I certainly agree that $80 isn't going to make a big dent in anyone's tractor budget. On the other hand, "I'd just prefer" is really not much of an argument. Would you prefer because someone else also prefers them and has made them a bit of a fad or is there a real experience driven rationale for using check valves on a CUT tilt cylinder? MIE is a very capable dealer. Bob will sell you whatever you are willing to pay for and I'm sure it will work. I sent them a few drawings of a ripper fitting I wanted for my backhoe and they built it for a fair price. In regards to the check valve however, what is more telling is that MIE has not been offering check valves until some of you guys started asking for them. If Bob and Tony thought check valves were important I'm pretty sure they would have been suggesting them to customers rather than the other way around. The purpose of a check valve is to prevent leak down/back flow and cylinder movement after catastrophic leakage from a broken hose etc. With a normally functioning dual acting cylinder however the amount of leak down one might expect in a working day is trivial. If you have leak down that affects grading with a rear blade or box blade then you have a defective or worn cylinder that requires replacement or repair. I can easily understand the role of check valves in cylinders where sudden failure of a line could result in an accident (excavators, man lift etc) but don't understand the use on top and tilts. And, it is still unusual to see them on top and tilts despite all the talk about them here on TBN. Again, if MIE hasn't been using them routinely, that should tell us something. Notably, it seems to be people buying new tractors (Vince excepted) who seem to want check valves before ever using the "normal" system. Are check valves "fuzzy dice" good luck charms for tractors??
