Looks like you're making good progress. Are the other valves and goodies on order?
2012 X748 "H5" Project
I traded in my Ford 1710 CUT and JD 345 and purchased my X748SE last October and it arrived in early November 2012 and the one thing that I found that was missing on the X700 series was independent hydraulics controls for the 3PH/mower lift and front mounted attachments (loader/blade/blower). I always found it a pain in the butt to always be opening or closing the hydraulic cylinder lockout valve when I wanted to use my loader. Also there was no effective way I could use front (2 spool) and rear mounted implements at the same time.
I started out my investigation of making my X748 an “H3” version by adding another single SCV and a second cylinder and installing the lever in same area that the older MFWD X700s used to switch from 2WD to 4WD to control the rockshaft of the 3PH. When I started looking around at SCVs and hydraulic stuff I found a remote control joystick and started thinking about placing that in the cup holder to control the existing John Deere SCV that’s already on the tractor for the front mounted implements. That left the two existing hydraulic levers free to control the mower lift cylinder and 3PH lift cylinder. So now I was looking a getting another 2 spool SCV to control them. Thus my X748 “H3” project now became an “H4” project.
I have a hard cab on my X748 year round and always thought about having a remote hydraulic outlet at the back to use for opening/closing the gate of a 3PH spreader by using a very small hydraulic cylinder (can't reach it otherwise) or a lift cylinder for a dump cart. I looked at the specs between 2 spool and 3 spool SCVs and the additional spool would not take up too much more room. I could use the area that the older MFWD X700s for the lever to control the 3PH rockshaft, the existing top lever for the mower lift and the existing lower lever for remote rear hydraulic outlet. Thus the X748 “H5” project was born.
Before I made any hydraulic modification I first had to verify that my joystick idea would work otherwise I would be SOL. So Phase 1 was started to verify that the cabling from the joystick would be able to control the existing John Deere SVC and not interfere with the existing hydraulic levers. It took a bit to figure it all out and test it out before I made any cuts to the fender deck. Once that was done, it took a few sleepless nights of wrestling with the idea of whether I should do this or not.
Well I decided to go ahead and cut out the cup holder to mount the joystick. Over the past few days I made up a couple of brackets to mount the joystick and cable ends where they will interface with the John Deere SCV.
Pic 1: After I cut out the cup holder.
Pic 2: Mock up the joystick mounting bracket. Uses existing holes in the frame as a mount point.
Pic 3: Holding the joystick up with bungee cords so that I tack weld the joystick bracket.
Pic 4: Joystick bracket tacked together.
Pic 5: Joystick bracket welded and cables temporally routed to check for clearance from mower lift arms.
Pic 6: Front end bracket showing remote cables interfacing with existing John Deere SCV.
Pic 7: Joystick from above.
Pic 8: Clearance between cables and tire is 1.5”
Phase 1: X748SE “H5” To Do List
1: Make joystick cover
2: Remove and paint brackets.
Roger
I started out my investigation of making my X748 an “H3” version by adding another single SCV and a second cylinder and installing the lever in same area that the older MFWD X700s used to switch from 2WD to 4WD to control the rockshaft of the 3PH. When I started looking around at SCVs and hydraulic stuff I found a remote control joystick and started thinking about placing that in the cup holder to control the existing John Deere SCV that’s already on the tractor for the front mounted implements. That left the two existing hydraulic levers free to control the mower lift cylinder and 3PH lift cylinder. So now I was looking a getting another 2 spool SCV to control them. Thus my X748 “H3” project now became an “H4” project.
I have a hard cab on my X748 year round and always thought about having a remote hydraulic outlet at the back to use for opening/closing the gate of a 3PH spreader by using a very small hydraulic cylinder (can't reach it otherwise) or a lift cylinder for a dump cart. I looked at the specs between 2 spool and 3 spool SCVs and the additional spool would not take up too much more room. I could use the area that the older MFWD X700s for the lever to control the 3PH rockshaft, the existing top lever for the mower lift and the existing lower lever for remote rear hydraulic outlet. Thus the X748 “H5” project was born.
Before I made any hydraulic modification I first had to verify that my joystick idea would work otherwise I would be SOL. So Phase 1 was started to verify that the cabling from the joystick would be able to control the existing John Deere SVC and not interfere with the existing hydraulic levers. It took a bit to figure it all out and test it out before I made any cuts to the fender deck. Once that was done, it took a few sleepless nights of wrestling with the idea of whether I should do this or not.
Well I decided to go ahead and cut out the cup holder to mount the joystick. Over the past few days I made up a couple of brackets to mount the joystick and cable ends where they will interface with the John Deere SCV.
Pic 1: After I cut out the cup holder.
Pic 2: Mock up the joystick mounting bracket. Uses existing holes in the frame as a mount point.
Pic 3: Holding the joystick up with bungee cords so that I tack weld the joystick bracket.
Pic 4: Joystick bracket tacked together.
Pic 5: Joystick bracket welded and cables temporally routed to check for clearance from mower lift arms.
Pic 6: Front end bracket showing remote cables interfacing with existing John Deere SCV.
Pic 7: Joystick from above.
Pic 8: Clearance between cables and tire is 1.5”
Phase 1: X748SE “H5” To Do List
1: Make joystick cover
2: Remove and paint brackets.
Roger
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Rlowe,
I did mine a little backwards from your plan. I added the 4th and 5th spools on the fender and use them for the 3ph and deck separately. That leaves the tower controls all available as auxiliary. Someday I hope for a loader with a grapple or other wild ideas. Controlling deck and 3ph individually from the seat is great. Jay
I did mine a little backwards from your plan. I added the 4th and 5th spools on the fender and use them for the 3ph and deck separately. That leaves the tower controls all available as auxiliary. Someday I hope for a loader with a grapple or other wild ideas. Controlling deck and 3ph individually from the seat is great. Jay
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Beverage in empty hand 
. Hand control just in case my feet fall asleep and to operate the neutral start. Hmmm...H6.... Jay
. Hand control just in case my feet fall asleep and to operate the neutral start. Hmmm...H6.... Jay
Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragement!
The amount of times I crawled under my tractor in the course of investigating, thinking and planning of whether this project would work or not, I finally had enough of the cramped and confined space underneath my tractor, so I bought myself an early Christmas present.
It was delivered today and it took all of 25 minutes to unbox and assemble. No missing or leftover parts so I’m happy.
Tractor has one rear wheel off and is on a jack stand at the moment. I’ll see if I can get a picture of the MoJack-PRO in action tonight.
Roger
The amount of times I crawled under my tractor in the course of investigating, thinking and planning of whether this project would work or not, I finally had enough of the cramped and confined space underneath my tractor, so I bought myself an early Christmas present.
It was delivered today and it took all of 25 minutes to unbox and assemble. No missing or leftover parts so I’m happy.
Tractor has one rear wheel off and is on a jack stand at the moment. I’ll see if I can get a picture of the MoJack-PRO in action tonight.
Roger
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1 - 20 of 259 Posts
