Vickers DG4V & DG5V Directional Valves: Size Guide, Parts & Seal Kits

A Vickers DG4V or DG5V code looks intimidating, but the part that decides what fits is the front of it. Get the family and the size right and you are most of the way to the correct spool, coil and seal kit. This page covers how to read that, what actually fails on these valves, and where the parts are.

Have the full code in front of you? Send it to us and we will decode the spool, actuation and voltage against the Vickers catalog and tell you what we hold.

Reading the front of the code

Take DG4V-3-2A-M-U-H7-60. The first two blocks are the ones that govern fitment.

Block What it tells you
DG Directional control valve.
4V / 5V The operating group. DG4V is directly solenoid operated. DG5V is solenoid controlled and pilot operated, used on the larger sizes where a solenoid alone cannot shift the spool.
-3 / -5 / -7 / -8 The interface size. This is the number that decides whether a valve will physically bolt onto your subplate or manifold. See the size table below.
Remaining blocks Spool type and spring arrangement, seal class, manual override, solenoid and voltage, and the design number. These vary by build and are best confirmed against the code rather than guessed.

Size and mounting pattern

Vickers valve sizes follow the standard industrial mounting patterns, so a DG4V-3 shares a bolt pattern and port layout with any other manufacturer's size 03 valve. That matters when the original is discontinued, because the interface is the part that has to match.

Vickers ISO 4401 Cetop NFPA / D-code Typical use
DG4V-3 Size 03 Cetop 3 D03 The most common industrial size. Small to mid flow.
DG4V-5 Size 05 Cetop 5 D05 Mid flow, still directly solenoid operated.
DG5V-7 Size 07 Cetop 7 D07 High flow, pilot operated.
DG5V-8 Size 08 Cetop 8 D08 Highest flow in the family, pilot operated.

The DG3V family is the manually and mechanically operated equivalent, and the KCG and KBDG families are the proportional and Cetop mounted pressure control range.

What actually fails, and what to order

The cast body almost never fails. When a DG4V or DG5V stops working properly it is nearly always one of four things:

Symptom Usual cause What you need
Valve will not shift, no click at the solenoid Burnt out coil, or no voltage reaching it Solenoid coil
Clicks but does not shift, or shifts slowly Spool sticking from contamination or varnish Spool, and a fluid clean up
External weeping around the subplate face Perished body seals Valve seal kit
Drifting cylinder, will not hold position Spool or bore wear, internal leakage past the lands Spool, or a rebuilt valve
Pilot operated valve will not shift under load Insufficient pilot pressure, or a blocked pilot passage Check pilot supply before replacing anything

Because the body survives, a rebuild is almost always cheaper than a replacement valve, and far faster when the original build is discontinued.

Parts catalogs by family

Family Catalog Parts listed
DG4V-3 DG4V-3 parts and seal kits 102
DG4V-5 DG4V-5 parts and seal kits 15
DG5V-7 DG5V-7 parts and seal kits 4
DG5V-8 DG5V-8 parts and seal kits 13
DG3V DG3V parts and seal kits 2
KCG / KBDG KCG and KBDG Cetop valve parts 58
Coils DG4S4 solenoid coils, all voltages 152
Seal kits Directional valve seal kits 6

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DG4V and DG5V?

DG4V valves are shifted directly by the solenoid. DG5V valves are solenoid controlled and pilot operated, which is how the larger sizes generate enough force to shift the spool. That is why sizes 07 and 08 are DG5V rather than DG4V.

Is a DG4V-3 the same size as a Cetop 3 valve?

Yes. DG4V-3 is the ISO 4401 size 03 interface, also called Cetop 3 or D03. The mounting pattern and port layout are the industry standard for that size, which is what makes a discontinued valve replaceable.

Can I just replace the coil on a Vickers directional valve?

Very often, yes. A burnt coil is the single most common failure and the coil is a separate serviceable part. Confirm the voltage and the connector style before ordering.

My DG4V number is discontinued. What now?

Send us the code. Most discontinued DG4V numbers were low volume spool, override and voltage combinations rather than unique valves, so the body, spool and coil are usually all still obtainable. See also obsolete Vickers valve replacements.

Why will my pilot operated valve not shift under load?

Nine times out of ten it is pilot pressure, not the valve. Confirm the pilot supply and that the pilot passages and drain are clear before condemning the spool.

Where to go next

Send us the code. Email info@restopower.com or call (810) 882-1171 and we will decode it and confirm what we hold, same day.