Installing hydraulics for rear mount snowblower

[149owner]

OK, so I'm about to pull the trigger on buying a rear mount snowblower for my BX2200. My question now is how do I connect the hydraulic chute rotator and probably a hydraulic defector into my tractor's system? Do I tee into the lines going to the FEL joystick and connect these to another 4 way joystick that the snowblower lines will connect to? Does anyone have a reasonably priced place to buy the components (joystick, hoses and couplings) for this? Thanks.

 

[Stonehaller]

Check out http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/14585-added-rear-hydraulics-bx2200.html

 

[149owner]

Thanks for finding that thread Stonehaller! That helps but I still need to know how to install the joystick and what kind I need. Would the joystick be connected to the 250 hose and the 240 coupler?

 

[Stonehaller]

You could use a valve like this one here:

Surplus Center - 2 SPOOL 8 GPM PRINCE MB21BB5C1 DA VALVE

or other open center valve. Read jrlichina's thread carefully. He is using parts from a backhoe kit to tap into the hydraulics. The high pressure line is item 140 and the return line is item 170. Add your own hoses and fittings to those to connect to the valve you select. If you install the rear hydraulic kit, you need to connect 140 and 170 together if you do not have a valve installed to complete the circuit. When you have the valve installed, the circuit is completed through the valve.

 

[keyman1808]

Why not use a long hose and run them all the way to where the loader connects. Wire tie them up out of the way. You dont need to mess with your hydro sysytem either. Get real slick and use quick connects at the rear so you can leave the longer hoses there and just disconnect at the rear.

 

[Jay4200]

OK, so I'm about to pull the trigger on buying a rear mount snowblower for my BX2200. My question now is how do I connect the hydraulic chute rotator and probably a hydraulic defector into my tractor's system? Do I tee into the lines going to the FEL joystick and connect these to another 4 way joystick that the snowblower lines will connect to? Does anyone have a reasonably priced place to buy the components (joystick, hoses and couplings) for this? Thanks.

No, you do not tee into anything. Do some research on Open-Center hydraulics and power-beyond. Functions are placed in series and fluid flows continuously until a valve is activated. Fluid flows into the IN port, and out of the PB port to the next valve. The OUT port returns low-pressure fluid (other side of the driven piston) to the sump. The last in line only has an OUT port, since everything returns to sump. On my tractor, the 3pt is last, so it only has an IN port - OUT is internal.

I was faced with the same situation after buying a used snowblower with hydraulic chute controls on CL. I had a power-beyond line and a return plumbed to the back that I used to run my backhoe, but have no valved remotes. I didn't want to install generic remotes onto my tractor - I didn't think I'd have much use for them other than for my blower, and I didn't want to add all that clutter.

I ended up building a dedicated remote setup that runs using the existing PB lines. I only had to add a single line to the tractor (PB to gain 3pt hitch function). The entire remote system is local to the blower, with the valve mounted on an arm that is connected to and moves with the blower. The valve handles are an easy reach, and I am turned around anyway - far easier than operating a manual crank, and I have active flapper control too. The blower/valving is removed as a unit by pulling a couple of hoses, which returns my tractor to it's original PB configuration.

I bought all of my hoses and a few fittings mail-order from Surplus Center - can't beat the pre-made hose prices and the quality was very good. I bought a 10GPM 2-spool valve locally at TST Hydraulics in Merrimack, NH, where I bought the valve and most of my fittings:
Home - TST Hydraulics, Inc
The guys at TST are super-nice and helpful and their prices are good (best valve price I found, including mail order).

JayC

 

[149owner]

Thanks to all for your inputs. Looking at the diagram of the backhoe hydraulic lines that was in the link that stonehaller posted, it looks like #040 is what connects 170 and a line from the FEL to the control valve assembly. These two lines are the ends of the pressure loop (Outlet and Inlet). 140 looks like it is connected directly to the second line that runs to the FEL and just gets bolted to 040. This would complete the loop. The third line coming from the FEL and connected to 130 is the return line. On Jay4200's setup I see a third line connected to the tractor (return?). Would I have to put a tee at 130 to connect this line to?

 

[Stonehaller]

I am not familiar with the BX2200 hydraulics, but my guess would be that line 170 needs to be connected to the power beyond port of your new valve to power the 3 point hitch. In that case you would need to tee in the return line from the new valve to the return line from the loader. The backhoe kit probably does not have a separate return as you would not use the three point with the backhoe installed. But in your case, you need the three point so you need to tee in to the return.

Be sure to get a power beyond plug for whatever valve you order as you usually have to order that separately.