Does an electronic retrofit kit change the operating pressure or flow rate of the hydraulic system?
No. Kits such as the HCT400 and HCT402 move the manual lever externally, from above; they make no intervention in the hydraulic circuit, the fluid, or the valves. System pressure, pump flow rate, relief valve setting, and hose capacity remain exactly the same as vehicle parameters. The kit only determines which position the lever goes to and how fast.
Making this distinction clear is important, because it is the most frequently confused topic in the field.
What the kit does: The servo motor mechanically grips the lever and drives its angular position according to the command from the joystick. In other words, the same motion the operator makes by hand is performed remotely and more repeatably.
What the kit does not do:
- It does not increase or decrease pump flow rate.
- It does not raise system operating pressure.
- It does not touch the relief valve, the load holding valve, or the spool characteristic.
- It does not open any connection point in the hydraulic line.
This has two important consequences. First, whatever the capacity of the existing hydraulic system is, it is the same after conversion; a slow system does not get faster when the kit is fitted. Second, your hydraulic safety elements remain in the circuit; the kit does not disable them.
In addition, when the kit is removed the vehicle returns exactly to its former manual operation, because no permanent change has been made on the hydraulic side.
Full coverage of this topic: What Is a Hydraulic Lever Retrofit Kit? Definition, Components, Operating Principle