How long does it take to install the lift retrofit kit?
The manufacturer declares no fixed installation time; cable access, wiring route and mounting surface set it. No hydraulic work, so no oil has to be drained.
The manufacturer does not declare a fixed installation time; it varies with the tractor, with how accessible the cable is and with the wiring route. The work itself consists of four steps: fixing the enclosure, attaching the outer end of the cable to the kit, running the two supply wires with their fuse, and positioning the switch. Since the hydraulic circuit is not opened there is no draining of oil or undoing of unions; that is the real reason the time stays short.
The steps of the job
- The mounting position of the enclosure is decided and fixed.
- The outer end of the existing cable is attached to the kit.
- The positive and negative supply is run together with its fuse.
- The control switch is placed somewhere reachable in the cab.
None of these steps requires opening the hydraulic circuit. The original cable stays where it is and the kit only pulls the outer end of it; that is why there is no bleeding or topping up of oil after installation either.
The detailed order of the steps is given under LFT54 installation steps; when deciding where the enclosure will go, look at choosing the mounting location.
What determines the time
| Factor | What shortens the time | What lengthens the time |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility of the cable end | The end is at an easily reached point | A panel has to be removed |
| Wiring route | Short distance, ready-made passages | Long distance, passages needing grommets and clamps |
| Mounting surface | An existing hole or profile is there | A hole has to be drilled |
| Condition of the mechanism | The cable is smooth and free | The cable is stiff or rusted; mechanical servicing is needed first |
The size of the enclosure is decisive in the mounting decision as well: allow 170 x 130 x 55 mm for the LFT20 and 155 x 175 x 70 mm for the LFT54. How the dimensions affect the choice of location is dealt with under size and weight. The age of the tractor has to be taken into account too: on older vehicles, seized bolts and sheet panels that have to be taken off and put back enlarge the invisible part of the job.
The parts not to be rushed
On the LFT20 the bench test before installation is mandatory, and you should include that step in the time. The other two points not to be hurried are the chassis connection and the placing of the fuse; the fuse should go as close to the battery terminal as possible. Leaving the wires unclamped costs time later as well: a wire that chafes under vibration comes back as a fault months after the installation. If the bench test is skipped, telling whether the trouble is in the kit or in the wiring becomes far harder once everything is fitted.
When the job runs long
If the cable is stiff, rusted or close to breaking, mechanical servicing has to come first; that is a job outside the installation time. Whether a cable comes with the kit affects the plan too; confirm that under is the cable included. If untidy electrical alterations have been made on the tractor before, hunting for a route and a sound supply point can take longer than the installation itself. Finding a place in the cab for the switch that is both easy to reach and impossible to press by accident also takes more time than expected; running a wire behind a panel usually takes longer than fixing the enclosure.
What to do in practice
Before you start, settle the mounting position, the wiring route and the fuse point; what really lengthens the job is indecision. The wiring diagram and the installation manual are supplied digitally with the set, so read them before starting work. If you are not sure whether you can do the job on your own, the heading on whether a workshop is needed makes the decision easier.
The full topic: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control