Gradall controls

Roy Suomi · Sep 8, 2010

We purchased a used Gradall G3WD Series E from a government entity..Does anyone have a book to switch the controls from Gradall to John Deere..We've tried and tried to get accustomed to the Gradall controls, but to no avail... We can run Cat [SAE] and Deere but , We can't get over opening and closing the bucket on the boom control lever [ left].. Signed, Woosies in Ohio

RayP(MI) · Sep 8, 2010

I've been known to reverse hydraulic lines to make a tractor operate "right" to the way my mind thinks a control should work. Few years back, friend rented a mini trailer type backhoe. Every control on that thing operated bass ackwards. Wented me to run it for him - what a pain!

showcrop · Sep 8, 2010

A friend switched hoses around on his woods hoe to make it Deere.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 8, 2010

A Gradall is a completely different animal than an excavator to begin with so I think it would be a big learning curve no matter how the controls were set up. Aren't some of the movements done with electric solenoid valves? Maybe you contact Gradall and they could tell you if it's been done before and what's involved. Dave

Roy Suomi · Sep 9, 2010

Pilot hydraulics operating main hydraulic valves

Anonymous-0 · Sep 9, 2010

I have a manual from an old P&H H418 hoe with a hydraulic diagram. It is mind boggling. There may be individual relief valves for different functions that would also have to be changed and there may be more than one hydraulic pump. Switching things around could cause more headaches. Dave

Larry in IA · Sep 10, 2010

Ran a Gradall machine for the county where I work for about 6 years. I was used to the controls in our link-Belt excavator. Talked the mechanic into switching controls on the gradall to make everything the same. He contacted Gradall and they sent a procedure on how to switch the controls. Recently I started operating a Case backhoe with opposite controls. I was a struggle, but somehow I have seemed to master both types of controls. Some advice to anyone who rents a mini-excavator. Most machines have a valve you can move to change the controls. Most new machines, backhoe or excavator, also have this feature.

mikejc in WI · Sep 10, 2010

If it is hydraulic pilot controls it is fairly easy to change. The multi-axis joysticks use a wobble disc that pushes down on the plungers of the pilot valves. If you can get a look under the joystick lever it will be pretty obvious which direction of the lever pushes on a particular plunger. The pilot hose for that function is generally directly under that plunger. So for example if you wanted to just switch the Up/down direction, you would swap the pilot hoses that are directly across from each other to get the function reversed. If you wanted to get the function moved from the left hand to the right hand joystick lever that may be a bit harder but not impossible. You may have to run a jumper hose. I wouldn't advise just swapping the pilot hoses at the directional valve since there may be some interlocks, or pressure regulators inline with the pilot hoses that keep you safe etc...

Gradall controls

Roy Suomi

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RayP(MI)

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showcrop

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Anonymous-0

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Roy Suomi

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Anonymous-0

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Larry in IA

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mikejc in WI

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