did the lines come into cab or are they cable acuated like the fishers with a valve body
yes hot hydro fluid would get under your skin and kill you slowly

 

In the old plow setups like I am talking about the pressure line from the pump came straight into the cab to the valve body bank, and a return line from the valve bank out to the reservoir tank.
Then a line from each of the valves to each end of each cylinder.
So if you had power angle and a lift cylinder you had eight hydraulic lines running to the valve bank.

Hit something with the left corner of the blade and that shock pressure came back one line from the left angle cylinder and one line from the right angle cylinder.
Line pressure could be higher than the pressure relief valve setting if what you hit was big enough and you were moving faster than the line size let the fluid out of the function lines.
Also the main line from the pump and which ever function you were using had 2500 PSI on it while you were using that function.

Modern electric over hydraulic systems that keep the fluid out of the operator compartment are so much safer.

I can't say I have been in a modern state road plow truck, but back several years ago we had a 70's model we were using as a haul truck on a jobsite.

Picture a row of valves like this with hoses running to every port on the valve sitting right beside you when you were in the drivers seat.

Cross SBA Series Valve, Double Spool, Both 3-Position, 4 Way - 1820542 | Tractor Supply Company

And then consider one of the levers went to the dump bed hoist cylinder.
If the hose to that cylinder blew at the valve while the bed was up, 30 gallons of hydraulic oil was going to spray out of the hose till the cylinder was empty and the bed was back down on the frame.

From the drivers seat, you could see that hose from where it came through the cab floor and all the way up to the valve.

 

i will second the tired pump. we use those hydraulic pumps in the big trucks, and all 47 of them have ATF in them and work fine hot or cold.

 

hey guys, GREAT info!!

NO hydraulic lines in the cab. The "control valve" is mounted on the drivers side inner fender well, and is run by push/pull ***** in the dash. The ***** connect to the valve via long metal rods.

Dave was correct, when you think of the pump system I have, think of a power steering pump only with a slightly bigger tank. I'll see if I can remember to get a pic tomorrow in the daylight.

Dave is also correct, my truck is an old muninciple "city" truck. It did have something hydraulic on the rear, there are quick connects there. Maybe a rear blade or hydraulic salt spreader? Either way, I will be removing those lines this summer as I highly doubt I'd have the need for anything in the rear. Yes, it would be nice, but honestly for what I plow/do I don't need it.

The only leak I have found in the entire system was at one of the quick connectors for the front, which was easily fixed via tightening. Other than that, I have found no leaks. (crossing my fingers lol)

Not saying my pump isn't worn, but I would think that if it was I would have slow operation at all times. Cold hydraulic fluid would be thicker than warm, so I figure what the heck, change out the fluid to something a bit thicker and see what happens. The plow moves when everything is warm, it just crawls...maybe this is how these all hydraulic plows act, I honestly don't know, but all my other plows were alot faster. Then again all my others were westerns where they were electrically controlled.

Dave - would you happen to have a link to where you found the old Meyer information? I did a google search before I even started this thread and all I could find was information on the newer plow systems

 

It should have a pressure relief valve somewhere that can either be adjusted or shimmed too.

 

Two thoughts on this.

I wonder if a fluid cooler could be added to the return line to the pump?
Almost anything that operates with hydraulic fluid has more power when the fluid is cooler or cold.
And likewise, the hotter the fluid gets, the more it slows down and looses power.

As the pump wears, it will loose pressure as the fluid gets hotter, but be careful if you adjust the pressure relief, you don't want it to high when the fluid is cold or you may blow hoses.

It is also possible the valves need rebuilt.
When they get worn, the hot fluid is leaking around the valve spools going straight to the return line instead of out to the cylinders.

I am going to attach a couple pdf files.

Does your valve look like the one on the U 13 power unit with the power steering type pump instead of the electric pump? (1-437%20U-13.pdf)

I think you plow probably looks like the Aggressor plow mount. (1-782%20R2.pdf)
The hoses are in the file(1-880.pdf)

Those are from
http://www.meyerproducts.com/TechSup...tructions.aspx
in the hydraulic section and the archives(obsolete)

 

I bet the pump is worn out also. The universal hydraulic fluid may help some, since the heavier oil will not leak by the looser tolerances of the worn pump.

Talking about the newer municipal trucks, the old Va state dept truck I have driven has a really nice hydraulic setup on it. It has a full time pump mounted on the front bumper driven by a driveshaft off the front of the engine(8.2 detroit). It has a valve bank mounted behind the cab on the driver's side frame, and it's all electric. You have toggle switches in the cab that control the dumpbed, the blade, the accessories in the rear, etc. The dump bed has a double acting cylinder and actually has down pressure.

 

to the OP
not to insult but back to square 1 is the pump belt tight enough
i know from my fisher you were allowed a little slop in the belt
i miss being able to feather the controls i could let blade down so quietly
now my MM2 just drops the blade hard

 

Here's the pump I have:

 

Here's the controls in the cab:

 

Here's the control valve itself, mounted on drivers side inner fender well:

 

and here are the rear quick-connects which are not used:

 

oh ya just like the old fisher speedcasts
you had to goose it or throttle up a little to raise em even when new

 

I now feel stupid....

The lift arm on the lift pump had been repainted black, so I wire brushed some of the paint, and found a "Western" sticker.

Did Western make all hydraulic plows, and maybe I am searching in the wrong area?

There are no other numbers or names that I can see anywhere. Granted, everything is covered in grime around the control valve, but maybe I was wrong thinking she's a Meyer?

 

its ok still the same basic idea