New Loader Valve issue... am I on the right track?

[BigBoyinMS]

Like many here I bought one of the Brand Loader valves like SurplusCenter.com sells. Brand's model number is LV22RFSTKAB. The joystick operation was opposite of what I needed so I reversed it according to their information. Also, according to their instructions, the hoses are switched from spool to spool as part of reversing the joystick operation. I think this is where my problem is.
After getting everything installed it seems that everything works... almost. When I push forward the boom lowers but when I go into Float the boom starts raising and when I pull back out of Float it immediately starts back down hard enough to bounce the tractor. I don't have the bucket on but it also seems that there is no Regen. I remember reading of someone else on here with the same issue but I can't find the thread again and I don't think he ever got the problem resolved.
I have no experience with loader valves or hydraulics but after looking over all the instructions it seems that the spools are made differently as far as Float and Regen. Since the joystick control is reversed and the hoses are reversed spool to spool then shouldn't the actual spools have to be swapped in the valve body also? And can they be swapped?
Could someone with a lot more hydraulic knowledge than me take a look at the pics below and see what you think?

 

[kennyd]

I have no experience with loader valves or hydraulics but after looking over all the instructions it seems that the spools are made differently as far as Float and Regen. Since the joystick control is reversed and the hoses are reversed spool to spool then shouldn't the actual spools have to be swapped in the valve body also? And can they be swapped?
Could someone with a lot more hydraulic knowledge than me take a look at the pics below and see what you think?

The spools ARE different. just swapping hoses between the spools will NOT work. Your assumptions are 100% correct. I doubt the spools can be swapped since they are a precise fit into the valve body, and porting will be different in the block for the regen to function properly.

Your best bet is to re-position the valve if at all possible.

 

[J_J]

Maybe this can help you.

http://www.brand-hyd.com/lv/catalog.pdf

 

[oldnslo]

Port identification:
Port A1 connects to dump the bucket
Port B1 connects to curl the bucket

Port A2 connects to lower the loader
Port B2 connects to raise the loader

Changing handle orientation does NOT change the spool function.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I've been looking over everything while I have time here at work and it's pretty obvious to me that Brand thinks the Regen and Float functions are interchangeable. I'll be contacting them just to see what they have to say. I would swap the joystick back and mount it on the opposite side of my bracket but that's where my right knee and gear selector goes. If I use this valve it looks like I'll have to swap the joystick back around and get used to using it in reverse of normal or leave the joystick as is and get used to using it 90 degrees out of normal.
Can a supposedly big company be this off base?

 

[oldnslo]

Does Brand offer a "universal" mounting kit for their joystick? I know that is what I purchased for my prince loader valve and it allows for mounting the valve in all four positions and then use the correct joystick mount to provide the correct operation.

Good Luck

 

[BigBoyinMS]

Does Brand offer a "universal" mounting kit for their joystick? I know that is what I purchased for my prince loader valve and it allows for mounting the valve in all four positions and then use the correct joystick mount to provide the correct operation.

Good Luck

I find nothing on their website that says they do. The mount that comes on it only allows for 180 degrees from stock position.

I've shot an email off to their "chief engineer" explaining what I see and asking for a reply. Hopefully I get a solution and not an excuse.

 

[J_J]

Just make an adapter plate so the valve mounts right and the controls are correct.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

Well, after spending the day emailing back and forth with Brands chief engineer we finally determined that Surplus Center has taken Brands installation instructions and changed them with the wrong info.
I ordered the wrong valve from another company because I first saw Surplus Centers instructions and thought it would be the correct valve. I'm sure that I'm not the first.

I have to say that Jeff at Brand went out of his way to help and he is even sending me an adapter, just as J_J mentioned above, at no charge. (He'll also be contacting Surplus Center.) I guess my only other expense will be all the new hose fittings to connect the hoses correctly.

Thanks, fellas!

 

[BigBoyinMS]

Just an update for any that may look for info later...

This Brand valve cannot be setup to work opposite of the way it's comes no matter what... period. The adapter that I got from Brand was the joystick mounting plate with the anchor on the opposite corner. All that does is correct the direction of the bucket tilt. Boom up and down and float will always be reversed if you mount the valve with the hoses connecting on the right side of the valve.
Guess I'll either have to get used to using the joystick in reverse or fix my old valve.