Install the hardware

These pages take you through fitting a Ditch Assist® Full Automation Kit or Guidance Only Kit on a tractor and implement, one part at a time. Each page lists what you need, gives one job per step and tells you what you should see before you move on.

The DIG™ Kit for excavators has its own pages at the bottom of this one. Ditch Assist Lite needs no install: the Emlid Reach goes on the implement and talks to the tablet over its own Wi-Fi. See Ditch Assist Lite.

Before you start

• The kit box, opened and checked against What's in the kit
• The tractor and implement parked on level ground, with room to walk all the way round
• The tablet, with the Ditch Assist app installed (Install the app)

Time: about an hour for a first install. Moving the kit to another machine later takes as little as 20 minutes.

Tools

• A wrench that fits the nuts on the tractor battery terminals
• Wrenches that fit the hydraulic fittings (Full Automation Kit)
• Bolts and clamps, or a welder, to fix the valve bracket (Full Automation Kit) and an antenna mast if you need one
• Cable ties
• A piece of cardboard, to look for oil leaks
• A tape measure, if you will measure blade height by hand

The order of work

1. Check what's in the kit

   Lay every part out and tick it off. What's in the kit

2. Connect the power harness to the battery

   Power harness

3. Fit the hoses to the valve and mount it

   Full Automation Kit only. Valve

4. Mount the Control Module

   Control Module

5. Connect the hoses to the tractor

   Full Automation Kit only. Hydraulic hoses

6. Mount the GPS antenna on the implement

   GPS antenna

7. Mount and power the tablet

   Tablet mount

8. Connect all the cables

   Seven connections, then seal the two spare ports. Connect all cables

9. Connect the tablet and test raise and lower

   The raise and lower test is for the Full Automation Kit. Connect and test

Where everything goes

All hardware pages

Full Automation and Guidance Only Kits

• What's in the kitIdentify every part of the Full Automation or Guidance Only Kit.
• Power harnessWire the power harness straight to the tractor battery.
• Valve (Bucher and Rexroth)Plumb the Bucher or Rexroth valve and mount it solidly.
• Control ModuleMount the module ports-down with a clear view of the cab.
• Hydraulic hosesFour hoses to the tractor; valve remote on continuous flow.
• GPS antennaAntenna on the implement, moving with the blade, open sky all round.
• Tablet mountRAM mount within reach, high-amp 12 V charger.
• Connect all cablesSeven-point cable checklist, spare ports sealed.
• Connect and test hydraulicsJoin the module Wi-Fi, connect, hold Raise and Lower.
• Typical installationsValve, module and antenna placement on a leveler and a scraper.
• Move the kit between machinesWhat moves, what stays, and what to re-check after a swap.

DIG™ Kit (excavators and backhoes)

• DIG: overview and safetyDIG parts, requirements, safety and install order.
• DIG: GPS mountTube #1, Tube #2, counterbalance plate, GPS rod, full-travel check.
• DIG: stick and bucket sensorsStick sensor ~3/4 up the stick, bucket sensor on the dogbone.
• DIG: ECU, cables and final weldsECU by the cab, power, CAN and GPS cables, final welds.
• DIG: calibrationDIG page, six lengths, offset, four angles, block test.
• DIG: web interfaceGrade, direction, start point, sound and a home-screen icon.