have a 1985 213lc cat. looking to put a thumb on.It has lines to boom for hammer can i use thouse lines.
We purchased a Cat 318BL a few years back & it had lines down the stick for what I believe the previous had a mower attachemnt on & we installed a hyd thumb to replace the mechanical thumb, using the existing lines. It works real good for us.
Yes but the hammer is one way flow and the thumb requires bi directional. Some excavators have a switch for this, others require some hydraulic plumbing on the valve block.
X2 on the auxiliary circuit needing to be bi-directional . Also make sure you knock that circuit relief down to 2500 psi or less. You don't want the smaller flimsier cylinder of the thumb to try and compete with the bucket cylinder. The thumb will lose. The resulting carnage will travel back to your main control valve and cause all sorts of horrendous damage. Adjust your pressure accordingly.
how can i tell if valve can be made two way ?
Follow piping back to boom foot from top of stick. If the one pipe goes straight back to tank, you've one way flow. If both pipes go back to MCV you have bi directional. Additionally, check your switches, it may show hammer on one side and shear on other. How does your aux function operate. button, slide or foot pedal?
A lot of the guys on here are really sharp on the cat stuff, me, not so much. Make sure you post your serial number when you throw out queries like this. A lot of guys here can do magical stuff with the serial numbers. Pictures also very helpful. Think like this, the more info I can provide, the better support I will receive.
so both pipes go back to mcv. it functions from a button on joystick but joystick has only one button. it is a 1985 catrpillar 213lc from germany. 3CZ00 is serial number. looks like conttol valve under seat in cab
does the other joystick have a button or thumb trigger on it ? confirm the pressure relief valve is in the MCV, or you could add one in the lines on the boom , my cat 304cr has it on the boom. like said above no PRV and bad things will happen.
I think you mean 3ZC