Hydraulic Valve Question...

[Junkman]

I have a hydraulic valve that has an open center. I need a valve with a closed center. Is there an easy way to modify the valve or do I need to get additional parts from the valve manufacturer. I believe that the valve is made by Prince, but I haven't been able to find any part numbers on it. How can a valve be identified if there are no part numbers on them?

 

[rswyan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have a hydraulic valve that has an open center. I need a valve with a closed center. Is there an easy way to modify the valve or do I need to get additional parts from the valve manufacturer. )</font>
Depends on the type of valve I'd imagine - I know that Prince SV series sectional stack valves (expandable) can be converted to closed center from an open center. Not sure on any others. Requires a conversion plug which is probably available from Prince or a dealer (Surplus Center maybe)

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I believe that the valve is made by Prince, but I haven't been able to find any part numbers on it. How can a valve be identified if there are no part numbers on them? )</font>
Good question - I know that the worksections (minimally) and perhaps the inlet and outlet sections as well (I'd have to look and the valve is up in the shed), have the part numbers stamped into them on my SV series valve. If you don't have any numbers you might try and download the Prince catalog and visually identify your valve.

The valve section only from that catalog can be downloaded here as a 2.1 megabyte Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document:

Prince Catalog Valve Section

Hope this helps.

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I believe that the valve is made by Prince, but I haven't been able to find any part numbers on it. How can a valve be identified if there are no part numbers on them? )</font>

Prince valves usually have the part number stamped on them, at least all the ones I have seem. The stamping may be light and not too visible especially if the valve block has been painted.

A hydraulic shop probably has product catalogs for just about every type of valve. If you got a hydraulic repair shop nearby you could always go and ask them for help in identifying what you have.

Not all valves are convertible from open to closed center, so you really need to identify what you got.

Are you making something that does not use tractor hydraulics or a constantly running pump? Just curious since you need a closed center valve.

 

[slowrev]

Junkman,
Not sure what you are going to use the closed center valve for, but I am assuming that you know not to install it on an open center system.

Ben