Hydraulic flow restrictors

Phils · Jan 13, 2005

Yes, BigEddy, moving the lever left should be tilting the bucket 'up'. That's how it was on my Case. Just the opposite on my PT. And I think the way you describe (as on my Case) is the way it should logically be. Easy enough to adapt to, but easy enough to change. The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to swap the hoses when I install the restrictors.

Phil

pequeajim · Jan 13, 2005

I'm kind of in your boat too. I did have a FEL on my Massey, but it has been 5 years since I used it and I had to get used to things all over again.

(we older guys tend to forget more quickly... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif)

After putting 15 hours my 425, I feel very comfortable, but I can see how you could feel uncomfortable with it tho...

Phils · Jan 13, 2005

I agree, Johara1, that when I'm using half-throttle or less, it's acceptable. It's those instances where I'm using full throttle to get more power to the wheels that the FEL speed is too fast for me. And as for the direction of movement in regards to the lever direction, maybe mine is "wired" backwards? Heck, sitting here in my office, I'm not sure which way is which. It's just from day one, I've felt the bucket tilt was "backward". My friend only confirmed my feeling.

As I mentioned earlier, I couldn't ask for easier access to the hoses and valves. If I "win" some restrictors from eBay, it'll be easy enough to try them, and try switching the hoses, and easy enough to put it all back stock if my experiments prove to be worse than it was.

Phil

Phils · Jan 13, 2005

" we older guys tend to forget more quickly... "

Speak for yourself, Jim. Now, what was it we were discussing?

Phil

J_J · Jan 13, 2005

Hi Phils

I found another valve that might work best. It can be adjusted from zero flow to wide open. It is called a needle valve. It has same flow in both directions. Check the Bailey hydraulic catalogue for the valve or their web site Baileynet.com It also has a 5000 psi rating.

Item number 450-060 1/4
450-061 1/2

MuncyBob · Jan 13, 2005

( Yes, BigEddy, moving the lever left should be tilting the bucket 'up'. That's how it was on my Case. Just the opposite on my PT. )

interesting...moving my control arm left on my 422 does tilt up! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Phils · Jan 13, 2005

As I said, sitting here I don't remember which way is up.... oh, yeah, talking about my PT... my memory isn't all it used to be, and it used to be pretty crappy.

I'm used to however it is plumbed now, and may or may not change it when I install the restrictors. I took a short look last night when I got home and it appears that I may need to halve the hoses and have ends installed, and then put the restrictors mid-point in the hoses. I don't think they'll fit at the ram, and there's not much extra room at the valve body either.

Phil

Clarke · Jan 13, 2005

Hi Phils:

When I first started using the loader on my PT425 I also had a problem with the response. Throttled the machine back until I was more proficient with the loader.. Now after about 125 hours using the loader sometimes I think its to slow and annoys me. Maybe you should give it more time.. My loader raises when the lever is pulled back, lowers when pushed forward curls up when pushed to the left and dumps to the right..

sg

MossRoad · Jan 13, 2005

Moving the lever left on mine curls the bucket up.
Moving the lever right dumps it.

I think you might have a couple hoses swapped. Or yours is correct and all of ours are swapped. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

cqaigy · Jan 14, 2005

interesting...moving my control arm left on my 422 does tilt up ditto

stray · Jan 14, 2005

My 422 Left tilt up Right tilt bucket down. I guess it is neather right or wrong it is just the way it is. LOL

Phils · Jan 14, 2005

Well, actually I guess the movement direction is correct (I looked at it this morning). I don't really know why I felt it to be wrong, it was just this nagging thought that my 'instinctive' movements were somehow backwards and then my friend said the same thing. As Gilda Radner would say: "never mind".

As far as getting used to the speed of the bucket, using the adjustable restrictors will allow me to change it at a moments notice. If I eventually find them unnecessary it'll be no problem to 'open' them all the way for no restriction.

Thanks for the collective advice. When installed, I'll post pictures and results.

Phil

J_J · Jan 14, 2005

Phil

If you get the flow control, you will need two valves. If you get a needle valve, you will only need one per cylinder.

I found another unit called a snubber or restrictor that goes in line , no cutting, and you would only need one of these per cylinder. They have different orfice sizes to match your requirements.

You would only unhook the line from the cylinder and put the restrictor on, be sure to match up fittings type.

Phils · Jan 14, 2005

Thanks, JJ. I've got a bid in on a pair of adjustable valves. Provided bidding doesn't get out of hand (the bid for the pair is about $6 now) they should work fine. And this way I can have different speeds for each direction if I want.

I have absolutely NO idea of how small the restrictor hole should be so the inline ones wouldn't work for me without too much trial and error.

Phil

J_J · Jan 15, 2005

I bid on one of those needle valves on Ebay. When it arrives, I will install it and let you how it works. Good luck on your setup.

Phils · Jan 17, 2005

Looks like I won the pair of restrictors. I looked closer this weekend and I'll have a couple of short hoses built and install the restrictors near or on the ram.

And as for the "backwards" movement that I thought was lurking in the back of my mind: I totally remembered this weekend as I was doing some hoe work. Moving the control to the left makes the boom go AWAY from the operator, the opposite of a normal backhoe. Of course, that's the bucket control too, and it's more than I want to do so that it is changable so I'll learn to live with it. I use the FEL and grinder much more than the hoe anyway.

Phil

J_J · Jan 17, 2005

While you are installing the flow control valves, why not go ahead and make the controls correct. Handle left, bucket tilts up. Handle right, bucket tilts down.

You should be able to switch hoses at the cylinder.

Phils · Jan 17, 2005

JJ,

The bucket (FEL) action is correct. It's the boom (hoe) action that is backwards to a standard backhoe. If I change it for the hoe, then the FEL will be backward since it's the bucket tilt ram that moves the boom. The only 'fix' would be to make a disconnect or valve arrangement that would reverse the lines when using one or the other. That is more complicated than I want to think about, so I'll just get used to the 'backwards boom movement'.

Phil

MossRoad · Jan 18, 2005

Switch the hoses on the boom end. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Jan 18, 2005

Those of us with the advantage (?) of zero experience with a conventional backhoe didn't know that the boom function would be backward. If it bothers you, when you have them loose for your restrictors, it should be easy to install a set of quick disconnects to reverse the lines in the tilt circuit when you're using the hoe.
I got used to mine fairly quickly, but didn't have any old habits to break.