"The Thumb" Bucket Grapple questions

[George2615]

If you have a spare rear remote you can run hoses up to the front for adding a thumb.

 

[k0ua]

Plan A doesn't sound like the plan I want, I don't want to loose my bucket curl or lift control when applying thumb pressure. Plan B might be the plan I want, but not sure might need more input, like PB? I know I want a separate control stick to operate the thumb.

It is no problem at all. you line up for the "bite" press a momentary switch curl to close the thumb, and just as quickly you have your curl control back again on the bucket the second you release they switch.. It is all in the technique. Not a problem.

 

[J_J]

Using open center hyd systems, you normally can not operate two valves simultaneously, because the first valve has priority, and if two valves are used together the second valve might not work at all.

There might be back pressure problems.

There are ways to cheat the system, but you have to know what you are doing and the ramifications of your actions.

So without developing headaches, the single valve operation is the best. You need to keep one hand on the steering, maybe.

The 3rd function or the diverter valve is usually just a short time operation.

 

[J_J]

Actually a hyd splitter will do what you want. Two separate hyd circuits.

 

[teg]

...Plan B might be the plan I want, but not sure might need more input, like PB? ...

PB is Power Beyond, hydraulic flow continues to flow to give power to other valves downstream. There's a lot of reading about adding another valve on tractors. I added three extra valves since I wanted hydraulic top and side link and one for the grapple.

So I left the main hydraulic hose that powered the FEL in place. I routed the old Power Beyond (that would go to the 3ph via the block) and put in a new hose to the new 3 valve spool (that I mounted above the FEL control) These just connect in series, one after another. I use the old line that came out of the PB of the FEL and connected to the new 3 spool valve's power beyond. So, after the FEL gets power, power goes to the new valve, then power goes to the 3ph like before.

Clear as mud? Only thing I left out is there is a thrid hose that just returns left over hydraulic oil back to the tank. This is the only time you can use a "T" for hydraulics, it's the low pressure return line.

View attachment 413420

The first photo, not sure who's it is, shows mounting the spool under the FEL... I attached that mainly to show the nice clean hose ends (vs. my ugly multiple adapter fittings).

 

[J_J]

If your solenoid valve has 4 ports, IN, OUT, and two work ports, the valve will pass the cyl flow downstream during the time the solenoid is activated.

The 3pt or remotes can use this fluid, but it is limited to the volume and pressure developed by the cyl out going fluid. The solenoid valve is going to dump full flow into the cyl, and the flow out of the cyl will be based on the rod side of the cyl.

If the 3pt or remote should go into relief, the back pressure will mess up the solenoid operation. To bring it back to normal, just release the 3pt or remote valve to neutral.

 

[Oldpath05]

I read through these responses on plan A and B. Plan A has some sort of $250.00 electric diverting system that shuts off bucket curl, nah. Plan B, involves PB, and did learn is Power Beyond, and I thought had to many levers in awkward places to do a lot of repetitive bucket work. Neither one really line my compass up to where I want to end up, which sounds like Plan C.

I found plan C on YouTube, haven't watch all the series yet, but it has a Kubota, looks like my L3400, has the same control valve mount, grey, orange, and green tape on the hydraulic lines, that really helps. It shows a guy installing a 3 function kit with the controls right at the finger tips, nice, probably the bad news will be that the Kubota Kit sells for $999.99. But it does have my compass lined right up to the way I want to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pYUAYu18XQ

 

[k0ua]

I read through these responses on plan A and B. Plan A has some sort of $250.00 electric diverting system that shuts off bucket curl, nah. Plan B, involves PB, and did learn is Power Beyond, and I thought had to many levers in awkward places to do a lot of repetitive bucket work. Neither one really line my compass up to where I want to end up, which sounds like Plan C.

I found plan C on YouTube, haven't watch all the series yet, but it has a Kubota, looks like my L3400, has the same control valve mount, grey, orange, and green tape on the hydraulic lines, that really helps. It shows a guy installing a 3 function kit with the controls right at the finger tips, nice, probably the bad news will be that the Kubota Kit sells for $999.99. But it does have my compass lined right up to the way I want to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pYUAYu18XQ

Yep, it is a good way, but it will be a bit more costly. Maybe about $800 or so. it is just a matter of how you want it to work, and how much you want to pay. You can also source all of the parts yourself, the DO3 subplate and electric/hydraulic valve and the hoses and fittings yourself,and save some bucks over the custom kit.

 

[ENC]

I went with WR Long 3rd function and I love it. I convinced myself I didn't want a diverter valve. I would like to play with someone's loader that has a diverter valve to see if I made the right choice, but I have no complaints with 3rd function.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I wanted a grapple of this style for the longest time. I could not afford the one I wanted and I have friends (with lasers) that could have made me one, but with high strength A400, I still could not afford it.

Anyway, a friend spotted the above in a super shopper magazine. Some guy had bought it NEW at a Richie Brothers Auction in the States and brought it up to Canada. Paid $1200.00 Cash CDN (Thats about 65 cents american). I was not terribly impressed with the quality but I needed one ASAP. And you know what, against my impressions, I have not been able to break it! I have used it to handle logs, brush and stones, all up to the lifting capacity of the machine. I wish I had gotten one of these years ago!

The only thing I would prefer different, is to have dual grapples at the top, as a single one does not hold irregular shaped stuff very well.