modification on john deere 45 loader

[QuesoKing]

You won't believe what my dad's trying to figure out with his JD 45 loader on the tractor.

He swears he's seen posts about some kind of modification for the hydraulic levers, but he can't find anything when he searches!
He's hoping to get it set up with just one 4way lever so he can lift and tilt at the same time. He says that'd make life a whole lot easier for him.

Anyone out there know what he's talking about or where to find info on that? (And no, no snow down here for us, thankfully!)

 

[Gerald4fun]

There have definitely been setups where folks swapped the twin levers for a single joystick on the old JD 45 loaders, and it you see them add or modify the valve block to accept a 4 way loader joystick, which lets you feather lift and curl together and its way smoother than fighting two sticks, although it involves some bracket fabbing or hose rerouting might be in the cards

 

[Sergeant]

Yes there are several thread On MTF on the Subject
https://www.mytractorforum.com/thre...-x758.1401901/?post_id=12984920#post-12984920
https://www.mytractorforum.com/threads/2012-x748-h5-project.435914/?post_id=3789098#post-3789098

 

[DrivingTheScrew]

I wouldn't call this impossible, but I would call this more complicated than it sounds. There is a lot of work involved to get the system to operate like your dad wants it to, and it's not just modifying the leavers, there are a few more areas of the hydraulics system that need to be changed.

 

[StKevin_67]

There have definitely been setups where folks swapped the twin levers for a single joystick on the old JD 45 loaders, and it you see them add or modify the valve block to accept a 4 way loader joystick, which lets you feather lift and curl together and its way smoother than fighting two sticks, although it involves some bracket fabbing or hose rerouting might be in the cards

Thanks for the info! I've been thinking about changing to a joystick. Did you use one with cables or one that mounts right on the valve? Was the valve block hard to change or did you need to match the flow or just bolt it on? Just trying to see if I can do it myself in the garage or if I'll need help.

 

[shak3n]

I think he's thinking of a single lever hydraulic kit or a joystick conversion, they exist for older loaders, but you usually have to go through a dealer or specialty hydraulic shop
I don't think it's something widely posted online

 

[mayor_vico]

Just hook up the hoses to the new valve ports, you might need to move or lengthen them a bit.

 

[sl0wdive89]

There have definitely been setups where folks swapped the twin levers for a single joystick on the old JD 45 loaders, and it you see them add or modify the valve block to accept a 4 way loader joystick, which lets you feather lift and curl together and its way smoother than fighting two sticks, although it involves some bracket fabbing or hose rerouting might be in the cards

Did you find a joystick that fits without a lot of welding? For the valve block, is there a kit that works, or do you have to build it all yourself?