I Still Don't Get It - Float vs Non Float Valve

[MtnViewRanch]

If you're going to be doing any grading work etc...I bet your "eventually" gets closer to the present every time you have to stop, get off the tractor and make a manual adjustment that with T&T could be done from the seat on the fly...!

This can lead to "it's good enough syndrome" This can be very serious contition. The only cure that I know of is a permanent dose of "T&T".

 

[Arc weld]

Float is like a free wheeling hyd. motor valve. You could make the motor turn clockwise or counter-clockwise but in the neutral position, the motor could still be turned by hand either direction. With a non free wheeling valve, the motor would be locked and not turn until the valve is actuated. Float allows the weight of the attachment to just fall as it may with nothing stopping it from going up or down. The most common use of float is on a front end loader or bulldozer. If you put the lift arms in float, the bucket or blade will raise and lower to follow the ground contour. Especially useful for spreading topsoil or other material. Caution though! Float should only be used on a loader/dozer when driving in reverse. In forward, if you hit something solid there is nothing to stop the cylinders from fully compressing and you could damage them and/or the tractor by slamming the cylinders closed with the full weight of the tractor behind them.

 

[Hdoilcan]

Thanks guys this really helped! I finally understand

 

[Zebrafive]

With hydraulic motors you want a valve with float. You put the valve in float first then connect the hydraulic motor. To start the motor move out of float. To stop the motor move back to float. To reverse the motor you have to reverse the hoses. Doing it this way prevents damage to the motors seals that could happen if you used neutral position to stop the hydraulic motor.
I would get the third in float in case you ever need it.

The SCV levers for my JD6415 have stops for float the you have to move before you can put the levers in float.

 

[Arc weld]

It depends entirely on the type of motor and the application. You don't normally have to change hoses to change direction. There are spool valves designed specifically for Hyd motors that have free wheeling in neutral. You don't have to add a separate float valve. A slow speed motor like on a post hole digger doesn't need free wheeling and can be reversed by just moving the lever the other direction. Something like a hyd drive mower might need free wheeling so it doesn't come to an abrupt stop after spinning so fast.