6-way hydraulic control valve

[Chango49]

I'm the proud owner of an old JD350B. Have a control valve that bled off on the up/down spool. Capped it off and added single spool Prince valve for that function. Worked for a while, now the old valve has external leaks. It's pretty scuffed up inside. I'm looking at replacing it with a 2 spool joystick valve to run the up/down and tilt functions, and using my single spool for the blade angle. Just wondering if anyone has thoughts or experience with some of the cheaper 2 spool joystick valves that are all over the internet. I like the US made cast iron valves, but there's a huge difference in price. Comments?

[Jim B]

Welcome to the Boards. Your 350B questions should be on the Late Models board as the Early Models board is for the 1010 and 2010 crawlers and prior. A Moderator will likely move it over there when they see it.

In general, there is no repair to those valves as the spools are fitted to the bores when they are built. About all that can be done id replace external seals which does nothing for internal bypassing.

If you want to put a new valve on it, you can. You need a valve with an adjustable main relief valve in it, rated for the pressure and flow of your crawler's specs. Your original valve should have a detent held float position, and I recommend you get a valve with a detent held float position on the lift spool. Many places will call those loader valves.

[Chango49]

Thanks for the info. I'll address questions to the late model posting board.

[Chango49]

Looks like I will be buying a 2-spool joystick control valve with float detent(loader valve) for my JD350B dozer. Does anyone know which hydraulic pump, the 15gpm or 23gpm comes on the 6-way blade dozer, or how to tell which it is? Also any suggestions on good makes of control valves?

[Jim B]

A valve good in the 20 gpm range should be fine for either pump. Price is a known name, Summit Hydraulics, Baum Hydraulics, Surplus Center (and there are many more) are places to check for valves.

[Chango49]

Thanks Jim! I'm shopping around.