Those of you who have been following my hydraulic issues on the 4000 may be aware that it was my flow control valve that was broken and it was recommended I source a new one from a breaker. Knowing this would be expensive especially for a part that I don't use (it seems that travelling on a public road with an implement on the back would be about the only use for it and I don't do that) I set about trying to find a way to replace it with a direct pipe.
For those who don't know what the flow control valve does, it takes an input directly from the hydraulic pump and has a lever on the back that directs some of the flow back into the sump. Using the draught control opens this lever to give 100% unrestricted flow.
The problem was that the gap between the pump outlet and the underneath of the valve cutout in the axle casing is about 130mm but the pipes are only 40mm apart - far too close to use elbows and too restrictive to try and get a piece of flexible hose in there.
The 5/8 metal tube that joins the top of the flow controller to the top cover (where the magic happens!) is about 83mm long and I had 2 of them, having slightly damaged one when reseating the top cover before - an act which finally led to the demise of the valve itself. The tube that sits between the pump and the valve is the same diameter, but much shorter.
I made up a couple of 90 degree adaptors and fitted them this afternoon. After a false start which turned out to be the lift pin having fallen out (easy to do if you lift the arms when installing the cover) it works a treat. No more fudging with the loader valve, I hope!
For those who don't know what the flow control valve does, it takes an input directly from the hydraulic pump and has a lever on the back that directs some of the flow back into the sump. Using the draught control opens this lever to give 100% unrestricted flow.
The problem was that the gap between the pump outlet and the underneath of the valve cutout in the axle casing is about 130mm but the pipes are only 40mm apart - far too close to use elbows and too restrictive to try and get a piece of flexible hose in there.
The 5/8 metal tube that joins the top of the flow controller to the top cover (where the magic happens!) is about 83mm long and I had 2 of them, having slightly damaged one when reseating the top cover before - an act which finally led to the demise of the valve itself. The tube that sits between the pump and the valve is the same diameter, but much shorter.
I made up a couple of 90 degree adaptors and fitted them this afternoon. After a false start which turned out to be the lift pin having fallen out (easy to do if you lift the arms when installing the cover) it works a treat. No more fudging with the loader valve, I hope!
