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Fit the hoses and mount the valve

Fit the automation, bypass and implement hoses to the Bucher or Rexroth proportional valve, then mount it solidly on the tongue or the tractor. Full Automation Kit only.

  • Full Automation Kit

The valve sits between the tractor's remotes and the implement's lift cylinder. Ditch Assist® drives the valve's solenoids to raise and lower the implement.

This page covers fitting the hoses to the valve and mounting it. The tractor end of the hoses is on the next page.

Before you start

  • The implement lowered to the ground
  • The tractor engine off and the key out
  • The hydraulic pressure relieved before you open any line
  • The Control Module off the implement, if anyone will weld
  • The valve installation sheet from your kit (missing? ask Ditch Assist support for it)

You need: the valve with the hoses, couplings and fittings that came with it, the steel valve bracket, wrenches that fit the fittings, and bolts and clamps or a welder for the bracket.

Time: about 20 minutes, plus welding time if you weld the bracket.

Which valve do you have?

The two common valves are the Bucher and the Rexroth. Compare yours with the two drawings below, then follow the steps for that valve. The sheet in your kit has the final word: other valves can differ slightly.

  • Bucher: two blocks, one above the other, with a long solenoid sticking out at each side and a small dial on the end of the top block.
  • Rexroth: one silver block on a black plate, with hose ports on its top face and on one side.

Bucher valve: fit the hoses

Bucher valve: which hose goes where Front view of the Bucher valve. 1: the two automation (constant flow) ports are on the outer block, the one with the dial. 2: the two manual bypass ports are on the centre block, between the solenoids. 3: an implement coupler sits on each side, below the solenoids. 4: a solenoid at each end of the centre block; the small harness plugs push on here. Dial 1 2 3 4 4
  1. Automation (constant flow). Two ports on the top block, the one with the dial. These hoses go to the tractor remote you run on continuous flow.
  2. Manual bypass. Two ports on the front of the centre block, between the solenoids. These hoses go to a second remote.
  3. Implement. A coupler on each side, for the implement's raise and lower hoses.
  4. Solenoids. The two small harness plugs push on here later.

  1. Fit the two automation hoses

    Connect the two automation hoses that came with the valve to the two ports on the top block (number 1 in the drawing). If a port has a cap in it, take it out only when that hose is ready to go in. Tighten each connection with a wrench.

  2. Fit the two manual bypass fittings

    Fit the manual bypass fittings to the two ports on the front of the centre block (number 2) and tighten them.

  3. Fit the two implement couplers

    Fit the implement couplers to the centre block, one on each side (number 3), and tighten them.

Rexroth valve: fit the hoses

Rexroth valve: which hose goes where The Rexroth valve block on its black mounting plate. 1: the two automation (constant flow) hoses go into the ports on the top face. 2: the manual bypass hoses and 3: the implement couplers share the two ports on the side; each side port has a T-fitting with one coupler and one bypass hose. 4: the solenoid, where a small harness plug pushes on. 1 2 3 3 4
  1. Automation (constant flow). Two hoses into the ports on the top face. They go to the tractor remote you run on continuous flow.
  2. Manual bypass. Two hoses from the side ports. They go to a second remote.
  3. Implement. Two couplers on the side ports, for the implement's raise and lower hoses. Each side port has a T-fitting that carries one coupler and one bypass hose.
  4. Solenoid. The small harness plugs push on the solenoids later.

  1. Fit the two automation hoses

    Connect the two automation hoses to the two ports on the top face of the block (number 1). Take out any port cap only when its hose is ready to go in. Tighten each connection with a wrench.

  2. Fit the implement connectors

    Fit the implement connectors to the ports on the side of the valve (number 3) and tighten them.

  3. Fit the manual bypass fittings

    Fit the manual bypass fittings to the side ports too (number 2) and tighten them.

Both valves: finish the hoses

  1. Tighten every fitting

    Go round every fitting with a wrench before any pressure goes on the valve.

  2. Leave the caps on unused ports

    Any port you have not plumbed yet keeps its red cap, so no dirt gets in.

Hydraulic hook-up with the bypass A simplified hydraulic diagram with numbered markers. 1: tractor Remote 1, set to constant flow and not float, feeds the proportional valve: pressure into port P and return from port T. 2: a one-way check valve on the pressure side means oil flows one way only. 3: tractor Remote 2 connects to the valve’s two bypass ports, so the implement can still be worked by hand with the valve connected. That makes four hoses to the tractor. 4: the control module drives the raise and lower solenoids on the ends of the valve. 5: two hoses run from the valve to the lift cylinder on the implement. If Raise makes the implement go down, swap the two solenoid connectors and never reverse flow at the tractor, because the check valve then stops all movement; if it lowers but won’t raise, turn up the flow on Remote 1 and check it is on constant flow, not float. TractorRemote 1constant flowRemote 2bypassCheckvalvePTbypassValvefrom the moduleLift cylinder12345

How the oil flows once everything is connected:

  1. Remote 1, on continuous flow (not float), feeds the valve's automation ports: pressure into P, return from T.
  2. One-way check valve on the pressure side: oil can only flow one way.
  3. Remote 2 runs the bypass hoses, so the tractor lever still moves the implement. That makes four hoses to the tractor.
  4. Control Module drives the raise and lower solenoids.
  5. Implement hoses run from the valve to the lift cylinder.

Mount the valve

  1. Pick the spot

    Choose a place where the implement's hoses reach the valve and the valve's hoses reach the tractor's rear remotes, with slack for turns.

    • Land leveler: on the tongue, a few feet from the hitch point.
    • Pull-type scraper: on the tongue.
    • Several implements: think about mounting the valve on the tractor for good instead.

    Drawings and a photo of real installs: Typical installations.

  2. If you will weld: take the Control Module off

    Remove the Control Module from the implement before anyone welds on it. Never weld the bracket with the valve on it.

  3. Fix the bracket to the machine

    Bolt, weld or clamp the steel bracket in the spot you chose. It must not be able to move.

  4. Bolt the valve to the bracket

    The bracket's holes already line up with the valve's mounting holes. Bolt the valve on tight, so it can't flex on its hoses.

    Check it: push the valve hard by hand. It should not move on the bracket.

Common mistakes

  • Automation hoses on the bypass ports. The implement then doesn't respond to the app.
  • A loose valve hanging on its hoses.
  • Welding the bracket with the valve or the Control Module still on the machine.

If it doesn't work

If nothing moves in the raise and lower test, check the plumbing against the drawings above first. Then work through The implement won't move.

Next: Mount the Control Module.

Related

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Still stuck? Talk to a product specialist. 1-833-DITCH-AS · support@ditchassist.com · Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Central.

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