Replacement loader valve for generic loader on old tractor

rangerfredbob · Sep 1, 2022

I have an old Kubota L260 with a Kwik Way loader that's undersize for the tractor but works fine... it has an external belt drive pump in the 8gpm range, the ancient loader valve is toast, my right shoe I was wearing while moving some dirt last weekend is NOT gonna rust... I'd rebuild the valve but doubt it's worth it...

Currently the valve is a two stick that's even hooked up backward (right stick is up/down, left is tilt, I'm pretty sure that's not right but whatever...) so I'll fix that and get used to that again later... it's also I think 1/4" NPT on the outputs and 3/8 NPT on the supply/return so staying NPT would be easiest but that's why I'm here... Here's a pic of the current valve a few years ago before the leaks got REALLY bad:

Looking at the budget friendly valves I'm seeing $70-120 all over with a bunch of near identical valves, most of which have BSP threads, some SAE O ring boss but much harder to find... Saw on the Vevor website they have a three spool valve with 3 sticks that's NPT for $75 shipped that is very tempting...

Looking at the pic I guess my hoses are mostly 3/8" NPT with one SAE/JIC for good measure...

So, what would you guys put in there? I'm all for single stick but would rather not invest a fortune in hoses or fittings to convert to SAE O ring or BSP, unless you can just tap out the BSP holes for NPT which I'd be all for... I don't mind getting bushings going from 1/2" NPT to 3/8" NPT... I'm pretty sure the 11gpm options would be reasonable...

ptsg · Sep 1, 2022

Have you checked Summit Hydraulics or Surplus Center?

Joystick Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Joystick Valves,Hydraulic Valves,Hydraulics, 2 SPOOL JOYSTICK LOADER CONTROL VALVE Brand new. BRAND Model LV22RFSTKAB. Compact two spool joystick

www.surpluscenter.com

11 GPM Valves - Summit Hydraulics

summit-hydraulics.com

By the way, the prices really went high on the Surplus Center. I used to recommend checking there because they had joystick valves for like $140. Now the cheapest one is $262.

You can get it a little cheaper if you go with the 2 lever style instead of joystick.

I don't think you can get one with the exact ports you need though, so adapters will definitely be needed.

MadJack · Sep 1, 2022

I'm looking to do the same on my '86 Ford 2110.

This one looks like a great fix, not sure about the price.
(but what an upgrade it would be!)

3 Spool 25 GPM Joystick Loader Valve w/Grapple Prince HC-V-BP22 | Directional Control Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

3 Spool 25 GPM Joystick Loader Valve w/Grapple Prince HC-V-BP22, Directional Control Valves, 3 SPOOL 25 GPM JOYSTICK LOADER VALVE W/GRAPPLE, 3 SPOOLPrince Mfg,HC-V-BP22 ,

www.surpluscenter.com

ptsg · Sep 1, 2022

MadJack said:
I'm looking to do the same on my '86 Ford 2110.

This one looks like a great fix, not sure about the price.
(but what an upgrade it would be!)

3 Spool 25 GPM Joystick Loader Valve w/Grapple Prince HC-V-BP22 | Directional Control Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

3 Spool 25 GPM Joystick Loader Valve w/Grapple Prince HC-V-BP22, Directional Control Valves, 3 SPOOL 25 GPM JOYSTICK LOADER VALVE W/GRAPPLE, 3 SPOOLPrince Mfg,HC-V-BP22 ,

www.surpluscenter.com

At 25 GPM, that valve is way too big for your tractor. It would have made it very hard to fine control the loader.

You want a valve the closest to the flow available on your tractor as possible. Preferably above slightly. I check TractorData and looks like that tractor has about 8 GPM, so you would want something close to that.

Here is a good example. Doesn't have float but if you contact them, they should be able to add it for you.

Monoblock Directional Control Valve, 3 Spool, Joystick Handle, 11 GPM

Hydraulic Monoblock Directional Control Valve, 3 Spool, Joystick Handle, 11 GPM

summit-hydraulics.com

These Summit valves are just rebranded Badestnost valves made in Bulgaria. About the cheapest valve one can buy, but not because those are made cheaply but because it's a very basic valve with no load checks and some other stuff.

I've been rocking a 4 spool Badestnost valve on my backhoe for over 15 years and thousand hours with no issues at all and very little internal leakage.

Also, if you have 7 lines (versus 6) on your current valve, you'll also need a PB/Carry over sleeve for it.

LD1 · Sep 1, 2022

I have used brand loader valves before LV - Loader Directional Control Valve | Brand Hydraulics Product Information

You can option them about any way you want and change the mounting orientations to suit however you want to mount it. And they are available with power beyond if needed

And while your at it....get rid of ALL of those hardware store water pipe fittings. You are just asking for a face full of hot oil when one of them fails. Get steel fittings actually made for hydraulics....no exceptions

KWentling · Sep 1, 2022

Those galvanized bell reducers are likely only rated 300 psi.

rangerfredbob · Sep 1, 2022

Not saying anything that's there is great, I've had hot hydraulic fluid in the face when some old hoses blew, I've replaced like 8 hoses so far, still a few left but hopefully in a couple years I'll put on my nicer more appropriately sized loader once I build a frame for it... Kwik Way back in the day if you search Google and whatnot just made garden tractor loaders, this is likely their bigger version... it's a goofy level lift deal, nice and annoying feature at the same time...

Saw THIS GUY on amazon, a few of the reviews say it's NPT even though the G1/2" seems to be BSP... $60 is tempting...

HERE'S the Vevor one that's for sure NPT

THIS ONE from Summit wouldn't be bad...

All the fancier ones are a touch out of my preferred price range for now, I'm gonna wait a couple weeks most likely to check on my finances, I'm not a big fan of having the balance on my card that I have now...

MadJack · Sep 2, 2022

ptsg said:
At 25 GPM, that valve is way too big for your tractor. It would have made it very hard to fine control the loader.

You want a valve the closest to the flow available on your tractor as possible. Preferably above slightly. I check TractorData and looks like that tractor has about 8 GPM, so you would want something close to that.

Here is a good example. Doesn't have float but if you contact them, they should be able to add it for you.

Monoblock Directional Control Valve, 3 Spool, Joystick Handle, 11 GPM

Hydraulic Monoblock Directional Control Valve, 3 Spool, Joystick Handle, 11 GPM

summit-hydraulics.com

These Summit valves are just rebranded Badestnost valves made in Bulgaria. About the cheapest valve one can buy, but not because those are made cheaply but because it's a very basic valve with no load checks and some other stuff.

I've been rocking a 4 spool Badestnost valve on my backhoe for over 15 years and thousand hours with no issues at all and very little internal leakage.

Also, if you have 7 lines (versus 6) on your current valve, you'll also need a PB/Carry over sleeve for it.

Thanks for this info. My tractor hydro pump is 8.6, thought I had read somewhere it was 20 gpm.