350 utility valve control setting

[Bob21 Martin]

On my 350 Utility I have two valve blocks with levers for the loader lift and one for the bucket. Then towards the rear I have one for the two point.

On each of the blocks there is a short end of a shaft, flat on two sides, that sticks out about half an inch from the casing on each. On the front two blocks the shaft is on the front of the casing. It can be turned about 75 degrees or so in either direction.

My question is what is that shaft for and if it's an adjustment for the hydraulic valve control, how should it be set on each of the three blocks.

Thanks a lot for the help,

Appreciate it as always, Bob

 

[D Slater]

Look close and you can find a S and the letter D at base of shaft with two flats. When pin points to S it's for operating a single acting cylinder or double acting cylinder used for one way pressure. Two point hitch sets to double acting most times. If loader has down pressure, set to double acting. If just lift and gravity down, set for single acting. If bucket turns up and down with pressure, set to double acting. Sometimes the pin in valve shaft gets bent so when shaft is turned it can go to far or less far as needed. Something to eye ball.

 

[Bob21 Martin]

Thanks a bunch for the information D Slater.

I take a look and get that set up. The two one ways I have are the loader lift and the mower. The lift has always worked well, but the mower has always been a problem. Maybe this will take care of it.

Thanks again for the help,

Bob

 

[MARK ROBKE]

To add to D Slater's reply, look under the valve blocks-the single acting will have 1 line and the double acting will have 2 lines. You can follow the lines out to their loader connections. On my 300 the outer lever was single acting, forward to raise, back to lower or float. The inner lever tilted and returned the bucket, forward to tilt and back return to level-it was double acting. And the rear lever operated the fast hitch. Double acting-forward to raise and rear to lower. Make sure it does NOT have the down pressure pin in(located under the hydraulic cylinder) when you mow. Mark.

 

[Bob21 Martin]

Thanks Mark:

I've had this thing for twenty eight years and always had trouble with the mower, which is a one way cylinder. I use one of the loader lines for the bucket on it. Never once did I think about turning those valve knobs (don't know what they are actually called).

When I got all the grease off them I can see where they are set up with the little metal positioning keepers. I still haven't found the "S" and "D" but I used the hitch position as a reference. The one for the mower was in the wrong setting.

One more thing fixed on the ole girl. Probably worth a fortune by now - maybe for a museum.

Thanks again, Bob

 

[D Slater]

Hitch was originally supposed to be installed with a check vale with two lines to the cylinder. That was to keep oil from leaking by the spool valve and letting the lift drift down. It needed to be plumped for double acting hydraulics to open check to lower cylinder for hitch drop. If you have the hitch with a hydraulic cylinder sitting near vertical, near where it attaches at bottom is a 3/4 pin hole. If a pin is in hole the lift arms won't float in original set up. With pin out the lift arms can float up and go back down to the level you had arms lifted to. Hitch will have no down pressure also.

 

[Bob21 Martin]

I see. Mine has the two lines and the pin hole you mention. I use that hole on a lowboy with a light tongue when haying. It comes in handy.

The hitch works really well.

When I have the one way on the mower is there a check valve to put in that line or do they only work with two ways?

Thanks, Bob

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I think you can only use 1 function per valve and only 1 line(outside line, I think) works with the single acting mode, and the other line is used when in double action mode. In other words you can only use 1 valve to control (properly) 1 cylinder-you can't have 1 line on 1 cylinder and the other line on another cylinder from the same valve. If I understood what you are trying to do. Mark.

 

[Bob21 Martin]

Thanks Mark.

Years ago, I had mentioned at IH Parts I couldn't keep the cylinder up on the mower and the parts guy said "just put a check valve in the line" What I couldn't understand was how to release the check in the line when I wanted the mower lowered.

 

[D Slater]

Check like number 19 in the picture was used. Elbows 17 are where the hose 15 and 16 attach and go to lift cylinder. Check if working correct doesn't let any oil pass through it until the control valve is moved to lower hitch. Hydraulic pressure to lower unlocks the valve. That's why it needs to be operated double acting to work like intended.

 

[Bob21 Martin]

Thanks D Slater:

I would have to go to a two way cylinder on the mower lift to use a check valve, then. The one way cylinder came on the mower and I've just kept it. A cylinder that small isn't expensive. I may go ahead and change it over to a double and be done with it. Most of the field work I do now is with the mo-co.

Appreciate the information and all the help,

Bob