Third function...............where to buy?

[Tried and True]

I have an xl490. I'd like to add a third function for a grapple buck and snow blade. Should I go right to Yanmar or are there any decent aftermarket units available? TIA

 

[Xfaxman]

Check this from EA: 3rd function valve kit for any tractor, free shipping within 1,000 miles!!

 

[Tried and True]

I've seen those units. I was wonderin' if anybody has an OEM third option also.

 

[Katahdin]

The OEM kit is available from a Yanmar dealer, they generally have to order it from the factory in Georgia.

 

[Raised on a Deere]

The OEM kit is available from a Yanmar dealer, they generally have to order it from the factory in Georgia.

I am not sure what the term third function means. I had dual remotes installed as part of the deal when I bought my tractor. It was about a $1000 option that came as a Kit with a part number. I observed the mechanics unboxing it and figuring out where all the pipes went.

I noticed at the time that there was a kit available that integrated into the loader joystick ( i think that is the third function kit) that provided hydraulics of some kind intended to work with the loader. I did not get a price on it as I already knew that I would be happy with my grapple using the rear hydraulics controls. It works very well for me but if I was using the grapple daily and on a continuing basis I would perhaps want the third function kit. You dealer has the specifics. I seemed to recall I wasn't going to save any money adding rear remotes by going to some other party.

And with all that I want to stand up and shout "I am extremely pleased with the grapple attachment" and to think I balked at spending the money for that thing.

 

[yardman harry]

I have the OEM kit on my lx4100. It's a diverter valve kit so no plumbing of power beyond is needed/required. The kit was around 950 and I installed it myself. I chose this route because any aftermarket parts void the warranty. At the time I really wanted the true 3rd valve from EA but now that I have used the OEM diverter kit I really don't think it matters to me anymore. This OEM kit does the job and allows me to feather the controls. So overall I think I like the OEM kit better. It took about 2 weeks for the kit to arrive. And less than 2 hours install.

Yard

 

[Raised on a Deere]

I have the OEM kit on my lx4100. It's a diverter valve kit so no plumbing of power beyond is needed/required. The kit was around 950 and I installed it myself. I chose this route because any aftermarket parts void the warranty. At the time I really wanted the true 3rd valve from EA but now that I have used the OEM diverter kit I really don't think it matters to me anymore. This OEM kit does the job and allows me to feather the controls. So overall I think I like the OEM kit better. It took about 2 weeks for the kit to arrive. And less than 2 hours install.

Yard

Ability to feather the controls is what caught me as I tried to figure out if I needed to get third function. From what I could read, never sure what was meant, I got the idea that the third function was a on off kind of thing. The rear remote however could be feathered and also one of the dual remotes is has a float function as well. Perfect control, and all that is lacking is that it is not on the joy stick but it is so close to the stick that there is not much problem controlling a grapple while articulating the loader. Yanmar did a pretty good job on the ergonomics of the loader joy stick. One of these days they will have the throttle controlled by the index finger, the brakes by the thumb, the grapple by the little finger and the loader by the finger next to the little finger and the ground speed by the index finger, but for now I am doing fine without the third function on the joystick.:laughing:

 

[yardman harry]

Yes, the 3rd function kits such as those from EA (that are not diverter valve type), use an aftermarket joystick with an integrated rocker switch. it has three positions, nuetral, pos. and neg. The joystick gives you the same motions (raise, lower, curl, dump) and the rocker controls the 3rd function. the lines are plumbed from the PWRBYD from the implement control valve into an aux valve that is controlled by the rocker switch. The valves are either open or closed depending on the position of the rocker switch and therefore you cannot control the speed/rate at which fluid is supplied to the 3rd function implement. however, because power to the 3rd function is supplied by the power beyond, you will be able to curl/dump, raise/lower, AND control the 3rd function implement at the same time. 3 motions potentially at once.

With the OEM kit (diverter valve), a single button is now available on the joystick. It too controls an auxiliary valve, however, this aux valve is not supplied (powered) from the power beyond, instead you hook this aux valve up to the primary dump/curl hoses from the implement control valve. the two lines are then split into 4 lines. 2 to control dump/curl. and 2 to control the 3rd function. By pressing the single button on the joystick, the aux valve closes the primary supply to the dump/curl and diverts fluid to the third function. Therefore, the joystick movement of left/right is used to control the 3rd function when the button is pushed. Push the button and lightly apply pressure in the curl direction and your 3rd function attachment (grapple lets say) opens slowly. Fully open the curl position of the joystick, and spool valve completely opens supplying the full flow of the hydraulic fluid to the 3rd function implement. Feathering action... the downside to this setup, is only 2 motions are available at one time. Raise/lower and EITHER curl/dump or 3rd function implement

Since I am not running a business and time is my own money... i dont need to increase efficiency by having the true third function such as those from EA. the diverter type works great for me.

yard