Ultimate Hydraulic Upgrade for Subcompact Tractors

Adding rear hydraulic valves to a subcompact tractor has been a bit of a challenge to date. While some brands offer a dealer installed rear Selectable Control Valve (SCV), these are usually available in limited configurations. For example, on the Deere 1 series, if you choose the rear SCV kit, you cannot have a Power Beyond which is necessary for a backhoe. Additionally, only one rear SCV is available from the dealer.

We have been working with Summit Hydraulics to develop a more general and easily installed rear hydraulic valve kit. Our goal is a set of hydraulic kits which build upon each other to create the ultimate sub-compact tractor hydraulic functionality, front 3rd function combined with rear accessible valves.

Prerequisites

Your tractor must be equipped with a “Power Beyond” kit to connect to the Summit system. Power Beyond is simply an extension of the tractor’s hydraulic loop, allowing new hydraulic circuits to be added.

For a better description of how sub/compact tractor hydraulics work, along with some diagrams, check out this video from Tractor Time with Tim and Ken from BoltOnHooks.com

We chose the Power Beyond approach because many subcompact tractors are already equipped with a backhoe which includes the Power Beyond. All other subcompacts will have the ability to add such a connection. Check with your dealer to get a Power Beyond Kit for your tractor. Please provide feedback in the forum section here if you are having trouble getting appropriate Power Beyond information. If sufficient demand, we will put together some helpful resources and possibly even aftermarket kits.

The Rear Hydraulic Kit

Subcompacts typically do not provide rear hydraulic valves. While most basic attachments do not need hydraulic outlets, we are seeing more and more which DO need some sort of hydraulic control. Stump grinders, box blades with hydraulic scarifiers, pull type box blades, etc.

The base kit provides 2-4 electrically controlled hydraulic valves at the rear of the tractor, allowing control of nearly any attachment with a hydraulic lift cylinder. While this kit is designed to be a perfect fit for the 1025R, it should fit most other subcompacts without modification. The only exception MIGHT be the couplers which connect to the Power Beyond. This kit comes with 1/2″ ISO Ag 5675 couplers. Some machines (New Holland for example), use a different coupler size for their backhoe connection. In this case, you’ll need to get compatible couplers from your dealer.

Before going any further, I suggest that you watch this video from Tractor Time with Tim showing the details of this kit. Seeing the kit installed and functioning on the tractor will help you understand the concepts.

Other than the Power Beyond, the only other connection you need is electrical.

The kit consists of:

• manifold block 2-4 valves,
• couplers,
• hoses,
• as of this writing a 2-4 switch box used to control each of the valves.

Work in progress:

• Place the first two controls on the loader joystick, with scv’s 3 and 4 controlled by toggle switches.

Add On Front 3rd Function Kit

The newest addition to the “Ultimate Hydraulic Kit for Subcompact Tractors” is the front 3rd function extension.

The Add on kit consists of:

• Hoses and fittings to route one valve under the tractor
• Bracket to attach front couplers to tractor frame.
• Hoses and fittings to mount on loader (to extend 3rd function to loader attachment)

If you currently have the 2-4 valve rear scv kit, this add on will provide MOST of what you need to add a front third function. We would suggest that you also add the Joystick Handle so that the 3rd function (and one of the rear functions) can be controlled from the joystick. Depending on the number of functions you purchased, you may want to make one other purchase:

• 2 Valve: No more purchase necessary. Simply remove the rocker switch, and replace with the Joystick Handle above
• 3 Valve: Optionally purchase the Single Valve Switch Control, and replace your existing 3 valve switch control with it. This is not required. You can keep your existing 3 valve switch, with only one of the 3 switches active. The other two will be replaced by the Joystick Handle.
• 4 Valve: Optionally purchase the 2 Valve Switch Control, and replace your existing 4 valve switch control with it. This is not required. You can keep your existing 4 valve switch, with only two of the 4 switches active. The other two will be replaced by the Joystick Handle.

If you do NOT YET have the 2-4 valve rear scv kit, purchase the entire solution including rear scv’s, front 3rd function and joystick handle via this kit.

Be sure to use code TTWT for a 5% discount on any purchase from Summit Hydraulics.

Get One For Yourself!

Order the ultimate hydraulic solution from Summit Hydraulics You can also see the latest availability there. Use code TTWT for a 5% discount!

We’re Not Finished!

We will continue to enhance this solution with more hydraulic features going forward. We are taking a ‘one step at a time’ approach, making sure each feature is well designed and complete.

We’d love to hear your feedback in the forum section, or in the comments section below!