Welcome to our informational web pages
This is a shared collection of pictures and information for our New Holland TC-40D SS tractor
Links to our other informational pages include

Our TC-40D-SS New Holland tractor
Adding front hydraulics to a TC-40D-SS
Building a bucket grapple for a TC-40D-SS
Adding a snowplow to a TC-40D-SS
Building a dolly for a 757C New Holland backhoe
Building a boom sprayer with foam marker
Dealing with wheel weights on a TC-40D-SS
Adding a larger toolbox to a TC-40D-SS
Removing 17LA loader on a TC-40D-SS
Adding rear remotes to a TC-40D-SS

This section covers adding front hydraulics to a TC-40D SS New Holland tractor for a grapple or snow plow 

We decided that we wanted to add a grapple to our tractor and use the same hydraulics 
for a snow plow angle project at a later date.

We originally wanted to energize the grapple circuit with a foot operated switch
but after some re-consideration we opted for a micro-switch mounted
on the joystick of our New Holland tractor. 
Click on any thumbnail picture for a larger view

The plan was that whenever the joystick grapple button was pressed it would then switch the curl function of the joystick to the open close motions for the grapple.

We started by removing the joystick faceplate and locating a momentary contact 
SPST pushbutton switch that would fit within and will be used to activate our grapple/snowplow circuit.

This is how the switch looks mounted to the joystick faceplate

We routed a new pair of wires through the existing joystick. The original rabbit/turtle
 switches and wiring are also visible.

The wires were soldered to the micro-switch and we used some heat shrink tube
 to insulate the connections.

This is a shot of the right front loader support where we will mount the hydraulic diverter valve. You can see the looped wire that will be used to power up the holding coil and will be energized via a small SPST 12 VDC relay.

This is how the finished joystick looks with the additional grapple bucket switch added

Hydraulic diverter valve from Surplus Center
It is Item #9-1782, on page 29 of the current Surplus Center Catalog.

Hydraulic diverter valve mounting bracket that we fabricated. 
The large holes in the steel plate is where the hydraulics will pass through it.

Loader control valve showing positions where we removed two 
steel hydraulic lines soon to be replaced with flexible hydraulic hose.
It was necessary to temporarily disconnect two other lines
to give us clearance to access the proper steel lines.

This was the original mount that secured the steel hydraulic
lines to the backside of our loader mount. A Sawzall and a
bi-metal blade quickly removed it.

This is the set of steel lines that normally went to a set of 
quick couplers on the curl circuit. They will be replaced
with flexible hydraulic hoses.

This is a picture of one of the two flexible hydraulic hoses that were 
installed on the loader control valve. These two hoses replaced the steel lines 
shown in the previous picture. Note The second hose cannot be seen in this photo 
as it is directly behind the one that our arrow points to.

Hydraulic diverter valve now connected to hydraulic hoses from loader control 
valve. The quick connects pictured will go to the loader curl circuit, two more quick
 disconnects will be threaded into the open ports on the diverter valve and route to 
the front hydraulic circuit for a grapple or snowplow.

Mounting plate and ground wire bolted up to loader arm.
We drilled and tapped two 5/16 holes in the loader arm for support.
The biggest advantage of mounting the diverter valve on the loader arm support 
instead of the loader is the fact that you don't need to be concerned with 
disconnecting or connecting the wiring. When you disconnect the front end 
loader the diverter valve stays with the tractor. 
The large holes in the mounting plate will allow the set of quick 
connects that will serve the hydraulic hose for the front grapple circuit, or 
snowplow to connect to the diverter.

Hydraulic diverter valve is now mounted, plumbed, and wired.

Close-up shot of hydraulic lines running to loader curl circuit.

This shot shows the routing of the two hydraulic hoses that attach
hydraulic diverter valve to the loader control valve. Each hose is
less than four foot in length.

This is how we mounted some angle iron to hold the hydraulic quick connects.

Here we are getting ready to go play in the mud.
We are very excited about all the potential uses for the front hydraulics that 
we added and we are already thinking ahead to a snowplow project with 
hydraulic angle cylinders. If you are planning to add a grapple yourself then 
we sincerely hope that this project can be of some assistance. 
Please feel free to use part or all of the information supplied 
for your own needs.