Connect the hydraulic hoses to the tractor

The Full Automation Kit uses two pairs of tractor remotes. One pair feeds the valve, which Ditch Assist® controls. The other pair runs the bypass hoses, so you can still move the implement by hand with the tractor lever. That makes four hoses at the back of the tractor.

Before you start

• The valve fitted with its hoses and mounted (Fit and mount the valve)
• The implement lowered to the ground
• The tractor engine off and the key out

You need: the two hoses from the valve's P and T ports, the two bypass hoses (Valve Bypass Kit) and a piece of cardboard for checking leaks.

Time: about 10 minutes.

Steps

1. Relieve the hydraulic pressure

   With the engine off, relieve the pressure in the tractor's remotes the way your tractor's operator's manual describes. Do this before you plug in or unplug any hose.

2. Plug the implement's hoses into the valve

   Plug the implement's raise and lower hoses into the two implement couplers on the valve. Where those couplers are on your valve: Bucher or Rexroth.

3. Plug the two valve hoses into one tractor remote

   Plug the two hoses from the valve's P (pressure) and T (tank, the return) ports into one pair of remote couplers at the back of the tractor.

   Remember which remote this is. It is the one you will set to continuous flow.

4. Plug the two bypass hoses into a second remote

   Plug the two bypass hoses into a second pair of remote couplers. With this remote you can move the implement by hand, without the app.

   Check it: tug each of the four hoses. None should come out of its coupler.

5. Route the hoses with slack for turns

   Hoses stretch when the implement turns, and parts near the hitch can catch each other on a corner. Leave a loose loop of hose at the hitch, then cable-tie the hoses so they can't drag.

6. Know the continuous-flow setting

   Whenever you work with Ditch Assist, set the valve's remote to continuous (constant) flow, not float, with enough flow to move the implement. The valve then raises and lowers the implement as the app needs.

   How fast the valve reacts is set in the app. See Controller settings.

7. Check for leaks

   Start the tractor and put a little pressure on each remote. Hold a piece of cardboard behind every fitting and look for oil on it, never use your hand.

   Found a weeping fitting? Shut the tractor off and relieve the pressure first, then tighten it.

8. Test the bypass remote

   Work the lever of the remote with the bypass hoses. The implement should go up and down. If it doesn't, check the two bypass hoses are fully plugged in on that remote.

9. Turn hard left, then hard right

   Drive slowly in a tight turn each way while someone watches the hitch from a safe distance. No hose should pull tight, pinch or rub. If one does, stop, shut the tractor off and re-route it with more slack.

Common mistakes

• The valve's remote left in float instead of continuous flow.
• Flow turned down too low to lift the implement.
• Reversing the flow at the tractor to fix wrong-way movement.

If it doesn't work

• Nothing moves: The implement won't move.
• Raise goes down: Raise moves the implement down.
• Lowers but won't raise, or slow: Slow, hunting or chasing.
• Hoses won't come off the couplers: turn off the flow to the valve, then use the app's Raise and Lower buttons to balance the pressure. Steps: Hoses won't release.

Next: Mount the GPS antenna.