Need remote advice on L5030 w Cab

[JoeR]

I was looking around TBN and found that some of the members have some really nice front remote setups. Skypup has a really nice ergonomic handle to control a grapple on his. (I was looking at the pictures). So, I called the local Kubota dealer, and he said they didn't have a kit like that for the 5030 with cab, but he recommended rear remotes and run lines to the front grapple along with a control switch near the 3pt control. Although, this makes me think operating my grapple would be a little cumbersome since I would have to let go of the loader control to hit the grapple switch. Is this correct? The cab models can't have the nice setup like the non cab models? Overall the price tag for rear remotes with all the hydraulic cables to the grapple and quick disconnects would cost me around $800.00 installed.



Thanks,

Joe

 

[texbaylea]

JoeR

I control the grapple on my L3130 with a rear remote. I don't find it to be a chore to move my hand to operate the grapple. With the fender mounted joy stick the movement would be even less to operate the remote. The added time would be a few seconds. Also I have never found myself in a situation where I had to move the FEL and operate the grapple at the same time.

Vernon

 

[slowzuki]

Many aftermarket manufacturers provide switches and matching divertor valves for grapples that mount right on the joystick.

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

Joe:

I highly recommend that if you are going to be using your grapple a lot, and I imagine you would be, that you are very correct that it will be cumbersome to use without a hydraulic solenoid/electric joystick setup. It should be a simple matter to replace your existing joystick handle with one that has a thumb-operated rocker switch that controls an electric/hydraulic solenoid that moves the grapple cylinders.

I cannot tell you how convenient it is to be able to operate the grapple without taking my hand off the loader joystick. I am constantly operating the grapple and loader functions at the same time.

I just posted the attached photo to the thread "5030 "skidder" pics". It shows how my non-cab 5030 is set up. I know you have a cab model, in which the loader valve is "fly by cable", but I don't think that makes any difference. Just run the wires from the new joystick w/ rocker switch to the solenoid, which you can mount almost anywhere.

I can give you all the part numbers, mfr's etc. You will probably need a different joystick for ergonomics' sake, but I'm sure one's available that will be just right.

I can't urge you strongly enough to go this way, it is a joy.

 

[FL_Cracker]

Don't settle for that set up. Talk to another dealer who has a better back ground in hydraulics. Mason Tractor in Blue Ridge, GA took the Kubota handle off my FEL and installed a handle from a Speedy Loader. Then they added a diverter valve at the rear FEL support and tied it in to the hydraulic system and that gives me push botton control of my grapple.

Pictures are attached to see the set up. If you need more info about Mason Tractor PM and I'll fill you in.

Good Luck,

Charles

 

[FL_Cracker]

Picture #2

 

[FL_Cracker]

Next Picture of the diverter valve.

 

[FL_Cracker]

Last picture of tie in location.

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( that gives me push button control of my grapple )</font>

Hi Charles - I must have skipped my Ginko Biloba this morning - could you please describe exactly what buttons get pushed to open and close the grapple, then go back to the regular loader function, and what if any loader function (raise, curl) gets "diverted" when you're using the grapple?

 

[FL_Cracker]

If you look at the picture that I call picture #2 you can see the two buttons on the front side of the FEL handle. The top button closes the grapple and the bottom button opens it. These are electric switches that control the electric diverter valve in picture #3. They are connected into the main oil supply for the FEL so it doesn't divert any function it just takes from the available oil supply. So if I'm raising the boom and push one of the buttoms the oil is split between boom up and grapple open and both functions slow down. In my last picture you can see where the lines tie into the tractor. Now when I remove my FEL I have to disconnect the four factory lines plus the two new remote lines they added. It works great it's just a litte hard to show all the plumbing with pictures.

Hope that helps.

Charles