Power beyond

Jim1764 · Feb 7, 2002

Hello all,

I'm getting ready to hookup my Bradco 609 backhoe on my Kubota 3710 and need a little help with some hydraulic plumbing. The feed line for the hoe is suppose to come from the "Power Beyond" at the FEL control valve. I'm not sure if I have one of these. I've looked in the manuals for the FEL and tractor and can't find any mention of this. I did a search here on TBN and I get the impression that this is a add on option.
Anyone out there that can point me to some information or pictures on this feature would be great.
Anyone that has a Bradco 609 on a Kubota I like to hear how the plumbing was done on your tractor.

Thanks,

Jim

BOTAMAN · Feb 7, 2002

What"s the model of your loader?

Jim1764 · Feb 7, 2002

It's a 1999 Kubota LA681

Jim

kubmech · Feb 7, 2002

Jim, if the backhoe is new you should have all the stuff you need for the plumbing. The following is how Bradco recommends the plumbing:

Looking at the right side of the tractor under the floor, you should see a "hydraulic block/diverter valve" with three hoses that run to the FEL control valve. The two hoses right next to each other are (orange) in from the pump and (green) out from the FEL valve. The green hose (rear one) is the PB hose.
If you look in further toward the tractor, behind these two hoses you should see a (gray/silver probably duct tape) marked hose. That's return to tank and also comes off of the FEL valve. If you follow the PB (green) hose back up to the FEL valve you should see it coupled somewhere in the middle.
Uncouple the hose. Attach the matching coupler in the kit to one of the long hoses that came with the hoe and plug in to the hose that's coming out of the FEL valve. Run that hose back to the BH and install the female coupler to the filter of the backhoe (that's the larger of the two cylindrical shaped objects) Install the male coupler to the other end of that hose and couple them. This is your hyd "power" in to the BH. Now, remove the retun hose (gray) from the hyd block (yes the one with the couplers) remove the fitting that goes into the hyd block and install the "T" fitting into the block. Then reinstall the existing coupler and re-couple that hose. Install the 90 degree fitting into the "T" and attach the other long hose. Run that to the BH and install the female coupler to the end of that hose. Now remove the smaller cylindrical object (check valve) from the BH and chuck it into your neighbors yard. When he finds it and asks you what the heck you think it is, you can tell him, that looks like a check valve for a backhoe installed on a skid steer that has an aux hyd. pedal that can flow in either direction and it prevents the backhoe from receiving flow in the wrong direction if the operator steps on the pedal the wrong way. I don't need one of those on my backhoe because my couplers are set up so I can't hook it up backwards and I'm glad, because if I had one of those my backhoe would run a little slower. Now install the male coupler to the port that's left after the check valve is "removed". Side note, I think the two hoses you get in the kit are different sizes, I'm pretty sure the longer one is used for return. Now couple up the return hose and your ready to dig. Keep in mind, when the backhoe is removed you will have to uncouple the PB hose to the backhoe and recouple the hose that has been left hanging (the one that goes back to the hyd. block) to provide "hyd.power" to your 3PH and keep the hydraulics from running over relief. That's all there is to it..............

MChalkley · Feb 7, 2002

Kubmech and Jim - There's a lot better way than the way Bradco recommends. Check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=custom&Number=22293&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=12&vc=1>this post</A>, which describes the way I did it with the help of a hydraulics engineeer the third and final time I plumbed a Bradco 609 on a Kubota L-series. As I say, I've done it three times, and this was the best way, by far. A lot easier to use, more flow, safer, faster to connect and disconnect, you name it.

Also, doing it this way, you avoid the disadvantage of having to couple and uncouple hoses. The only disadvantage is the cost of the needle valve and a couple of tees - which is very minor considering the savings in hassle every time you use it.

BTW, if you don't want to use Kubota's remote auxiliary quick-connect block, you can just terminate the hoses to the backhoe in quick-connect fittings and tie them off to the ROPS or wherever you want. There's no need to plug them into one another, unless you just want to to keep them clean - there's no pressure on them at all when the needle valve is open.

Jim1764 · Feb 7, 2002

Kubmech and MChalkley, Thanks for the expert first hand information. Kubmech, I just want to make sure I understand this, the 12 inch hose that comes off the PB port on the FEL valve with a quick connect and goes down under the floor of the tractor and connects to the rear port of the front hydraulic block is the supply line for the 3PH. Which I couldn't use anyway when the hoe is attached. All MChalkley did was to put a directional "T" valve in this line so he could just turn a valve to select either backhoe or 3PH operation without having to connect and disconnect hoses.

Jim

kubmech · Feb 7, 2002

The 12" hose from the FEL valve is what supplies the BH. The other half just "hangs out" while the BH is in use. When the BH is disconnected You just recouple to go back to normal. Mark's way is definitely "cooler"/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif and would provide a little more flow without the couplers. But the amount of time it takes to pop the couplers together after BH removal isn't a big deal in my opinion. Unless your taking the backhoe off and on a couple of times a day.

MChalkley · Feb 7, 2002

Jim - <font color=blue>just turn a valve to select either backhoe or 3PH operation</font color=blue>

That's not quite true, but you may not have meant it the way I'm reading it. When you close the valve, you're just adding the backhoe to the hydraulic circuit. Everything else works just like it did before. So, you're not selecting one vs. the other, you're just adding the backhoe, then taking it back out.