My rear remote installation

meridien

New member

Equipment
2017 L3301HST, LA525, RCR1260
Aug 11, 2021
21
14
3
SE Indiana
I installed 3 rear remotes on my 2017 L3301 with help from TheOldHokie. I ordered top and tilt cylinders from Fit-Rite, and bought a set of sectional valves from Dan. I decided to mount the valves behind the seat, using the ROPS to support the outside end. I used one of the blind nuts that was used for the original toolbox to support the inner end, and didn't have to drill anything on the tractor to mount the valves. As you'll see in the photos that follow, I still have to bend the valve levers to the right, so that they can be more easily reached from the seat.

The mounting plate was a piece of 1/2" plate steel roughly 15" by 6". A bit more substantial than would really be needed, but it was what I had available. I cut the right side to match the ROPS tubing. Drilled 4 holes for the square U bolts with a mag drill, and welded on a small piece of angle iron to line up with the leftmost blind nut on the crossbar. I did a trial fit of the sectional valve and then drilled 3 holes to mount it, again with the mag drill. 2 coats of primer followed by Kubota orange paint and it was done.

My plan from the beginning was to mount the couplers directly to the sectional valve, saving 4 sets of hoses and fittings and hopefully removing multiple places where leaks could occur. Since the sections were too close together to allow the couplers to mount with straight fittings, I used 90 degree fittings. The center section uses straight fittings. The outer 2 valves have float positions, the center one does not.

I made 4 hoses to connect to the tractor hydraulic system. One went from the loader valve PB output to the sectional valve input, another went from the sectional valve PB output back to the manifold. I used a tee on the manifold at the tank return line and made 2 hoses, one from the sectional valve and the second from the loader valve. That wrapped up the hydraulic plumbing.

The hoses that came with the Fit-Rite cylinders were a little longer than needed, but they don't pinch with 3pt hitch movement so there's no reason to shorten them.

The hoses are connected to the valve such that the right valve controls the tilt, when the lever is down the cylinder extends, when it is up the cylinder retracts. The left valve controls the top link, when it is down the cylinder extends, and when it is up the cylinder retracts. They work smoothly and no binding of the hoses.

I topped up the hydraulic fluid after operating the cylinders through their full travel about a dozen times to purge the air from the system. So far, no leaks.

Hopefully the photos will show you how it was done, except bending the valve levers which I haven't yet finished. I'll answer questions as best I can.

I knew literally nothing about hydraulics and did a lot of reading and asking questions before I leapt into this project. Including the cylinders, sectional valve, and hoses/fittings, I'm about $1700 into the project.
 

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meridien

New member

Equipment
2017 L3301HST, LA525, RCR1260
Aug 11, 2021
21
14
3
SE Indiana
There is enough clearance between the filter and the hoses to change it without having to disconnect anything. The sectional valve output was SAE 10, I used a reducer to SAE 8 so that all hoses had straight SAE 8 connectors. There is a right angle fitting on the PB return to the manifold.

One of the more frustrating tasks was to slide the burst protection sleeve over the hoses. After a fair number of expletives I got that done. I have some clamps to hold the hoses clear of the right rear tire and guide them back and up to the sectional valve.

2 hoses were removed, one from the loader PB out that went to the manifold, and one from the loader return to tank that also went to the manifold.
 

Russell King

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
5,358
1,413
113
Austin, Texas
Your installation looks nice. Can you get cable control levers for that valve? The handle mounts remotely from the valve and there is a cable that operate the valve.

I see that your top cylinder has the fittings on the top instead of the side, same as mine.

I will warn you to verify that raising the 3 point hitch all the way doesn’t get that fitting into danger of damage. The angle will be worst when the tractor end of the top link is in the bottom hole.

I had used a hose end with the 90 degree elbow similar to what is shown below. It was severely damaged by raising the hitch in my installaton. I neglected to move everything through its full range by hand before using the hydraulics. I don’t see the same problem with your fittings but you might want to verify there is no interference.
IMG_0186.png
 

Chanceywd

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
Kubota L2501DT BH77 VIRNIG URG60-CT 1950 8N
Mar 26, 2021
602
465
63
central ny
You made a nice looking setup there. One thing I see that may or may not give you a problem in the future. That is by eliminating the hoses and mounting your couplers to the valve body that way, all the weight of the hoses along with use of the cylinder and vibration is working to loosen the SAE connection on the valve output. Especially on the top cylinder connections on the left as all that is pulling down in the loosen direction. I would venture to guess you could easily loosen those by just pushing down with your hand at the coupling point.

Again a nice looking setup. I mounted mine on the right fender as I have a lot of arthritis in neck and shoulders and hate to turn back anymore than I have to.

Bill

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meridien

New member

Equipment
2017 L3301HST, LA525, RCR1260
Aug 11, 2021
21
14
3
SE Indiana
I do have to be careful about pulling the top link all the way in and raising the 3pt hitch all the way up as the levers that lock the hitch on can hit the bottom of the taillights. That could be an expensive mistake, but it was also true with the screw link as well. I didn't see any other places where contact could occur, but I will check again. I think I'm going to cut the rearmost hose on the top cylinder shorter by about 5-6" and crimp on another fitting - it's more than long enough and shortening it is probably smart. I may switch the fittings on the tilt cylinder to 45s or 90s from the straight fittings on it now. Before I cut anything I will recheck with the 3pt all the way up and down and make sure I'm not putting side pressure on the couplers.

I appreciate the comments and feedback. I've learned a lot from reading here and was considering buying a kit to do this, but I'm glad I went the way I did. Today I'll hitch up the BH and clean up the driveway verges, probably for the last time this season. Being able to tilt the BH will keep me from mowing the gravel while cleaning up the edges better.
 
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meridien

New member

Equipment
2017 L3301HST, LA525, RCR1260
Aug 11, 2021
21
14
3
SE Indiana
I hitched up the bush hog today, which was very easy with the extendable top link. Hooking up the PTO is always a nuisance with the quick hitch but it's ready to go. Tilting the BH worked well to get the edges of the driveway trimmed without picking up gravel along the way.

Before I hitched up the BH, I checked for any binding at full travel of the 3pt, top, and tilt. One hose definitely needs to be shortened on the top cylinder, and maybe both hoses on the tilt cylinder. I think I will switch to some 45 degree fittings from the straight ones on the tilt cylinder.

There are no leaks that I could find, and the dust would have made them easy to spot. I definitely need to get the valve handles bent and extended - they work as is but reaching them from the seat requires some contortions.

I cleaned up the BH and tractor and they're back in the barn.
 
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Tropical Jack

Active member

Equipment
Kubota L3301 w/ FEL & BH, tilt and trim, chipper, box blade, grading blade
Nice setup! I have a similar configuration on my L3301. I found that the valve body began rusting, and I had to take it all apart and paint it.

Jack
 
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