spool valve with float function?

[etpm]

Apparently I cannot search properly, so I'm just gonna swallow my pride and ask. My 2310 has a Bulldog 285 loader. I bought it this way from a fellow who bought it this way. I think he bought it from a dealer several years ago who gave him an owner's manual as the only paperwork. Anyway, it has a two spool joystick valve. With no float function. I have a Case 580 CK with a backhoe and I have found the float function on the loader to be very useful. After reading here I ended up purchasing the power steering cylinder with valve combo that fits several Yanmar tractors, including my model, and a diverting valve so I can add power steering to my 2310 and I'm thinking I should add a valve with float function to the FEL at the same time. Then maybe I will only need to open and bleed the hydraulics once.
So, can anyone suggest a valve or point me in the right direction? Once again the existing valve is a two spool joystick valve controlling a Bulldog 285 Front End Loader (FEL) which in turn is mounted on a YM2310 tractor. And I want to replace the valve with one that has the float function so that it works similar to the existing valve.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[ptsg]

Sometimes, if the float is not used, it can be hard to get into float and having the impression that the valve doesn't have float. Before spending money on a new valve, I suggest that you confirm that your valve doesn't have indeed float function.

To do this, you need to look at the bottom of the valve, where you'll see two caps. If one is about 1" longer than the other, then you have float. If they are both the same length, there is not float.

Anyway, Surplus Center has a couple alternatives at a very decent price. If your current valve has 7 lines total, you'll also need the Power Beyond plug for the new valve. Also, check the flow of your tractor so you can buy the properly sized valve, otherwise it can be a pain to feather the controls with a valve too big.

Joystick Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Joystick Valves,Hydraulic Valves,Hydraulics, 2 SPOOL JOYSTICK LOADER CONTROL VALVE Brand new. BRAND Model LV22RFSTKAB. Compact two spool joystick

www.surpluscenter.com

 

[etpm]

Sometimes, if the float is not used, it can be hard to get into float and having the impression that the valve doesn't have float. Before spending money on a new valve, I suggest that you confirm that your valve doesn't have indeed float function.

To do this, you need to look at the bottom of the valve, where you'll see two caps. If one is about 1" longer than the other, then you have float. If they are both the same length, there is not float.

Anyway, Surplus Center has a couple alternatives at a very decent price. If your current valve has 7 lines total, you'll also need the Power Beyond plug for the new valve. Also, check the flow of your tractor so you can buy the properly sized valve, otherwise it can be a pain to feather the controls with a valve too big.

Joystick Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Joystick Valves,Hydraulic Valves,Hydraulics, 2 SPOOL JOYSTICK LOADER CONTROL VALVE Brand new. BRAND Model LV22RFSTKAB. Compact two spool joystick

www.surpluscenter.com

Thanks for the speedy and informative reply. After looking at the valve I see that it has 7 lines and the caps at the end are equal in length. So I guess I need to buy the joystick valve with float function. But now I have a few more questions. Where does the power beyond plug go? Does it just plug a hole in the valve? Finally, how do I determine the flow? Would finding the specs for my tractor work? The tractor is a YM2310. I will be adding power steering to the tractor in the near future. I'm thinking that if properly done it will have little effect on the flow to the loader hydraulics. But then maybe I don't think so good.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[ptsg]

The power beyond goes on the port marked on the new valve. That port can be marked with "N", "C", "PB" or "PBY". It's all the same purpose, just different nomenclatures across manufacturers.

I tried to find the flow for your tractor, but couldn't quite find anything about that, so hopefully one of the old school Yanmar guys can help provide that info.

As far as the power steering, not sure how that is setup. My guess is that will have a flow divider valve with priority to the steering.

 

[California]

FWIW - in 2013 I replaced the original (dribbling) AICO loader control on the YM240, with a Prince lvt1gb5ab1 from Amazon. Both old and new are two-lever with float but the Prince mounts with the hoses coming out the bottom. That is valuable to me in orchard use with many obstacles overhead.

Both have the same control layout, curl-forward on the left stick with float at extreme forward. For another $100 there's an option for high speed bucket dump. I'm guessing that this adds the fluid removed, to the dump side of the cylinder, instead of just draining it back to the sump.

I expect the Yanmars up to about 30 hp all use the same hydraulic pump.

My YM186D has a joystick control. I don't see any advantage over 2-stick and in my case the ancient joystick mechanism seems flimsy.

Here's the discussion where I first posted that photo. It's a long thread but it might give you some ideas for your project.

 

[Tinhack]

Both old and new are two-lever with float but the Prince mounts with the hoses coming out the bottom.

Bottom, top, front, back and side. Just depends on how it's mounted.

 

[California]

Bottom, top, front, back and side. Just depends on how it's mounted.

... If you don't mind the levers sticking down instead of up.

Or, push the right lever to curl the bucket in.

Or, if you have the space, three elbows coming off each port.

Really, I had to study this before choosing the right valve.

 

[Tinhack]

Mine didn't come with levers. I mounted the valve where I needed it then made my linkage and levers.

Some applications use a remote valve activated with cables. Just sayin' the valve doesn't care how it's mounted. Glad you got yours figured out though.