"The kit includes everything you need including custom fit Joystick Handle, Brackets, Valve, Hoses, Fittings, and Electrical components. It is a Plug-and-Play kit, and includes installtion instructions. This is an electric selector system, that selects between your bucket curl and the 3rd function with a custom button on the joystick handle.the Joystick is from Scorpion Controls, Included brackets, valve, hoses, fittings and electrical components."
What this is describing is commonly known as a Diverter Valve. When you press the 1 button on the control grip it diverts one current function (typically the Curl/Dump function) into a 3rd set of outlets to run the 3rd function - in your case the grapple lid.
Pro's of this system is you get full proportional control via the curl/dump valve on your loader control. Con's - you can't curl/dump and open/close the grapple lid (or whatever else) at the same time.
I actually chose to go with a kit form "Everything Attachments" instead as they could ship right away. MIE, at the time, quoted a 2 1/2 week wait to ship. Both were similar $850~ in price
I must say though, something I did not realize when going the 3rd function route. There is no feathering the button on the joystick; no feathering of the valve. It's either pressure on, or pressure off. But it sure is nice having the button right there on the joystick. I'm also not really able to operate the thumb on the grapple and curl or lift at the same time. All other functions seem to take priority over the new 3rd function, for the same reason you cannot lift your 3pt hitch at the same time you raise the FEL. This is true for the DKse series tractors. It is possible that the NX series is plumbed differently.
EA simply resells the W.R. Long 3rd function kit. This kit IS a true 3rd function in as much as it will operate independently of the other loader functions (with one proviso that you have discovered, more on this in a moment). In place of a diverter valve it uses a true bi-directional solenoid valve. You have 2 buttons on the control grip to actuate the solenoid in either direction
Pro's it is operated independent of the loaders other functions ** Con's - it is NOT proportional. It is indeed On or Off in either direction you choose.
Thus far in my usage on a grapple I have found absolutely no time where this has been an issue. If you're using your 3rd function on a snow plow / blower where finer / slower control might be needed then I could see where it's a problem.
** Now back to why on most SCUT's / CUT's you can't really operate your 3rd function at the same time.
First - a very basic understanding of how the hydraulic fluid flows through your system is needed.
Tank -> Pump -> Power Steering (if not fed from a separate pump/output) -> Loader Valve (Lift/Lower function then Dump/Curl function then out the Power Beyond Port) -> Rear Remotes (SCV's) if present -> 3 Point Lift -> back to the Tank
Now what happens is as fluid is passing thru the loader valve body it gets used for Lift/Lower then if any flow isn't being used there, it goes to Curl/Dump, anything left after that leaves the loader valve as "Power Beyond" which then becomes the pressure in on your 3rd function valve.
What happens in the real world is that the GPM flow on these pumps are so low that when 1 function is in heavy / full use or 2 functions are in partial use then there is not enough flow capacity left to power the remaining function. Also due to how the loader valve is made it's always priority to Lift/Lower then Curl/Dump and then out the PB to the 3rd function.
If you want to try an experiment at home put your loader down on the ground and then try to dump the bucket while lifting the loader. Most likely you will find that if you're pulling back hard on the stick and raising the loader quickly, the dumping action stops. That's because the Lift function is using all the available flow. If you pull back gently and only part way you can slowly both lift & dump.
The same thing should happen if you try to curl/dump and open/close the grapple without lifting/lowering.
On larger tractors and construction grade equipment you have 2 factors that allow for full operation of all 3 functions simultaneously.
1) The hydraulic system flow capacity is much greater
2) The valve body (bodies) are designed to allow for a portion of the incoming flow to pass through the valve, regardless of it's operation, to be used downstream by the next valve.
This type of valve body (or something similar in function) is what MIE is talking about offering in their new system and I'm pretty curious to see it in action myself.
