How to Install a Diverter Valve So You Can Have a Grapple (or tree shear, or front auger)

This is exciting! I have installed a new diverter valve on my tractor and in the weeks ahead will be putting it to work. If you're not familiar with this kit, it's a valve that diverts the flow of oil from the tilt and curl on your loader to a set of hoses that lead to the front of your tractor, thus allowing you to plug in an implement that requires hydraulic flow on your quick attach. It will open up a whole new world of possibilities!

In today's video I show how the entire process ran so you can follow along. The first step is to get all of the pieces and parts together and I covered that in this video: https://youtu.be/kMwJ45XNtVA. Once you have the parts it's time to get the wrenches out and get 'er done!

In the process, I did what I normally don't do, I didn't follow the instructions. The instructions had you hooking up the electronics first, and I was using my tractor in between recording sessions, so I put off the electrical work and disconnecting the tractor hydraulics until the last step...and it worked.

First thing I did was to mount the valve to the plate and then to the tractor loader arms. I put a piece of magnetic rubber under the mounting plate to try to keep from damaging the finish of the loader. I'll probably never know if that worked because I'll never take it off.

Next, I went about mounting the electrical wires. I snaked them down through the joystick boot (which was a pretty tough job), then ran them under the floor mat of the tractor. You have one set of wires that go up to the diverter valve and I connected them, and a second set that go to power and ground on the tractor. I installed those the very last thing. I zip tied the valve control to the joystick and put everything back together

Next I got my hydraulic plumbing all together using pieces from the kit and some fittings, quick couple connections, and hose secured our local Farm and Home store. I used elbows to head the hoses toward the ground to avoid a lot of sharp turns. For the new hydraulic circuit I ran two 8' hoses to the front of the loader and put skid loader quick attach fittings on them. When the project was complete I zip tied everything together, leaving a generous piece of hose curled up and hooked to the loader main frame with a bungee cord. Then it was time to unhook the hydraulics from the tractor and tap into the diverter. I disconnected the bucket tilt and curl feed line and hooked into the diverter, then from the ports across from those ports I ran the lines back into the tubes that the other hoses were attached to. The plumbing was done.

Finally, I hooked the ground wire to a bolt that went into the main frame of the tractor and attached the hot wire to the fuel shutoff solenoid wire. That gives me power, but only when the key is turned on.

I started the tractor and activated the diverter and nothing happened. Then it dawned on me that it would take a little time for the oil to circulate through the empty hoses and fittings. Finally, everything filled with oil and worked like a charm, the grapple went up and down just like it was supposed to.

Here are some things you need to know about this installation:
*Always take hydraulic pressure off hoses by moving the joystick forward and back and left to right with the tractor off before disconnecting hoses.
*Disconnect the battery when wiring the valve into the tractor electrical system.
*Use pipe joint cement on the pipe threads, it there are o-rings in the connections, coat the threads with hydraulic oil before assembling.
*DO NOT USE TEFLON TAPE ON THREADS...flaking tape can clog the valve.
*Make sure hoses are long enough to follow the entire range of the loader.
*On some Kubota tractors, because of a regeneration system in the tilt and curl mechanism, you'll need to tap into the hoses that run the raise and lower of the loader arms for everything to work properly.
*Check your hydraulic oil level when finished with the installation...it'll probably be low and you'll need to add oil.

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Видео How to Install a Diverter Valve So You Can Have a Grapple (or tree shear, or front auger) канала Tractor Mike