Fitting variable flow to a 763 F?

[Tazza]

My manual shows that you can buy a hand control kit for my 763, it gives joystick controls for lift and tilt which i really don't want or need. I'd like to have the variable flow for my aux hydraulics though. Does anyone know if its possible to install a control box from a machine that has this feature and only use the aux controls from it? I remember a post years ago of a company that sold a kit for this, it had a PWM controller to vary the aux hydraulic coils to provide variable fluid control but i can't remember where it was.
Has anyone done this or know of anyone that has? I'm sure you will all say just get a machine with it fitted already! But i do like the simplicity of having fewer embedded electronics to deal with.

 

[thetool]

Hey Tazza-
I've never done this but I know how I'd go about finding out-with Bobcat parts anyway.
First, get the schematics of your machine and then a schematic of a viariable-flow machine and see how different they are.
I'm gonna say up front that you'll for sure need a controller, new valve coils and stems, and at least a new right handle with the pots instead of your bang-bang switches.
Get parts breakdowns of your machine's aux setup, and the same breakdowns of a machine with variable flow, and do some cross-checking.
Particularly, I'm not sure if the variable coil stems fit your current control valve. I don't know if you want to go as far as a new main control valve, but I'm not sure you need it either. All this is decided if you can cross-check the schematics and parts break-downs of your machine and your target machine. I also believe that variable flow came in the same time as BICS and the padswitch on the panel as well as the entire cab harness might be different, but running some wires is not difficult. Adding BICS to a non-BICS machine would be trying.
Mark can probably hook you up with the parts breakdowns via fax or email, I can do schematics for you.
Parts breakdowns you'll need are cab electrical and main control valve, and perhaps electrical controls, for both your machine and the next highest serial number break that had variable aux. There may be other breakdowns you'll need but those will get you going I think.
Again, that's how I'd do it......=)
Good Luck and keep us posted in this interesting subject.

 

[Tazza]

Hey Tazza-
I've never done this but I know how I'd go about finding out-with Bobcat parts anyway.
First, get the schematics of your machine and then a schematic of a viariable-flow machine and see how different they are.
I'm gonna say up front that you'll for sure need a controller, new valve coils and stems, and at least a new right handle with the pots instead of your bang-bang switches.
Get parts breakdowns of your machine's aux setup, and the same breakdowns of a machine with variable flow, and do some cross-checking.
Particularly, I'm not sure if the variable coil stems fit your current control valve. I don't know if you want to go as far as a new main control valve, but I'm not sure you need it either. All this is decided if you can cross-check the schematics and parts break-downs of your machine and your target machine. I also believe that variable flow came in the same time as BICS and the padswitch on the panel as well as the entire cab harness might be different, but running some wires is not difficult. Adding BICS to a non-BICS machine would be trying.
Mark can probably hook you up with the parts breakdowns via fax or email, I can do schematics for you.
Parts breakdowns you'll need are cab electrical and main control valve, and perhaps electrical controls, for both your machine and the next highest serial number break that had variable aux. There may be other breakdowns you'll need but those will get you going I think.
Again, that's how I'd do it......=)
Good Luck and keep us posted in this interesting subject.

Thanks for the ideas, i wasn't sure about the coils and stems but it does make sense. Its a feature i'd like to have but not something i MUST have. I guess it never hurts to look around and see what my options are.
I'll keep you posted on how things turn out.

 

[thetool]

Thanks for the ideas, i wasn't sure about the coils and stems but it does make sense. Its a feature i'd like to have but not something i MUST have. I guess it never hurts to look around and see what my options are.
I'll keep you posted on how things turn out.

No problem and BTW, the hand controls kit you describe has nothing to do with aux hydraulics, those are just a cable set-up to change the linkage from your pedals to handles. Last time I looked it up about a year ago, I was told the kit was NLA and you had to order each part separately, totalling about the cost of three new machines.....=).

 

[Tazza]

No problem and BTW, the hand controls kit you describe has nothing to do with aux hydraulics, those are just a cable set-up to change the linkage from your pedals to handles. Last time I looked it up about a year ago, I was told the kit was NLA and you had to order each part separately, totalling about the cost of three new machines.....=).

Actually my manual has a section that shows a kit that is (or was) available. You replace the linkages to the pedals with coils that connect to a control box. The handles also needs to be changed. I think there is an adition to the dash as well.
As you did say, the cost i can imagine would be far too expensive