hydrdaulic line routing question

[Jim Leap]

Hello,

I have an HG with dozer. I am just starting to rebuild the tractor and the first thing I am going to do while it is still running is to reroute the hydraulic lines.  I plan on adding an underdrive transmission and currently the dozer hydraulic lines run from the control valve, between the operator's feet, to two T's directly over the center of the clutch housing then to the lift rams. The way it is currently set up, the T's are in the center of the lines to the rams. How critical is it that the T's be centered?  

Sincerely,

Jim Leap

[John]

Jim,hydraulic pressure takes the path of least resistance...two cylinders on the same circuit will alternate bearing the load...most times the eye wont pick this up but believe me its true...ideally it would be best to make your lines all the same length,but in practical applications this sometimes is impossible....try to stagger the tees equallyone side long to the barrel end and short to the rod,and visa versa to gain clearance.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Jim, I have to disagree with John here. Both cylinders when place parellel with equal hydraulic pressure will distribute the load between them. One may compensate for the other by extending further or less depending on the geometry of the linkages. It makes no difference where you put the Ts in your system as the pressure in both lines will be the same.

[John Schwiebert]

First of all use steel hydraulic tubing and stay away form pipe threads as much as possiable. Use something with an O-ring such as JIC. Lot less problems. The location of the Tees is realy not that important. Our farm loader does not have the Tees in the middle either. Make sure you also have a valve with float position on one spool and have the reservoir above the pump. I would also recommend a return line filter with a by pass valve and at least with the capacity of 1.5 times pump flow. Other questions ask or email me direct.