to the detent before I start it up again.

Farmerford: The dual rollers were a consideration when I decided on this unit. They work well although it still occasionally needs help with limbs that have thick and wide forking branches. Especially since I'm mostly chipping oak which is rather stout. My tractor puts out 25hp at the PTO. I've fed a long 4" oak limb through it and doesn't even hint at slowing the tractor down.

I'm impressed how quickly you identified my valve and found instructions. Thank you all for the help. I'll let you know how it goes and throw in a couple pictures of my chips etc.