danktx
Bronze Member
I didn't have any remotes available on my Kubota 3940. But I did have the PB loop used to power the backhoe. I recently purchased an EA Wicked Grapple, and I wanted the grapple control on the loader joystick. My solution was to mount 2 solenoid valves, 1 for the grapple and one for future use. The fluid flow is from pump, to loader, to backhoe (when installed), now solenoids, then 3 point, and finally the tank.
I looked all over the tractor for a place to mount the solenoid manifold but in the end I mounted them to the ROPS so I would not need to disassemble the tractor. I mounted a 4" wide piece of 11 gauge using 4 tapped holes in the ROPS. This position also allows the hoses from the work ports to go down between the ROPS and the toolbox behind the seat. Access to the tractor toolbox dictated the height of the valves. You can see I only have one valve wired so far.
First thing of interest. When I went looking for a switch handle for the loader I about had a heart attack when I was quoted prices. So I made one out of a piece of scrap 2X6. The loader stick is just over half inch in diameter so I drilled a 1/2" hole and forced it on to the stick and so far it hasn't moved. I used a spiral bit in a Dremel tool to cut a 2 and a 1/4" deep hole in the end grain of the wood for the switch. The depth of the hole was determined by the switch body and the spade connectors. Once I got it to the shape I wanted, I primed and painted it. The first switch I used started acting up the second time I used the grapple. I replaced it with a marine grade switch and haven't had any problems since.
I ran 1/4" hoses from the rear of the tractor to the front of the loader by tying them to other hydraulic lines. The hoses are protected by the BH frame and the steel lines they are tied to so there is little chance of snagging them.
Which brings me to the second thing of interest. The mount for the QD's on the loader. When I investigated the method of mounting the QD's I found the bulkhead fittings plus all the thread adapters were pretty spendy so my solution was to use weld on hose mounts, about $3 apiece. I measured the QD bodies and found weld on hose mounts of the appropriate diameter. Much cheaper than using bulkhead fittings. Except for the color possibly causing tractor rejection they've worked well.
The only change left to make to the existing configuration is to get the 1 ft hoses I used between the manifold and the work ports QD's shortened. If the release ring on the QD's were just below the cross bar I think that would be ideal.
It may not be the cleanest install but service will be easy and makes the grapple a joy to use.
DANK
I looked all over the tractor for a place to mount the solenoid manifold but in the end I mounted them to the ROPS so I would not need to disassemble the tractor. I mounted a 4" wide piece of 11 gauge using 4 tapped holes in the ROPS. This position also allows the hoses from the work ports to go down between the ROPS and the toolbox behind the seat. Access to the tractor toolbox dictated the height of the valves. You can see I only have one valve wired so far.
First thing of interest. When I went looking for a switch handle for the loader I about had a heart attack when I was quoted prices. So I made one out of a piece of scrap 2X6. The loader stick is just over half inch in diameter so I drilled a 1/2" hole and forced it on to the stick and so far it hasn't moved. I used a spiral bit in a Dremel tool to cut a 2 and a 1/4" deep hole in the end grain of the wood for the switch. The depth of the hole was determined by the switch body and the spade connectors. Once I got it to the shape I wanted, I primed and painted it. The first switch I used started acting up the second time I used the grapple. I replaced it with a marine grade switch and haven't had any problems since.
I ran 1/4" hoses from the rear of the tractor to the front of the loader by tying them to other hydraulic lines. The hoses are protected by the BH frame and the steel lines they are tied to so there is little chance of snagging them.
Which brings me to the second thing of interest. The mount for the QD's on the loader. When I investigated the method of mounting the QD's I found the bulkhead fittings plus all the thread adapters were pretty spendy so my solution was to use weld on hose mounts, about $3 apiece. I measured the QD bodies and found weld on hose mounts of the appropriate diameter. Much cheaper than using bulkhead fittings. Except for the color possibly causing tractor rejection they've worked well.
The only change left to make to the existing configuration is to get the 1 ft hoses I used between the manifold and the work ports QD's shortened. If the release ring on the QD's were just below the cross bar I think that would be ideal.
It may not be the cleanest install but service will be easy and makes the grapple a joy to use.
DANK
