Installed 3rd Fn Valve on my BX23S. Comments and Questions

[RWey56]

Did the job myself today and it took quite a while. If I had a tool runner, it would cut the time in half. Anyway, I got it all hooked up and all that remains is cleaning up the mess.

Question re captured hydraulic fluid:
The hydraulic fluid on the BX23S is the same as the tranny system, correct? If so, I'm guessing I can just pour what I captured back into the tranny?

Question re electrical connection:
There's an extra single wire connection at the FEL quad hydo line coupler. What do you do with then when the FEL is not on the tractor? Plug it into ( loopback ) other connector? Installation manual doesn't say.
EDIT: I looked in the tractor manual, and it says to connect the "cap" when removing the FEL. Is this all this single wire connector is? A cap?


Comments re the install:
* The manual wasn't bad, but could REALLY use photos as opposed to drawn images. On many of them I simply couldn't figure out where on the tractor they were referencing.
* Install of the valve on the FEL has you removing ALL hoses ... boom cylinders as well. Huh? What do those have to do with it? I didn't do it and found an easier way.
* Wire harnesses could be a tad longer.
* They have you zip tie the FEL half of the harness to the outside of the hydraulic bundle leading to the quad coupler. Ugly. I ran mine inside the sock.

 

[jkcolo22]

Who made your kit? This sounds very different than the WR Long 3rd function kit I installed on my BX25D-1.


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[Redbusdriver]

If you have the Kubota kit, the single black wire loops back into the main connector when you remove the FEL. It is not mentioned in the manual, my dealer pointed it out to me after they did the install. I think it is a grounding wire.

I wish they had run my wires inside the sock. They did run the control stick button wiring inside the stick which was nice. The wiring up the lines to the valve had zip ties on top of zip ties, I did a bit of after install modifications to tidy it up.

And yes, Super UDT2 is used throughout the hydraulic systems. It's expensive but cleanliness counts so be careful resusing fluid.

What type of hydraulic connectors did you use from the valve to your implement? I had 3/8 flat face connectors installed and have been having a bit of retained pressure issues hooking up. I may switch to Pioneer connectors.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes you can put the reclaimed hydraulic fluid, if 100% clean, back into the system, and yes all the fluid is the same fluid.

 

[RWey56]

Its the Kubota kit. Don't remember the part no.

The tractor manual itself does mention the "cap", but it's a bit confusing that they use a connector with a wire that does nothing. The only reason for the wire is that it was a convenient way to secure the "cap", but I can see that tiny little wire breaking.

I haven't put the hydro connectors on yet as I don't know for sure what the Landpride grapple uses. I think they're probably pioneer fittings. I'd really like to change over to the flat-face fittings, but I'll have to wait for the grapple to make sure the ends come off (which they probably do, but you never know).

With respect to the LP Grapple:
Yeah ... I know the EA grapple is better, but they have about a 4 to 6 week lead on them. I have a mountain of branches I cut off a giant spruce in my yard and I simply can't wait 'til the end of July to haul them off. If EA could ship one tomorrow, I'd do it. Besides, if the LP grapple needs some beefing up, I have a good welder and can do whatever it takes.

About the flat face hydro connectors:
I just saw those at Northern Tool for about $30. Dealer made it sound like those were $100 each, but I suspect maybe he meant for the whole retrofit. I guess I should probably fit the valve with the style that's the most common on possible attachments I may get/rent, but honestly I don't see using anything other than the grapple and the stock bucket on the front.

 

[Redbusdriver]

Do you have the quick connect (SSQA) bucket on your loader?

If so the land pride SGC0554 grapple has 3/8 inch ORB (o ring boss) hose ends. Mine came with pioneer couplers. As I had the dealer do my 3rd function kit about a month before I bought my grapple I had specified flat face connectors. I had ordered the matching flat face connectors online for the grapple but did not anticipate needing ORB to NPT adapters.

I've been happy with my grapple so far. I did add grease zerks to the top hinge. I wanted the EA as well, 4 to 6 weeks vs in stock at my local orange dealer, same price out the door.

 

[Redbusdriver]

Just checked the welds on my grapple. Top hinge brackets have full welds outer, half welds inner. Where the tines meet the cross tubes they have full welds one side only. Grapple is a month old to me. I've been clearing about an acre of overgrown land lately with no trouble so far.

When you get yours, let me know if you reinforce the welds. I'm not a welder but will take it by a local shop if needs it.

 

[RWey56]

Just checked the welds on my grapple. Top hinge brackets have full welds outer, half welds inner. Where the tines meet the cross tubes they have full welds one side only. Grapple is a month old to me. I've been clearing about an acre of overgrown land lately with no trouble so far.

When you get yours, let me know if you reinforce the welds. I'm not a welder but will take it by a local shop if needs it.

Yes, I do have the quick attach bucket.

I do plan on adding any necessary reinforcements. Zirk fittings on the lid pivot is a good idea ... thanks. Another thing EA talked about was adding a bushing ring to the pivot journal so there's more than just the 1/4" supporting the pin. This is easy enough to add as well and I may do it. Given the failures of the pivot journals I've seen, that's going to be the first thing I consider reinforcing. They should be welded all the way around and should also have some lateral support gussets considering they and the weld to thin-walled tubing are feeling all the closing force of the lid.

Of course, I won't know any details until I can look at it first hand, but I'll take pictures of any retrofit I perform and post them here.