Adding a hydraulic divertor to a digger.

[Matthew Storrs]

Basically I have a new digger coming shortly, but I have a slight issue in that I will be running a powertilt hitch on it which will run of the standard breaker lines.

obviously this is great if I’m just using standard buckets but I want to run a grab and auger off it too which will need hydraulics too. Is there an easy way to install a divertor on the existing hammer lines so that I can switch it over to then operate grab/auger.

Could have ordered the machine as a speacial with dual auxiliary lines but couldn’t handle the 9 month wait!

machine is a Takeuchi TB216

Edited June 13, 2018 by Matthew Storrs

[muldonach]

So you want to use the hitch to attach the grab or auger and then use those lines to operate the attached tool?

 

Tee off the breaker lines and fit a quarter turn valve on each hitch line after the Tee so that you can isolate the hitch lines when you do not wish to pressurise/depressurise and divert flow to the grab or auger without energising the hitch lines.

 

Or am I missing something?

 

P.S. Never done it but talked it through with an engineer regarding fitting a grab/rotator

[LGP Eddie]

Ideally you want to keep away from diverter valve setups if possible, as contentious as it may be, you simply can't get the same control or production having to switch from one function to another to operate the grab. Many have gone this route based on cost which is fair enough, or simply not exploring enough other options that may be available to gain another completely independent circuit.

 

Based on the fact Takeuchi already offer it, my first call would be to Summit Hydraulics to see what they can offer? These guys make up many kits that come straight out of dealers yards often passed off as OE lines. My Kobelco has a Rotate circuit done by them for Molson as an example.

 

Another route is to put your diverter on your offset circuit and pipe that up the boom/dipper so you have what is generally a low flow controllable circuit for your rotate without interrupted operation, and if required you divert back to give the necessary offset operation.

You may have to use the a foot pedal for control, but again that's better than any changeover setup.

 

Manufacturers in general are catching up, and anyone purchasing is wise to opt for the 4 pipe setups if they can, as the extra will always come back in residual value.

We just need to educate them on case drain lines now!

 

 

Eddie.

[John Shutler]

Until recently I had a timber grab with a diverter valve mounted to the side to switch from grab to rotate, it worked well enough and generally didn’t find switching between the two to restrictive. However, having just had an engcon fitted and being now able to rotate and grab at the same time  does make a big difference 

[Matthew Storrs]

5 hours ago, LGP Eddie said:

Ideally you want to keep away from diverter valve setups if possible, as contentious as it may be, you simply can't get the same control or production having to switch from one function to another to operate the grab. Many have gone this route based on cost which is fair enough, or simply not exploring enough other options that may be available to gain another completely independent circuit.

 

Based on the fact Takeuchi already offer it, my first call would be to Summit Hydraulics to see what they can offer? These guys make up many kits that come straight out of dealers yards often passed off as OE lines. My Kobelco has a Rotate circuit done by them for Molson as an example.

 

Another route is to put your diverter on your offset circuit and pipe that up the boom/dipper so you have what is generally a low flow controllable circuit for your rotate without interrupted operation, and if required you divert back to give the necessary offset operation.

You may have to use the a foot pedal for control, but again that's better than any changeover setup.

 

Manufacturers in general are catching up, and anyone purchasing is wise to opt for the 4 pipe setups if they can, as the extra will always come back in residual value.

We just need to educate them on case drain lines now!

 

 

Eddie.

Good idea diverting off the offset. I assume it can all be done with a 12v feed to a solenoid to do the diverting? 

 

As it stands the powertilt hitch will run off the breaker lines. It has a semi quick hitch so no hydraulics needed for bucket changeovers. I will have a wedgelock hitch coming with thenmachine so maybe it will be easy to use that with attachments and keep the tilting hitch for bucket work. Don’t really thing the tilt function would be so useful with attachment s anyway...

 

my dealer said that Takeuchi would only put on a second set of lines if it was factory order on this size machine, the Tak 216 is actually a bit basic compared to the competition, aux control is a foot pedal affair, no track either, I kinda of regretting not getting the Yanmar but it didn’t tick all the boxes either.

[LGP Eddie]

9 minutes ago, Matthew Storrs said:

Good idea diverting off the offset. I assume it can all be done with a 12v feed to a solenoid to do the diverting? 

 

As it stands the powertilt hitch will run off the breaker lines. It has a semi quick hitch so no hydraulics needed for bucket changeovers. I will have a wedgelock hitch coming with thenmachine so maybe it will be easy to use that with attachments and keep the tilting hitch for bucket work. Don’t really thing the tilt function would be so useful with attachment s anyway...

