3-Point Hitch 1/4 inching valve not a 1/4 inching valve?

[IchabodCrayne]

Prompted by the thread "importance of position control" I went out and thoroughly investigated the 3ph controls on my current generation BX23S.
I found adjustable stops mounted under the fender next to 3ph lever and a stud protruding from the lever itself which when pulled to the left while moving it forward or back should have contacted these stops. Well..they didn't.
I stopped at dealership to ask what was amiss.
Literally no one knew what the stops were for or how they worked, including the guy who assembled it. Bunch of us headed out back to look at some other bx's and get a grasp on how they work.
I showed the staff what it was all about but finding no properly functioning units I was left to sort it out myself.
Back at home I was able to make adjustments to 3ph lever and the stops to where with a little side english the lever contacts each stop if I choose to use them.
Now here's what they do...
They provide the operator (me) with a predetermined repeatable slow speed lift and lower of 3ph. If I choose to simply bump the stop and return to center the 3ph will jump a little up or down with each bump. (how much it moves depends on tractor rpm, weight of implement and how quick of a bump I give it) If I choose to hold the lever against the stops the 3ph will raise or lower right to the end of it's range or until I let go but at a much slower speed than moving lever to full up or down.
The valve for 3ph has no special ability to inch up/down it simply can be feathered and these stops allow you to tune it for the illusion of inching control. So if you own a BX without position control you will need to use guage wheels or check chains to achieve repeatable set points or just get used to looking back to see where your implement is at.

 

[SDT]

Prompted by the thread "importance of position control" I went out and thoroughly investigated the 3ph controls on my current generation BX23S.
I found adjustable stops mounted under the fender next to 3ph lever and a stud protruding from the lever itself which when pulled to the left while moving it forward or back should have contacted these stops. Well..they didn't.
I stopped at dealership to ask what was amiss.
Literally no one knew what the stops were for or how they worked, including the guy who assembled it. Bunch of us headed out back to look at some other bx's and get a grasp on how they work.
I showed the staff what it was all about but finding no properly functioning units I was left to sort it out myself.
Back at home I was able to make adjustments to 3ph lever and the stops to where with a little side english the lever contacts each stop if I choose to use them.
Now here's what they do...
They provide the operator (me) with a predetermined repeatable slow speed lift and lower of 3ph. If I choose to simply bump the stop and return to center the 3ph will jump a little up or down with each bump. (how much it moves depends on tractor rpm, weight of implement and how quick of a bump I give it) If I choose to hold the lever against the stops the 3ph will raise or lower right to the end of it's range or until I let go but at a much slower speed than moving lever to full up or down.
The valve for 3ph has no special ability to inch up/down it simply can be feathered and these stops allow you to tune it for the illusion of inching control. So if you own a BX without position control you will need to use guage wheels or check chains to achieve repeatable set points or just get used to looking back to see where your implement is at.

Bingo.

That's what a so-called 1/4 inching valve does.

No Kubota SCUTs have position control.

SDT

 

[IchabodCrayne]

Bingo.

That's what a so-called 1/4 inching valve does.

SDT

Well, I guess I've got one then! lol

 

[bcp]

But, in that other thread, it was said that with proper adjustment, it would move 1/4in, then stop, without you moving the handle away from the stop.

???

Bruce

 

[IchabodCrayne]

That was my understanding as well.
But on my tractor it's not so.

 

[bcp]

Since the stops have nothing to do with the valve, only the handle, you should be able to get to that "1/4in and stop" with slow, careful movement of the control lever. If it is there.

Bruce

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm thinking that a 3ph was probably never meant for accurate adjustment. You raise the implement at the headland, make your turn and lower it. I have never seen one that is accurately adjustable. Worse, there is often delay it seems so you have already moved the lever too much. Not saying I would support even more complexity and cost, but if the 3ph had electronic position reading, you could do some neat things.

 

[npalen]

There is a lot to be said about adjustable gauge wheels on a 3PH implement for "depth control". The gauge wheels not only act as a positive and repeatable depth stop but also do it independently, for the most part, of the tractors undulations. Think of the lower and upper links as a four bar "parallel" linkage.

A hydraulic top link is "icing on the cake" in conjunction with the gauge wheel(s) as providing precise "on the go" depth adjustments. These adjustments are then repeatable since the operator can then "drop the bottom out of" the 3PH each time it is raised and lowered. The gauge wheel controls the cutting depth.

A moldboard plow with an onland gauge wheel is just one example of depth control independent of the 3PH.

 

[SDT]

I'm thinking that a 3ph was probably never meant for accurate adjustment. You raise the implement at the headland, make your turn and lower it. I have never seen one that is accurately adjustable. Worse, there is often delay it seems so you have already moved the lever too much. Not saying I would support even more complexity and cost, but if the 3ph had electronic position reading, you could do some neat things.

All of the tractors that I own, even the (exceptional) 1952 8N have position control systems that do, indeed, control lift arm position accurately.

Yes, large, late model AG tractors do have electronically controlled position control.

SDT

 

[IchabodCrayne]

Since the stops have nothing to do with the valve, only the handle, you should be able to get to that "1/4in and stop" with slow, careful movement of the control lever. If it is there.

Bruce

I've put a couple hours into it.. it's not there.