Running batwing mower with only two sets of remotes

Hydraulics system experts: Am I doing any damage with the below set up?
My tractors only have two sets of remotes, but batwing mowers have three one-way hydraulic circuits. I use the first circuit for the main mower raise/lower. I used to tee the two wings into one, and plug that into circuit two. But that means that you can only fold up and lower both sides at the same time. So last year, I separated the tee, and ran each one-way hose to each of the outlets on my number two circuit. It works great, but you do need to pay attention. I leave it in float for most mowing (as instructed in the manual. Pull it back to raise one wing, push it forward to raise the other. Back to float to lower either/both.
The main thing to watch out for is that when you raise one wing, the other (if it is up) will float down slowly. And it is tough to get both wings up all the way. But the raise rate is much faster than the lower rate, so you can control the mower pretty well with this set up.
My question is this - The tractor manual says to put the hoses from one-way cylinders into only one of the two outlets (the cylinder extend side). I"m placing one hose in both.
Any thoughts on what might be happening? Thanks, Steve

I have no idea what type of valves are in your tractor. Some spool valves are just that- a simple spool valve. Some have check valves. My Magnum indicates it has a check valve only on the "lift" side of the spool. Which I find lacking. I want a valve to have the capability to hold as much one way as the other.
I run my batwing the same way you are, when it's hitched to one of my smaller JD's. And they aren't spool valves in the simplest terms- each valve has FOUR spools in it! Seems like JD went to a lot of work to make it a lot more complicated than it has to be!
I can't imagine you're hurting anything.

Been using a New holland 6610 for several years with your setup on a 15 foot batwing with no ill effects. Its an open center system, so see no reason for any problems. Works pretty well too.
Joe

I have used that method since 1974 on a 20 fi. Woods. ME the tractor and mower are worn out, but I don't think the hose hookup did it!!

(quoted from post at 18:18:40 01/30/11) Been using a New holland 6610 for several years with your setup on a 15 foot batwing with no ill effects. Its an open center system, so see no reason for any problems. Works pretty well too.
Joe

Click to expand...

I think NH 6610 remotes are actually not open center but what NH calls CCLS. At least the 5610 that I had until it burnt was CCLS.

I'm curious if both wing cylinders are plugged into both sides of one remote coupler how do you get both wings raised up at the same time?

I understand that putting control lever in float position will let both wings down.
Thanks,Jim

As long as the fluid has somewhere to go, you're fine. You're not hurting the tractor one bit.

However, it does seem like an awkward way of controlling the wings. Why do you need to raise one wing at a time? I didn't think it was good for the mower's shafts, u-joints, and gearboxes to run it with one wing lifted.

mkirsch - I don't tend to run much with any wings raised, but based on the way that most modern mowers are designed, they can handle some upward movement while running. I'll use the ability to lift one wing to get around a tree or post in a tight space, while continuing to mow with the rest of the mower. I have also used it for short periods to cut back some lite overgrowth coming in from the side.

TX Jim - It is not easy to get both wings up at the same time. You can not raise them (the motion of raising them) at the exact same time. You can, if you work it, get both wings to be up, in the raised position, at the same time.
The key is that the raising rate is faster than the lowering rate. Say if the left wing is up, and you select to raise the right, while the right is going up quickly, the left will float down slowly. So I'll raise the right, then re-select to raise the left up from the slight down point that it has floated to. Its kinda difficult to explain...
The key here is that you really only get into this see-saw action when you're putting the mower away. While you are running, and at least one wing is on the ground, none of this really matters. The only thing that concerns me is the way that both of my tractor manuals (JD5425 and White 2-105) suggest that this is not an appropriate connection for one-way cylinders.

I immediately understood how you raise both wings but hadn't thought of doing it that way. Thanks for your reply and I think that operation won't hurt your hyd system.