 

my dealer said that Takeuchi would only put on a second set of lines if it was factory order on this size machine, the Tak 216 is actually a bit basic compared to the competition, aux control is a foot pedal affair, no track either, I kinda of regretting not getting the Yanmar but it didn’t tick all the boxes either.

Yes a standard 12v 6 way diverter valve would do the trick no problem to change from offset to another auxiliary circuit.

 

You may be surprised just how well you get on with a semi-hitch. I rate them very highly and properly maintained provide a very quick and safe solution to smaller machines.

Just ensure you don’t have a welded in pin on the Buckets as you’ll need to swap holes if you need to reverse the bucket.

 

If you ever thought of a straightforward Grapple with the Powertilt, it can be done. Use a 3 point linkage top link or propshaft with uj’s to make the stay bar, that’ll allow you to actually tilt the Grapple and will make a cheap, handy setup.

Anyone with a non hydraulic thumb like a Digbits item, swap the stay for a top link anyway. Allows you to adjust it with different buckets and get it setup just how you like it.

 

Eddie.

[Matthew Storrs]

6 minutes ago, LGP Eddie said:

Yes a standard 12v 6 way diverter valve would do the trick no problem to change from offset to another auxiliary circuit.

 

You may be surprised just how well you get on with a semi-hitch. I rate them very highly and properly maintained provide a very quick and safe solution to smaller machines.

Just ensure you don’t have a welded in pin on the Buckets as you’ll need to swap holes if you need to reverse the bucket.

 

If you ever thought of a straightforward Grapple with the Powertilt, it can be done. Use a 3 point linkage top link or propshaft with uj’s to make the stay bar, that’ll allow you to actually tilt the Grapple and will make a cheap, handy setup.

Anyone with a non hydraulic thumb like a Digbits item, swap the stay for a top link anyway. Allows you to adjust it with different buckets and get it setup just how you like it.

 

Eddie.

Yeah- I’d definitely think of a standard braced grapple for it. I get on really well with them myself and like the versatility and durability of them- nothing to really go wrong with them. I been trying to think of a way of making one that can handle rocks but still  grab a load of soil/infill stone etc too. Love the idea with the UJs. Annoyingly the Taks new dipper is entirely cast- I think this may through up problems getting the brace welded to the cast dipper- might be a speacialist welding job I think.

[Matthew Storrs]

I find the hydraulic thumbs grip better than a grapple though.

been walling with a 6 tonner this week with a thumb grab- I couldn’t believe the stuff I could pick up with it that I’m sure would require more configuring with a grapple to make sure it picked it up with out the rock slipping out it’s grip.

[LeeGray]

9 hours ago, Matthew Storrs said:

Good idea diverting off the offset. I assume it can all be done with a 12v feed to a solenoid to do the diverting? 

 

As it stands the powertilt hitch will run off the breaker lines. It has a semi quick hitch so no hydraulics needed for bucket changeovers. I will have a wedgelock hitch coming with thenmachine so maybe it will be easy to use that with attachments and keep the tilting hitch for bucket work. Don’t really thing the tilt function would be so useful with attachment s anyway...

 

my dealer said that Takeuchi would only put on a second set of lines if it was factory order on this size machine, the Tak 216 is actually a bit basic compared to the competition, aux control is a foot pedal affair, no track either, I kinda of regretting not getting the Yanmar but it didn’t tick all the boxes either.

What put you off the yanmar and which model Matthew? Just working out deals on a sv26. Similar situation to you possibly. Lots of stock ones but wait or aftermarket for four pipes and plus £2-3k for extra pipes.

[Matthew Storrs]

1 hour ago, LeeGray said:

What put you off the yanmar and which model Matthew? Just working out deals on a sv26. Similar situation to you possibly. Lots of stock ones but wait or aftermarket for four pipes and plus £2-3k for extra pipes.

Nothing really put me off it, basically I needed a 1.8t size machine for all the fiddly little jobs I get and I just wanted something that was easy and light to tow around around with a few attachments. The majority of my work will still be undertaken my 3 tonner so in a way I wasn’t that fussed that the 1.8t should be all singing and dancing. The Yanmar was more money than the Tak but not a lot, TBH the yanmar is a nicer machine,  it has   proportional roller controls on the joystick for the aux, track pedals, better method of expanding the blade width etc. Tak dealer is near to me and good so that helped.

 

In the 2.8t category the Yanmar sv26  would be the winner hands down if I was buying because it ticks every box I’d want from this size category- It is comfortably towable, still conventional tail, 10cm wider than the Tak too mega stable. good ground clearance, also the blade lowers more than the competition, I use this a lot for levelling the machine  on slopes so the more travel the better. Volvo ec27D looks a good option too, I’m not sure on the price mind yoo.