Fleet managers searching for a realistic hydraulic retrofit timeline usually want one answer: how long does it take to keep the main valve stack while upgrading cab input to electronic joysticks? The short path is cab-first — replace hydraulic hand levers with electronic sticks that drive servo actuators or an existing mobile ECU — without ripping out the hydraulic manifold in week one [Source: Anderson MOD10-style cross-rod retrofit documentation; Hydraulic Master / Scanreco loader-crane kit scopes]. Trunsin supplies the cab sticks (ZS30 analog, ZS40 CAN); valve actuators and plumbing stay with your hydraulics integrator.
Use this timeline beside the technical path in electro-hydraulic joystick retrofit and the buy-vs-keep decision in hydraulic vs electronic joystick.
Hydraulic retrofit timeline — week-by-week overview
A typical cab-first program for one machine (or a pilot unit before fleet rollout) lands in the ranges below. Calendar time stretches when drawings are incomplete, when the ECU map is undocumented, or when radio remotes share the same neutral interlock as the cab stick.
| Phase | Calendar | Owner | Exit gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 — Scope freeze | Week 0–1 | Fleet + Trunsin + integrator | Valve stay / replace decided; output type (analog / PWM / CAN) locked |
| 1 — Stick RFQ + PDF | Week 1–2 | Trunsin | Configure sign-off; mount envelope photo accepted |
| 2 — Cab mechanical | Week 2–4 | Shop / OEM cab | Armrest or console cutout; harness route clear of hydraulic hoses |
| 3 — Build + ship | Week 3–6 ARO | Trunsin | FAI sample if program qty; serial packs for pilot |
| 4 — Actuation hookup | Week 4–8 | Hydraulics partner | Servo/cross-rod on existing spools live; no manifold swap yet |
| 5 — Commission | Week 6–10 | Integrator + Trunsin support | Deadband, neutral, and centering recorded |
Cab-only phases (0–3 + bench commission) often finish in 4–8 weeks after configurator sign-off when valves already have electronic actuators. Full mechanical actuation plus radio pairing commonly lands closer to 8–12 weeks for the pilot unit. Fleet copy programs compress after the first machine freezes the axis map.
What “keeping valves” actually means on the timeline
Keeping valves means the main directional stack stays in the machine. Electronic cab input replaces the operator’s mechanical levers; proportional signals go to spool actuators or to an ECU that already commands electro-hydraulic valves. That is the core of a cab-first hydraulic retrofit timeline — downtime is mostly cab teardown, harness, and calibration, not a hydraulic redesign [Source: SAE mobile hydraulics retrofit practice notes summarized in OEM kit literature].
If the tender also swaps the valve block for a full electro-hydraulic manifold, treat that as a parallel critical path owned by the hydraulics OEM — not as a Trunsin stick lead time. Stick ARO still matters, but yard downtime is dominated by plumbing and flushing.
Output choice that sets Phase 1 duration
- Analog 0–5 V / ±10 V — fastest when the existing PLC or servo driver already expects voltage; ZS30 is the usual pilot SKU.
- PWM — common on aftermarket spool drivers; confirm duty cycle and deadband before Phase 4.
- CANopen / J1939 — choose when the mobile ECU is bus-native; budget EDS/PGN mapping in Phase 0 — see CANopen integration and CAN wiring.
Hall-effect sensing is the default upgrade when retiring drift-prone potentiometer levers — Hall vs potentiometer explains why Phase 5 centering tests get shorter after the sensor change.
Crane and radio programs on the same calendar
Loader cranes that keep hydraulic valves but add a portable radio often share Phase 5 with cab stick commissioning. Neutral on the wired stick must match transmitter enable logic before load tests — align with Scanreco radio remote joystick retrofit and radio remote crane joystick pairing so radio work does not silently double your hydraulic retrofit timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a cab-only hydraulic retrofit timeline?
Often 4–8 weeks ARO after Configure sign-off when actuators already exist on the valve; add 2–4 weeks when shop mechanical is on critical path.
Does Trunsin supply MOD10 or cross-rod actuators?
No — Trunsin supplies electronic cab joysticks. Actuation hardware and hydraulic commissioning stay with your integrator.
Can we keep hydraulic levers as a backup during Phase 4?
Some fleets leave stubs for training; interlocks must prevent dual-command. Document the interim state in the Phase 0 scope freeze.
When should we pick ZS40 CAN instead of ZS30 analog?
When the target ECU is CANopen/J1939-native or when you want one EDS-backed map for fleet copy — otherwise analog often ships faster for Phase 1.
Related articles
- Electro-hydraulic joystick retrofit
- Hydraulic vs electronic joystick
- Scanreco radio remote joystick retrofit
- Aftermarket industrial joystick replacement
- Construction equipment joystick selection
- Industrial joystick hub
- Configurator
Request a hydraulic retrofit timeline RFQ pack
- Machine type + photo of current levers and valve stack
- Target output (analog / PWM / CAN) and ECU brand if known
- Configure ZS30 or ZS40 and state whether valve actuators are already installed
- Note if radio remotes share the same enable path