Quarter Inching..

[jhoward000]

The way a quarter-inching valve works, at least on a B-series, can be thought of like this:

The 3ph will raise and lower at two speeds: very slow or very fast. The speed depends on how far you move the lever from center in either direction. The "L-shaped stops" shown in Chuck's original post are simply designed to help you control how far you move the lever, and therefore whether you move the 3ph "Fast" or "slow". They should be adjusted so that when you move the lever to the first "detent" on the stop, the 3ph moves at the slow speed, which allows for much more precision in where you position your implement. This slow, precise control is the "quarter-inching" function. When you move the lever all the way to the stop (past the detent), the 3ph moves at the fast speed.

Once I figured thid out, everything became much easier, especially using a rotary cutter. As the rotary cutter sags, I simply pull the lever up to the 1st detent and it very slowly raises up and I release the lever when it's where it needs to be. If I go too far, I can push the lever to the 1st detent in the down direction to compensate and the mower will very slowly lower. This actually works very well and makes it easy to precisely control implement position. I have never had to readjust these stops once I got them set. I'm not sure why dealers don't do this.

You can experiment with the 3ph lever to see what I mean. If you have the 3ph in its lower position, very slowly raise the lever. At first, the 3ph will raise very slowly. However, as you continue to move the lever farther back (up) very slowly, you will eventually hit a point where the hitch suddenly moves to high speed and raises quickly. The adjustable stops are there to help prevent you from moving the lever to the "fast" speed position by stopping the lever at the detent before it goes too far, yet easily allowing you to bypass the detent when needed for a fast speed.

It sort of reminds me of old radios that had two tuning knobs: coarse and fine tuning. The coarse knob would move the dial fast, but imprecisely, while the fine-tune knob was slow but very precise. It's basically the same principle.

Maybe this didn't cloud the discussion even more

 

[snpower]

That's a GREAT explanation. :thumbsup: I think that, the confusing part for me, was that the factory stops weren't doing anything whatsoever. After bending them somewhat they now contact the lever if I pull it in towards the seat while raising/lowering. This was critical because before it was impossible for me to have much control over blade/rake height when grooming our driveway which uses small (pea type) gravel or box scraping.

 

[paladin32776]

My 50ct about the "quarter inching valve":

All the things stated above about how you can set it up are correct.

However, this type of valve is still just the el-cheapo version of a position control valve:
The adjustments I can make with the position control valve on a 40 year old Massey are as accurate as the ones I can do with the Position control valve on my B3200. And it is MUCH easier to setup and hold a certain position with the position control valve. There is no advantage I could find so far that would convince me to get a quarter inching if I'd have had the choice (!) on my B3200.
I'd happily pay more for the tractor to get a pos. control valve.
Quarter inching is certainly workable, I do it everyday, but in the end, the reason it was introduced, is to increase profit margins.

 

[jhoward000]

Yep, not sure I can think of any advantages of the "quarter-inching" valve (for the consumer/user, anyway) over a true position valve.

A position valve lets you move the 3ph at any speed you want, stop it where you want, keep the implement in a set position without needing adjustment, and repeatedly lower the implement to the same position quickly.

 

[kuboman]

The qtr inching valve is just like the loader or implement valve but with adjustable stops. The more you pull back the faster it will raise and visa versa for lowering except you do have a valve to limit lowering speed. So just think of it like you are raising or lowering the loader. What do you do when you want a slow controlled raising of the loader? You pull back very slowly until you get the desired response. For a small incremental raising of the 3 pt you adjust the stop so when you give the lever a short bump you get a small (1/4") rise in the 3pt.
Very simple, very effective.:thumbsup:

 

[paladin32776]

Regular implement valve for the 3PH ... makes me think:

Kind of like using a stick to drive a nail. Would work better if a hammer head would be attached to the stick, but eventually you sure get the nail in the wall with just the stick as well (And all the adjustments, just awesome: you can use both ends of the stick! And the stick is sooo simple.)

Sure saves the manufacturer a lot cash ... part of which they can invest into Mktg to make customers think that the stick is just what they wanted.

 

[kuboman]

Regular implement valve for the 3PH ... makes me think:

Kind of like using a stick to drive a nail. Would work better if a hammer head would be attached to the stick, but eventually you sure get the nail in the wall with just the stick as well (And all the adjustments, just awesome: you can use both ends of the stick! And the stick is sooo simple.)

Sure saves the manufacturer a lot cash ... part of which they can invest into Mktg to make customers think that the stick is just what they wanted.

WOW:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::confused2:

 

[bp fick]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread by ChuckinNH. Here's the reason for my post.

I worked a couple of hours, using my middlebuster to plow up some of the gardens yesterday. Let me say again that my B2320 unit came with the adjustments just about perfect. Dumb luck? I dunno. But as I plowed, I could bump up or down precisely. I would look back to see what it was doing. Flawless operation. Need a 1/4"? one quick bump. 1/2"? two quick bumps.

I don't mean to compare/contrast this with the Lxx00 series and their inability to inch up or down, nor I am taking consolation from the misery of others, but I just gotta say, THAT would drive me bananas. The unit on my tractor works as advertised. Flat out.

 

[skspurling]

So, does yours bump in the downward direction? Mine will work in the upward direction, but downwards you would have to push and pull. There's no spring return back to the middle in the downward direction. Is there supposed to be? I don't see how it would work if there was. Not with the default setup.

 

[bp fick]

So, does yours bump in the downward direction? Mine will work in the upward direction, but downwards you would have to push and pull. There's no spring return back to the middle in the downward direction. Is there supposed to be? I don't see how it would work if there was. Not with the default setup.

Yes and no. Yes, it can be bumped in the downward direction, but there is no spring return such as the upward direction has. Why Kubota designed it that way if far, far above my pay grade to discuss. Perhaps ChuckinNH will jump back in here, since he started the thread.

Since my hand is on the lever, I just "rock it" or "pulse it", if that makes sense. That it does or does not spring back to center doesn't effect my use, although, it would be nice if it were the same auto centering both directions.