The large spools in your hydraulic block are controlled by tiny micro-hydraulic pilot valves. If these micro-valves get jammed by microscopic dirt, you will lose control of your implements.

Think of pilot valves as the relays of the hydraulic world. Instead of the operator manually pulling a heavy lever to move 40 gallons of oil, an electronic joystick sends a signal to a micro-solenoid. This solenoid opens a tiny pilot port, using a fraction of the system's pressure to push the massive main spool open. Because the tolerances in pilot valves are measured in thousandths of an inch, even a speck of rust or degraded rubber can cause the valve to stick, leading to dangerous, unpredictable implement movements.