First off if I understand your install it is exactly what I am advocating. He already has the "block" and its just a matter of connecting three hoses to the existing plumbing.
Whether you need/want remotes at the same time the backhoe is mounted is a personal preference. I would but others might not.
The real deciding factor in my opinion is that its easier. far more convenient, and no more expensive to permanently plumb the remotes in ONE TIME and never ever have to touch them or the hoses again. No loose hoses floppingvaround when the hoe is being used.
Dan
There's not a lot of real estate on the 23S. Especially if you have a third function kit plumbed into the loader valve already, there's not a lot of space under there to run lines away from moving /hot parts. Not to mention extra fittings potentially needed to get around things.
I would think you would want the valve(s) by your side. Shortest/least complicated distance is from the pump output (where the backhoe connects)
If you mount and connect the valve(s) in the rear there's no need to mess with extra hoses every time, or have loose hoses.
When the backhoe is removed you have to disconnect 3 fittings and reconnect one anyways.
You should be able to plumb the valves in so there's no extra work.
With the backhoe removed there's 1 flexible line and 2 hard lines.
The flexible line is the pump output. This is normally attached to the fitting which feeds the loader valve.
Remove the fitting from the hard line, attach that fitting to the P port on your valve(s).
This becomes your one connection when the backhoe is removed; attach the pump output hose to the fitting.
Attach the power beyond port on your valve(s) to the hard line. This always stays connected.
Your tank return can be plumbed into the existing backhoe tank return line.
The hard part is finding where to mount your valve(s). The above picture won't work on the BX23S, the seat rotates directly through the area those valves are mounted.
Thumb for the backhoe would obviously be a different story.
You'd want that separate anyways I would think, and completely on the backhoe.
How would I do that? Please remember that I am a bit challenged by some of these things that I have never experienced before.
You know how you have 3 connections with the backhoe removed?
The fitting on the left side of the center link mount is the tank return for the backhoe (T)
The flexible line is your pump output (P)
The fitting on the right of the center link goes to the loader valve and is the power beyond output (PB)
On the backhoe itself
Remove the P line. This connects to the P port on the valve for the thumb.
The PB port on the valve connects to where the P line used to connect.
The T port on the valve gets teed into the T line on the backhoe.
You'll have to figure where to mount the valve so it's usable when you're running the backhoe.
Then you'll need to get lines long enough to run from each port on the valve to the correct spot on the backhoe. And fittings to connect.
Depending where you mount the valve you may be able to reuse the hose for the P port.
This is how much space is on the left side when the seat is rotated.