OK to routinely activate hydraulic relief valve?

[adlertom]

I have a TC33DA with a Virnig grapple bucket on the front. The bucket weighs 875 lbs empty. I'm mostly using it for brush, however sometimes use it to haul firewood.

The Virnig grapple was used and I got a good deal on it. I suppose if I were buying something new I'd look for something less heavy, but for now this is what I have available to me.

Anyhow, when I get a full load of firewood in the bucket, I can't lift it to full height without activating the hydraulic relief valve. Obviously the solution is to not to haul so much wood, but sometimes, depending on the species of wood, it's hard to guess and I end up throwing on a few logs too many.

My question is, will I cause any damage by routinely activating the hydraulic relief valve? Is this valve designed to function on a regular basis, or is it more of an "occasional use / once in a great while / I saved your butt don't do that again" type of design?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[thcri]

It is designed to pop under the heavy loads. It is a safety device. Will you hurt it? Can't realy answer that, but my guess would be you could weaken the spring after using it many times. But once a day every so often maybe not? Anytime we use something we shorten the life of it.

murph

 

[5030]

I don't think that allowing the system to go on bypass will hurt either the spring tension or anything else for that matter.

I run a roll-off trailer every day and every time I pull my box on, I run the winch cable taut....taut to the point of bypass at 2300 psi. That works out to at least 50 times a week. Actually, the builder suggests the procedure.

Of course my winch rating is 30 tons....a little more than your average CUT.

 

[jinman]

I don't think you will hurt your relief valve at all if you don't keep trying to lift the load after the valve lifts. Holding the system in relief might not hurt the valve, but it will sure make your fluid heat up, and it's hard on the pump to work at maximum pressure for a long time.

One thing to be aware of is that when you center the joystick, there is no relief in the system. If you go over rough terrain, or if you bump into something, you will have no relief to protect your cylinders. Most likely, the first indication would be a blown hose. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Don't ask me how I know. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif