Rear Hydraulics to Power Front Implements

Tobywankenobe · Nov 26, 2018

Greetings & Salutations:

I purchased a used LS XG3025. It has a three position lever underneath the seat on the rear hydraulic control valve which powers the backhoe via two standard quick couplers. The lever must be forward for the hoe to operate. Does this mean that with the hoe disconnected those rear couplers will operate as normal rear remote hydraulics controlled by that lever? That sounds right, but even communism works in theory.

I just ordered a rock bucket with single cylinder grapple. I was looking to add a third function remote for the grapple. However, if the above is correct I already have a way to control the grapple. All I need to do is get some hoses made with one male and one female coupler, route them to the loader from the rear hydraulic couplings, and mount them in a safe secure fashion. Is that too hillbilly sketch?

I was thinking of a permanent install using some kind of T or Y on the rear hydraulics so both the backhoe and these new hoses for the front can be plugged in all the time, with quick connects where the loader disconnects from the tractor. I would appreciate any tips on how to accomplish that. The lever will almost always be in first position to power the hoe, but when needed I will use the lever with all three positions to control the grapple. Are there any issues with position one continuously sending fluid to the grapple instead of it normally being in float?

Thanks

ptsg · Nov 26, 2018

Hi and welcome to TBN Foruns!

Yes, you are right about the rear remote valve. It will work as a regular valve. And what you want to do is not really sketchy stuff. There are a lot of people that do it this way.

It's a cheaper and easy way to add a 3rd function to the loader. The main con about this is that it's not really user friendly to have to move the hand from the joystick to the remote lever and back again to the joystick. It's not really a big deal. Depends on the operator also.

Another not so expensive way to add a 3rd function (compared to a true 3rd function valve) is using a diverter valve tied into the curl/dump circuit. With a press of a momentary switch usually mounted on the joystick handle, the valve will divert the oil flow to the grapple and you just move your hand to the left or right.

BoylermanCT · Nov 26, 2018

My tractor came with the long hoses from the rear hydraulics to the loader. Works great and with the hoses routed under the rear of the tractor and then along the loader arms to the bucket. I use them to control the angle on my snowplow. For a grapple, I could see where a 3rd valve on the loader joystick would be better.

ericm979 · Nov 26, 2018

Can't use a T or Y on the pressure side in open center hydraulics (most if not all CUTs are open center). Open center valves go in series with the power beyond from one feeding the pressure port of the next. Normally there is a chain from the pump to the loader valve to any additional valves (like your backhoe valve) to the 3pt. From the 3pt it goes to the tank. Fluid is constantly flowing through each valve in the circuit. When you operate a valve fluid is diverted from the normal flow to the work ports of the valve to operate a cylinder or do other work.

Having to reach under the seat to open or close the grapple is going to get annoying. I'm running my grapple off a valve mounted on the fender right behind the loader joystick. It's only 6 or 8 inches between them. This is tolerable but eventually I will build a 3rd function that I can operate from the joystick.

ptsg · Nov 26, 2018

The OP was referring to use a T for each port of the remote valve. So it would have 2 quick disconnects on the rear and 2 on the front. Which can be done.

If he wants to use the grapple, he just disconnects whatever is attached to the rear fittings. If he wants the backhoe, he just disconnects the hoses on the loader.

Tobywankenobe · Nov 27, 2018

The rear lever is very close to the loader lever, so I don't think it's going to be too bad. I didn't fully understand what ericm979 says, but it sounds like I can't use a T like I originally wanted. Getting regular couplers and disconnecting the backhoe when I'm powering something up front seems pretty reasonable. I'll document the install and post when I'm finished.

Thanks everyone.