Hydraulic Flow Control Valve with Reverse Free Flow - 1/4" to 1" BSPP

This is the valve you want when a function has to go out slowly and come back fast. A tapered needle meters flow in one direction, and an internal check valve lets it run free in the other. Set it once, and the return speed is untouched.

Ways to buy this valve:

• Off the shelf: five port sizes below, 1/4" to 1" BSPP parallel, female both ends.
• Need both directions restricted? That is a plain needle valve, button below.
• Need the speed to hold as the load changes? That is a pressure compensated valve, button below.
• Want a barrel body or a bigger port? The VRFU barrel range goes to 1-1/4" and 200 L/min.

Pick your valve

Flow and pressure figures are straight off the factory sheet. The 1" body is rated 320 bar, every smaller size is 400 bar.

What is in the box

• One flow control valve in the port size you select
• Internal reverse free flow check, fitted
• Female BSPP parallel ports both ends, direction arrow on the body
• Knurled adjustment knob with a graduated collar

Specifications

How to choose

• Fit it the right way round. The arrow on the body is free flow. Metered flow is the other way, so point the arrow at the direction you want fast.
• Meter the return. On a cylinder with a load that can run away, put the restriction on the oil leaving the ram, not the oil going in.
• Leave yourself adjustment. Sit around two thirds of the listed flow. Running flat out at the maximum leaves nothing to turn.
• Speed must not change with load? A plain restriction will not do it. Step up to the pressure compensated valve.
• Not sure? Call us with the ram size, the pump flow and what the machine does.

Technicians Advice

The whole point of this valve is that it only works in one direction, so the single most common mistake is fitting it backwards and then wondering why the cylinder crawls on the way back instead of the way out. Check the arrow before you tighten anything. Set it with the oil warm: cold oil is thicker and a setting dialled in first thing in the morning will run faster by smoko. Remember the check valve only bypasses the needle, it does not hold anything, so this is not a substitute for a lock valve or a counterbalance on an overrunning load. Every litre you throttle turns into heat, so if you are dumping serious flow across it all day, keep an eye on tank temperature and think about a bigger valve wound further open rather than a small one nearly shut. And these are BSPP parallel ports: they seal on a bonded washer or an O-ring on the male fitting, never on thread tape.

Official Datasheets

📄 Flow Control STU Series Datasheet (PDF)

Complete your setup

Needle Valve, both directions VRFU Barrel Flow Control VCC Pressure Compensated In-line Throttle Valve, 400 Bar Modular Flow Control, Cetop 3 and 5

Need help choosing? Call 1300 146 737 or email sales@mhfgc.com.au, real technicians, real answers.