Lube tank solenoid valve

Chuck White · July 29, 2015, 08:44:48 PM

Looking for a part!

Solenoid valve for adding to the lube system (not lubemizer).

I plan on installing the valve in the water line and activating it from the clutch/brake lever.

I think the switch would be a "normally off", spring loaded toggle switch and when the engagement lever is pulled, it turns the switch on which will open the valve and when the lever is moved to the disengage position, it will turn the switch off which will close the valve.

Anyone have a part number from one of the parts stores like NAPA?

Thanks.

Ga Mtn Man · July 29, 2015, 09:09:10 PM

Chuck- There are lots of inexpensive valves available on the net. Here's the one that I used on my TimberKing:

(ebay ad deleted by Admin, please refer to forum rules about posting such ads)

The typical way to hook it up is to wire the +12 terminal of the valve to the FWD terminal of your drum switch.

Chuck White · July 29, 2015, 09:25:49 PM

Quote from: Ga Mtn Man on July 29, 2015, 09:09:10 PM
Chuck- There are lots of inexpensive valves available on the net. Here's the one that I used on my TimberKing:

(ebay ad deleted by Admin, please refer to forum rules about posting such ads)

The typical way to hook it up is to wire the +12 terminal of the valve to the FWD terminal of your drum switch.

Hadn't thought of that, I was thinking of mechanical linkage vs electrical in the control head!

Makes sense.

homesteader1972 · July 29, 2015, 10:19:15 PM

I use this one

(ebay ad deleted by Admin, please refer to forum rules about posting such ads)

Though, I just use a toggle switch. Works well for me.

barbender · July 29, 2015, 11:41:04 PM

My 97 Super has the water solenoid getting power from the drum switch forward setting, that way the water only comes on when your feeding into a log. It cuts water usage at least by half.

Geeg · July 30, 2015, 02:33:27 AM

Quote from: Ga Mtn Man on July 29, 2015, 09:09:10 PM
Chuck- There are lots of inexpensive valves available on the net. Here's the one that I used on my TimberKing:

(ebay ad deleted by Admin, please refer to forum rules about posting such ads)
The typical way to hook it up is to wire the +12 terminal of the valve to the FWD terminal of your drum switch.

I was going to set this up as well, thanks for the links guys!. I was thinking of hooking it up to the clutch switch, is this what you mean Ga Mtn Man?. BTW, IMHO think it should be a standard an all TK mills, very cheap and easy to install. While I am at it, they should also re-design the levelling jacks so that they are out of the way, my shin's take a heck of a beating on the hand crank.

Ga Mtn Man · July 30, 2015, 07:41:42 AM

Yes, on a TimberKing most people hook it to the clutch switch.

barbender · July 30, 2015, 01:52:07 PM

If you had an Auto-clutch on your WM that would be the better place to hook it up, I would think.

Chuck White · July 30, 2015, 02:27:53 PM

Unfortunatly...... not avaiable on 1995 models!

VictorH · July 30, 2015, 06:57:44 PM

This is how I added the switch to my 1995 Chuck.

That's the clutch lever. Water flows when the blade is moving. I think it's a momentary off switch. I added a shim to the clutch lever to improve the contact as it was not always turning off at first.

jcbrotz · July 30, 2015, 06:59:48 PM

Why not just use the forward contacts on the drum switch?

Chuck White · July 30, 2015, 07:29:04 PM

Looks good Victor.

Eliminates having to run an additional wire into the control head!

Brucer · August 02, 2015, 01:46:30 AM

I used the solenoid that's used with the lubemizer -- I just ordered it as a replacement part. There was a bolt hole for it just under the fuel tank/lube tank tray. I took the power off the forward/back drum switch, and then through a single pole switch on the console. That way the solenoid would open only when the drum switch was in forward position and the console switch was on.

Works like a charm.

Chuck White · August 02, 2015, 09:08:42 AM

Sounds like a great idea Brucer.

Remle · August 02, 2015, 09:09:04 AM

Quote from: VictorH on July 30, 2015, 06:57:44 PM
This is how I added the switch to my 1995 Chuck.

That's the clutch lever. Water flows when the blade is moving. I think it's a momentary off switch. I added a shim to the clutch lever to improve the contact as it was not always turning off at first.

The problem I see with this is, I like to engage blade to rev up the engine while using the hydraulic functions of the LTHD 40 to conserve or boost battery power. The trouble with hooking to the control box is it will always be on when in forward motion and their may be some cutting when you do not want to use it, so how do you stop it at those times? The solenoid valve only cuts off flow and does not control application rate. So i was going to use a simple on/off switch with a wind shield washer pump to stop flow and give a positive application rate.. So my questions to those use whom have added a system to their mills is how do you apply the fluid to the blade ? Top side only or both top/bottom and by what means ?
Thanks Remle

Chuck White · August 02, 2015, 12:00:50 PM

Remle, One thing to be aware of if you use a windshield washer tank/pump, is that if it is mounted above the outlet end of your lube tubing, it will "gravity flow", so it won't shut off when you turn the switch off.

The tank must be mounted below the discharge end of the tubing to eliminate this issue!

Chuck White · August 10, 2015, 09:35:43 PM

Got one, wired it to the #2 lug on the feed drum switch.

Works nice!

petefrom bearswamp · August 11, 2015, 09:22:56 AM

Chuck, I dont remember having the gravity feed issue with the WW setup that was on your mill.
Regarding the so called lube, I only use it to clean the blade of buildup when taking it off of the mill, or when in an unusually wide cut for cooling.
Perhaps woods other than Hemlock need the liquid.
The other problem I have found is with the small holes in the nozzles plugging constantly, so drilled them out a little.

Chuck White · August 11, 2015, 12:43:20 PM

Quote from: petefrom bearswamp on August 11, 2015, 09:22:56 AM
Chuck, I dont remember having the gravity feed issue with the WW setup that was on your mill.
Regarding the so called lube, I only use it to clean the blade of buildup when taking it off of the mill, or when in an unusually wide cut for cooling.
Perhaps woods other than Hemlock need the liquid.
The other problem I have found is with the small holes in the nozzles plugging constantly, so drilled them out a little.

You wouldn't have had the problem, Pete!

You had the windshield-washer mounted on the shield, under the gas & the water tank, which was lower than the outlet end of the tubing at the blade!

This is where I remounted the unit, and it worked great, but I had to put a shut-off valve near the outlet, in the tubing!

The next day that I used the lube tank, it took a little bit to figure out that it was gravity feeding! :-[

EDIT: The date on the pic is not correct!