i would like to get a rotating grapple bucket for boulder work i have one aux hydraulic, would like to add a electric diverter valve, to go from grapple to rotate. to get this from a excavator manufacture is very high priced. does any body no of a cheaper place to purchase one. it would need to be 24volt 34 gallons 4000 psi. for anybody that has tried this did it work ok?? thanks
Your aux hydraulics circuit is usually high flow/high pressure. In comparison most grapple are low/med pressure much lower flow. Not only will you need to divert, but restrict and reduce. I think you'll generate a lot of heat and be very dissatisfied
all my excavators with aux flow that i have now just run thumbs, just a cylinder in and out, no problems, with thousands of hours, what is the difference between a thumb/grapple.???
I thought you said you want to run a rotating grapple. That typically uses a small motor. Won't survive high flow/pressure. Plus you'll have to add a case drain line for the motor.
ok yes i did say rotating so the rotate side motor would need a case drain which i have at the end of stick, and then you think i could add a restricter or reducer in that line right before the rotating motor ???
First, reduce high flow to min = heat Second controlling oil flow high/low= costly Third case drain@ end of stick? That may be Hammer return. You usually have 3 lines @end of stick. Hammer, one way flow . Hammer/shear, bi-directional flow. And tank return is third line. I hope this makes sense.
this unit is a pc78mr-6 it has the bi directional lines, plus someone before me, added a line that t's back at the tank. then it has a 6 pin electric connector that is attached back at the joysticks. a big landscape company had it and and i think it had something that rotated on it. do you think i can make this work with a rotating grapple bucket??
That looks like they used the aux hydraulics to run a stand alone unit. So you have your aux coming into the implement constantly, the solenoids in the implement dictate oil flow and pressure through pressure reducing valves. All this is based on inputs from the operator via joystick control buttons or slides. That is a simple RV plug. I don't pretend to know Cat specifically, but basic hydraulics, I'm ok. You need to find out what the requirements are for the implement you want to purchase and go from there. I have seen some folks (mfrs) tap off quick attach oil for rotation with a simple AB valve. But i think that was also dedicated slope and rotate before the quick attach was added. Unless your going with something similar to a Hercules sheet driver, I think the cost is gonna be higher than if you bit the bullet and went with what cat has to offer . I am sorry I don't have any options for aftermarket. Perhaps others can chime in.
Am I misreading? PC78mr is compact or mini-ex correct? Is that unit gonna support the weight of a rotating grapple. A grapple or thumb is one thing, you add a turning joint and motor and you've about increased the weight by 40% or more. Plus the weight of the material your picking? I think you'll be unhappy. But I have been wrong before.
here is a pic of a you tube video of a 6 ton unit, it handles rocks no problem, this unit is the 4 to 9 ton unit
What you see is a relatively new ECR58 swinging that attachment around. It does look pretty stable, with the blade down. I guess you have to decide for yourself. I wouldn't want to shorten the fuse on my boom / house bearings by overworking it. Plus you have a boom that swings independent of the can too, correct?. That little pin is gonna take a beating. Just stuff to think about.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydra...oid-Operated-Double-Selector-Valve-9-8602.axd Pressure and flow are less on this one although your not going to use 34 gallons or max pressure to turn the grapple Might be able to find a more suitable one but im betting it would work well I have used that valve to add circuits before Your going to be using the thumb circuit to run the rotate so there is no pressure heat issue its low flow low pressure intermittent flow
jonas302, what size machine or application did you use this selector valve for, what did you use for a switch, can you explain further thanks
I've used it to run a ripper cylinder on a grader and add blade tilt on a snowplow truck the two hoses come in from your valve and are open to the thumb cylinder when there is no power switch on power and it will open the valve to your rotate and closed to the thumb you can use any momentary switch 2 wire set up This is all depending that you have a thumb valve in the hoe already
oh no, now you have me thinking that little hoe probably could use a angle blade to, more winter time projects in the works!!
Its not like you are going to run the rotater full time I would not worry about heat build up I put a 24V diverter on a D8R for a ripper it worked fine got mine from Union Hyd. 704-292-7268 talk to Jathen
The grapples with rotation circuits I have installed usually run 500 PSI and 5 to 10 gallons per minute. Most auxiliary flow valves on excavators run half pump flow if a single pump or single pump flow if a double pump. Depending on your system, you can tee off the main pump output and put an electrically controlled valve in to run your rotate. We used to install EELAC valves in open center hydraulic systems to run grapple rotate circuits. Back then you were looking at around $3,500 for all new components and the labor to plumb the system to the end of the stick. Grapples can be sized to fit any excavator and they work real well for people building rock walls and such.
i have the diverter valve in hand,it looks like for me to have left and right rotation or direction of flow i would need to install it on the output side of the valve block that has a direction of flow control switch or pedal in place, could put it on the push blade circuit which might be easier and also might be less flow or pressure, or the aux flow circuit. if i where to t of main pump output how would i control direction of flow, what is a EELAC valve.??
An EELAC valve is a directional control and accumulator charging valve. It is teed into the main pump output and will send oil to an accumulator. When you want to rotate the grapple the solenoids will use the accumulator as the source flow and send it down to rotate the grapple. We used them in open center hydraulic systems because if you weren't operating a function there was not enough pressure to turn the rotator. Before you install your diverter you need to get the specs on the rotate motor. Then you can decide where to get your oil from.
after opening up some covers and finding a valve that has dumpback to tank for a hammer, factory installed. i think this unit probably ran a rotate grapple that had the diverter valve located at the grapple itself. why would it have the electrical six pin connector plus a extra half inch line with flat faced coupling, that runs back and t's at tank drain inlet. your thoughts ????
Sounds to me like you machine had some kind of multi-function attachment. Six pins might give it three different functions. Any small line going back to tank would indicate a case drain for a motor.